The Krewe of Heart & Soul recently announced its royalty for the 2017 Mardi Gras season.

The krewe was established in 2013 by five founders: Robert L. Gardner Jr., Felicia Bowman, Tera Williams Harris, Christy Bowman and Jeremy Fakes.

The krewe’s grand ball will be at 8 p.m., Saturday at the Natchez Convention Center.

The royalty are:

King Roger Allen

Roger Allen was born and reared in Jonesville. He is the son of Oleavy Allen and the late Henry Allen. He is married to Debra L. Allen. Rogers is the father of seven,  Roderick, LaVonta, Timothy, Reginald, Roger, Sharelle and Deshana. Roger is also the godfather to Erin Jackson, Erica Singleton, Akeyoh Shannon, Jamiyah Curtis and Rachel Ellis.

Roger joined the U.S. Army in 1977, where he served as a truck driver instructor and a squad leader for three years. He later joined the Louisiana National Guard and served for 18 years. Upon serving in the National Guard he was deployed to Operation Desert Storm. He retired from the Army with 21 years of service.

Currently, Roger is employed by Stine Lumber Company.

He is a member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, Enoch Lodge  No. 18 and Lucinda Robinson No. 6 Order of Eastern Star where he serves as Patron.

Roger enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and family, fishing, traveling and listening to music.

Queen Debra L. Allen

Debra L. Allen was born and reared in Lake Providence, La. She is married to Roger Allen. They have two sons, Roderick  and LaVonta Allen. Debra is godmother to Erin Jackson, Erica Singleton, Rachel Ellis and Jamiyah Curtis. She is the daughter of Martha Haley. Debra has three siblings, Felicia Haley, Michael Haley and Adrienne Auguster.

Debra is a graduate of Lake Providence Sr. High School in Lake Providence, La. She holds an associate degree in applied science in child development from Hinds Community College and a bachelor of science in general studies from Alcorn State University, where she graduated Cum Laude. Currently, Debra is pursuing a master in education from Alcorn State University.

She is employed with the Natchez-Adams School District as the district parent liaison.

Debra is  a member of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church where she serves as chair of the planning ministry. She is also member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Lucinda Robinson No. 6 Order of Eastern Star, where she serves as the financial secretary and Junior Auxiliary of Natchez where she serves as secretary.

In her spare time, Debra enjoys spending time with her husband and family, cooking and shopping.

Duke Robert Lee Gardner Jr.

Robert Lee Gardner Jr. is the son of Robert Gardner Sr. of Gulfport and Shella Trust Gardner of Vidalia. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Shirley Trust Bowman of Vidalia and the late Roosevelt Bowman.

He is a graduate of Vidalia High School. Gardner attended Grambling State University. He is presently finalizing his business degree at Alcorn State University. He worked for the Concordia Parish School System as a paraprofessional for five years. Gardner worked as a banker for seven years. He is employed by the Magnolia Bluffs Casino as a cage supervisor.

Gardner is a member of the Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. He serves as choir president and loves to sing within the community. He is a member of the NAACP. Robert is a member of Ferriday Lodge No. 101. Gardner is also a member of Abraham Consisory (32 Degree) of Boyce, La.

Gardner loves to cook and play cards with family and friends. He is the president and founder of the Krewe of Heart & Soul.

Robert was elected to serve on the town council as alderman for the City of Vidalia. He believes that one day he will be able to hold a higher political capacity for his community.

Gardner says that success always comes to a man whom always puts God first.

Duchess Tabatha Wright

Tabatha Wright was born and reared in Natchez by her parents, Dorothy M. Wright and the late Louie Ray Williams of Conroe, Texas. She has three children, LaWona (deceased), KeTron and Thomas. She is the proud grandmother of Christian Wright, who she is rearing as her own child.

Tabatha is a graduate of North Natchez High School. She is employed by Trinity School. Tabatha is a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church, where she sings in the senior choir.

Tabatha enjoys spending time with family, attending sporting events, traveling and listening to music.

Duchess Retha La ‘Shae Scott.

Retha Scott is a native of Natchez. She is the daughter of Johnny and Aline Scott. She is the mother of two beautiful daughters, Ci’Nya and London. Retha is a graduate of Natchez High School, Copiah-Lincoln Community College and DeVry University.

Retha is currently employed by Merit Health Natchez as a respiratory therapist. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, couponing and spending time with family and friends.

She is a member of Milford Missionary Baptist Church.

Duchess Ursula Shene’ Brooks-Ware

Duchess Ursula Shene’ Brooks-Ware is a native of Natchez. She is the daughter of Wilbur and Hazel Anderson-Washington and Mr. and Mrs. George A. Brooks Jr. She is the granddaughter of Katie L. Anderson and the late Rev. James C. Anderson and Rosie Lee Brooks and the late George L. Brooks Sr. She is the wife of Bradrick Edward Ware, and together, they have a blended family of three children, Gervoni, Brandi and Kobyn Le’Troy Moore.

She is a 1997 graduate of Ferriday High School. She began her undergraduate studies at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge and completed a bachelor of science in nursing degree at Alcorn State University. In 2013, she graduated with a master’s of science in nursing education degree from Alcorn State University. She then completed a post-master’s degree in the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program at the University of Southern Mississippi.

She has been a registered nurse for 12 years, climbing the corporate ladder from charge nurse to clinical liaison to nurse manager. She transitioned into the educational area of nursing and was employed at Alcorn School of Nursing from 2011 to 2016, where she served as the retention specialist and baccalaureate nursing faculty at Alcorn School of Nursing.

Ursula is currently practicing as a certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner at Delhi Community Health Center.

She is a member of New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church, where she serves as assistant secretary on the usher ministry, vice-president of the health/medical alliance ministry and vice president of the women ministry.

She is a member of American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Eliza Pillars Registered Nurses Association of Mississippi, and American Nurses Association.

In addition, she is a member of Adah Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, serving as Matron of Deborah Chapter No. 5.

In her leisure, she enjoys reading, traveling, family game night and retail therapy.