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The Pilgrimage Garden Club has announced its Royal Presentation Court for 2023. Members are as follows:

QUEEN Presley Hennington

Presley is the daughter of Jason and Charlotte Aaron Hennington. In 2021, she graduated with honors from Cathedral High School. She is the granddaughter of Charlotte Marshall of Natchez, MS, Elliott and Renee Brumfield of Rodney, MS, and Phil and Pamela Hennington of, Natchez, MS. Presley currently attends The University of Mississippi where she is majoring in Business Administration. Presley is an active member of Tri Delta Sorority. She is involved in many philanthropic events for St. Judd’s Hospital and volunteers in the local community of Oxford with the Ole Miss Big Event. Presley likes tradition, fashion, and spending time with her family and friends.

KING Christopher Connor Tate

Christopher Connor Tate is the son of Larry Christopher Tate and Laura Copeland Tate of Natchez Mississippi. He is the grandson of Charlotte Copeland and the late Marlon Copeland, of Natchez, Mississippi and Elizabeth St Clair Tate and the late Larry Miller Tate of Collierville Tennessee. Connor is a 2021 graduate of Richmond Hill High School in Richmond Hill, Georgia. Connor is currently attending Mississippi State University in Starkville Mississippi majoring in accounting. He plans to complete the LSAT exam in the spring and prepare for his CPA after receiving his undergrad.

Connor is a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, Interfraternity council (IFC), and Dean’s Honor Roll. His hobbies include Golfing, attending Mississippi State sporting events – especially baseball, and spending time with his friends and family.

LADIES OF THE COURT

Katherine Estes

Katherine Elizabeth Estes is the daughter of Brett and Lindsey Estes. She is a 2021 honors

graduate of Oxford High School in Oxford, MS. She was a member of the cheerleading team during four years of high school and served as co-captain her senior year. She was an All-American cheerleader and won the cheerleading state championship her sophomore year. She is the granddaughter of Terry and Paula Estes of Natchez.

Katherine is currently attending the University of Mississippi, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Allied Health with a minor in psychology. She is in the 4+1 nursing program to become a registered nurse. She currently serves on the executive board of the Pre-Nursing Society as treasurer. Katherine is a member of the Tau chapter of Chi Omega Sorority. Through her sorority, she serves on the Philanthropy Committee, which is partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, and the Chi Omega Women’s Health Initiative through the University of Mississippi Foundation. Katherine is a recipient of the Dewees Alumni Association Scholarship, the Ole Miss Leader Scholarship, and the Wallace E. and Elizabeth G. Hope Scholarship.

Her hobbies include playing golf, cooking with friends and family, and studying in the Grove.

Elizabeth Carolyne Heatherly

Carolyne is the daughter of Wade and Susannah Byrne Heatherly. She attended Trinity Episcopal School and is a 2020 graduate of Cathedral High School. Throughout high school she was a member of Key Club, Honor Society, Student Council, Yearbook committee, and was on the cross country and track teams. She was also the president of Jefferson Street Methodist Youth Group her senior year. She is the granddaughter of the late Paul and Janice Byrne, and of the late Joseph Heatherly, late Robyn Heatherly, and Virginia Heatherly Hall.

Carolyne is currently a senior at the University of Southern Mississippi where she is majoring in social work and double minoring in psychology and Spanish. She is a member of the USM Social Work Club, a volunteer with Compassus Hospice, a volunteer with Santa’s for Seniors, and volunteers with numerous mental health events on USM’s campus. During the fall of her junior year, she studied abroad at the University of Cádiz in Cádiz, Spain, where she took many language immersion classes, traveled the country, and immersed herself into the culture.

Carolyne enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, watching soccer, and spending time with her friends and her dog, Kai.

After graduation, she plans to pursue her master’s in social work at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Olivia Claire Waycaster

Olivia is the daughter of Todd and JoAnn Waycaster of Natchez.  She is the granddaughter of the late James and Mattille Waycaster of Natchez and the late Joe and Gloria Frost of Bude, MS.

Olivia is a 2020 graduate of Cathedral Catholic School, where she graduated with honors and was a member of the National Honor Society, Peer Ministry Team, and captain of the Cathedral Cheer team.

Olivia is currently a student at Louisiana State University, where she is majoring in accounting. Upon graduation, Olvia plans to attend graduate school and enter the accounting field.

Olivia is a member of St. Mary Basilica and currently attends Christ the King Catholic Church at LSU. Olivia enjoys being of service to others and has attended numerous mission and work camps and will attend the March for Life in Washington DC for the eighth time in January.  In her spare time, Olivia enjoys running and spending time with family and friends.

Miah Wheeler

Miah Brailey Wheeler is the daughter of Jeremiah and Chesney Wheeler. She is a 2020 graduate of Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas. She was a high school cheerleader for four years in high school and had the opportunity to cheer in the AT&T Cowboy Stadium in Arlington Texas for the UIL championship. She is the granddaughter of Charlotte Marshall of Natchez, Elliot Brumfield and wife Renee Tull Brumfield of Rodney. Miah is the first cousin of our Queen Presley Hennington.

Miah is currently attending Texas State University where she is a senior, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, minoring in Business Administration, Fashion Merchandising, and Family and Consumer Sciences. She hopes to get a job doing corporate event planning and eventually open her own business. Miah is a member of Life Church of Austin Texas.

GENTLEMAN OF THE COURT

Samuel Dixon Cole V

Sam is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Dixon Cole, IV, of Lake Concordia, Louisiana. He is the grandson of Mr. & Mrs. Walter Benjamin Huffman, Jr. of Wildwood Plantation, and the late Mr. Samuel Dixon Cole, III, and Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Charles Seale of Lake Concordia. Sam is the tenth generation of the Cole family to reside in the Natchez area. Originally settling on Cole’s Creek in 1772, the Coles were issued a British West Florida Land Grant in 1776, another Spanish Land Grant in 1789, and continued to farm the Natchez area for over 250 years.

Sam is a 2021 graduate of Catholic High School in Baton Rouge where he played football and threw discus and shotput for the track team. As a starting tackle on the offensive line for CHS Bears Football, Sam appeared all four years in the 5A Division 1 State championship games, winning the title twice, in 2017 and 2020. Sam earned first-team all-district 5-A honors in 2019 and 2020. With CHS Track & Field, he was a three-year letterman, contributing to the CHS Indoor State Championship in 2019 and the Outdoor State Championship wins in 2017 and 2019.

Sam currently attends Louisiana State University, where he is a junior majoring in Industrial Engineering and a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. In his spare time, Sam enjoys relaxing on Lake Concordia, hunting, sporting clays, off-roading, and wrenching on his 1978 Corvette.

John Murray Wallace

John is the son of James and Nancy Wallace and the grandson of Sandra Webb Wallace. He is a 2021 graduate of Fairhope High School in Fairhope, Alabama, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. John is a junior at Mississippi State University, where he maintained a #1 class ranking his freshman and sophomore years. He is pursuing a B.A. degree in the Business School, majoring in Business Administration/Finance. John also works as a consultant for the Writing Center, helping other students, from freshman to graduate school students, improve their writing and communication skills.

With a degree in Finance and a background in writing and communication, John will be positioned to continue his education in law school and pursue an MBA. Ultimately, he hopes to build businesses that impact others in positive ways.

Beyond school and work, his interests span a wide range—history, literature, writing, golf, tennis, hunting, hiking, and travel. John puts a strong focus on family. He recently stalked and killed an Imperial red deer stag in the Scottish Highlands during a trip with his dad.

Mississippi has been John’s family’s home since 1809. He plans to stay in this beautiful state. John loves the Deep South — especially its culture of faith, family, and friendship. He believes a life well lived is one that makes a meaningful, positive difference in the lives of others. John is honored and humbled to be a part of the Pilgrimage Garden Club Court.

Maxwell Graham Watson

Maxwell Graham Watson is the son of Diane DuPont of Natchez, Mississippi and Shawn Samuel Watson of Beaumont, Texas. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Edward DuPont II and of San Marcos, Texas and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wayne Watson of Beaumont, Texas. He graduated from San Marcos Baptist Academy in 2021. Where he was an honor graduate who played football and was tennis team captain. Upon graduation he was accepted at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is now a junior and is majoring in Accounting and Finance. He is also currently accepted in the dual MBA program so upon graduation he will receive his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Corporate Management and also his Master of Accounting. Maxwell is a member and driver for the

Tulane Formula One Racing team and members of the Tulane Power Lifting Club and the Real Estate Club. His hobbies include reading, biking, F1 racing, playing guitar, and spending time with his friends and family.

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Landry Gaude’

Landry Kathleen Gaude is the 6-year-old daughter of Kakki and Blase Gaude. She is the sweetest sister to Ella Blase, Brady, and Miller. She is the granddaughter to Connie and Kim Grantham of Brookhaven, Linda and John Frenz of Brandon, and Ann and David Gaude of Natchez. She is in 1st grade at Cathedral Elementary School. Landry attends St. Mary Basilica. She loves to play soccer, softball, and golf. She has danced for 3 years at the Middleton School of Dance. In the winter, you can find her passing out candy canes at the tree farm with her Daddy, and in the summer, Landry loves to drive the jet ski fast. She enjoys helping take care of her baby sister, sneaking her to her bed every night. When Landry grows up, she dreams of being a Mama and a veterinarian!

Colette Costa

Colette Marie Costa is the 6-year-old daughter of Megan and Jeremy Costa. She is the proud big sister to Charlotte Mignon and Cate Margaret. Colette is the granddaughter of Weldon and Ellen Brechtel of New Orleans, Dr. Peggy Chehardy and Gary Costa of New Orleans, and Theresa Costa of Baton Rouge. She is in 1st grade at Cathedral Catholic School. Colette attends St. Mary Basilica and loves singing in the choir during school mass. She enjoys taking art lessons at the Mississippi School of Folk Art and plays softball in the spring. She is a 3rd-year dance student at Middleton School of Dance. She loves animals and enjoys reading books and riding her scooter outside with her sisters.  When Colette grows up, she wants to be a Mama and foster animals!