The Mystic Krewe of Zeus, founded in 1924 by Joe McMahon, has held a carnival coronation and ball every year, with the exceptions of 1926-33, because of the Depression; 1942-47, because of World War II; and 1951-52, because of the Korean War. Krewe of Zeus scrapbooks at the University of Southern Mississippi archives in McCain Library document the founding of the Krewe. The first Krewe ball was held at the Sans Souci Tea House on old U.S. 49 South. Since the first ball, the Coronations have been held at various places in Hattiesburg. Presently, the Coronations are held at the historic Saenger Theater in downtown Hattiesburg.

As Royalty and Guests arrived, sounds of the Big Band era, resounding inside the theater, were emanating from the Coronation Orchestra, led by Samuel Joseph Britain. The Saenger stage had been transformed into a grand ballroom, reminiscent of the 1940s. The Royal Thrones, gilded and draped in satin, awaited the arrival of the new Monarchs.

The colorful and music-filled extravaganza began with the traditional march of the Royal Captains of the Krewe. In full dress regalia, the Royal Captains for 2016 were: Dr. George James Azar, William Gregory Brett, Dr. John David Bullock, Dr. Arthur Dean Cromartie, Burnice Wesley Curry III, the Honorable Burnice Wesley Curry IV, Dr. Robert Carrington Dews Jr., Daniel Herring Jussely, Dr. Joseph Troy McIntire, Samuel Jaron Sackler, Dr. Ronald Louis Schwartz and Scott Joseph Schwartz.

The distinguished past royalty were introduced and escorted to their positions of honor. The reigning King and Queen of the Mystic Krewe of Zeus, Zeus LXXV, Dr. John Clayton Nelson Sr., and his Queen, Miss Anne Lauren Gammill, were introduced by Corey Evan Tator, the narrator for the evening. Once seated, Zeus LXXV called for the Diamond Jubilee celebration to begin.

In keeping with the rich tradition of the Krewe, the King is well known in the area for his business or community contribution. The identity of the King is a well guarded secret, with his identity being revealed the night of his Coronation.

As murmurings of anticipation crescendoed, Zeus LXXVI, Francis Ross Bell, stepped into the limelight.

The King’s Court was introduced and took their prominent positions to the right of the new King. The King’s Grand Marshal was Michael Eugene McElroy Jr., and the King’s Captains were Jeff Corbett Bowman and Dr. Randolph Jackson Ross. Outfitted in gold and carrying the flags of the new King, were the Royal Standard Bearers: Grafton Thomas Howdeshell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Martin Howdeshell; and David Carter Lee, son of Dr. David Clark Lee and Mrs. Jonathan Chad Thornhill. Wearing gold satin long pants and tunics, edged with gold sequins, and white-plumed Cavalier hats, were the King’s Heralds: John Ramsey McQueen and Phillip Tyler McQueen, twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Lee McQueen. The King’s Pages — William Sellers Chain, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Webster Chain, and Carter Leroy Miles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Leroy Miles — wore gold satin pants and tunics with intricate ivory satin vestments, and bejeweled gold Calot caps. The King’s Prince, dressed in gold satin knickers, off-white shirt with flowing ascot and a jewel-encrusted gold crown, was Nicholas Myers Bevon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Anthony Bevon III. Completing the King’s court was his Princess, Nora Douglas McCarthy, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Franklin McCarthy. She wore an off-white satin, tea-length dress, overlayed with gold tulle that was embellished with gold sequin rosettes. She wore a stunning petite rhinestone crown.

As the assemblage rose jubilantly, His Majesty, Zeus LXXVI, in glorious trappings that have adorned many previous Zeus Kings, began his trek through the auditorium with much pomp and pageantry. Followed by members of his Royal Court, his Majesty paused at the Royal Boxes, giving prominence to the former Royalty of the Mystic Krewe of Zeus. He bowed to his family and honored guests, and acknowledged the cheers of his royal subjects.

As Zeus LXXVI returned to the stage, he made the clarion call for his young Queen.

With the flare of trumpets and on the arm of her father, Zeus LXXV, Dr. John Clayton Nelson Sr., the young Queen, Miss Chloe Leigh Nelson, made her appearance with much elegance and grace. For her coronation, she was regal in her original gown of gold lamé with gold Chantilly lace overlay that was especially created for her by Royal Design House in New Orleans. The lace was embellished with an all-over design created by set rhinestones, surrounded by gold bugle beads and gold sequins. It finished in a scalloped and heavily embellished train. The sweetheart neckline, empire waist and slim A-line skirt were trimmed by rhinestone strands, framing rhinestone and bugle bead star bursts that continue up from the hem onto embellished lace straps. Her Majesty chose a Swarovski crystal sweetheart shaped necklace from the Albert Brown Salon in New Orleans. The specially designed necklace contained round and pear-shaped stones that are both dropped and clustered. Earrings, featuring a large pear-shaped crystal held by a cluster of round and pear-shaped stones, and long white kid leather opera gloves completed the Queen’s ensemble.

The Queen’s Court was introduced and positioned to the left of the new Queen. The Queen’s Grand Marshal was John Moyers White Sr. The Queen’s Captains were Dr. Craig Sidney Howard and Dr. Gardner Lee Fletcher. The Queen’s Royal Ladies-in-Waiting were Catherine Elizabeth Chain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Lee Chain Jr.; Anna Claire Pecunia, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Alan Pecunia; Kathryn Ella Slaughter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Eugene Slaughter; and Mary Claire Whitehead, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Young Whitehead. They wore matching off-white dresses with empire waists and caplet sleeves, edged in gold sequins. The dresses were finished with a slight train. Each young lady wore a small pearl and rhinestone encrusted tiara. The Royal Jewel Bearers — Anna Caroline Chain and Hayden Elizabeth Tyner, the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John Webster Chain and Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Burns Tyner, respectively — each wore an A-line off-white satin dress with a flowing two-tiered skirt, and long cascading sashes. A rhinestone- and pearl-encrusted headband completed their costume. The Queen’s Pages were Vivian Lowery Bishop, daughter of Ms. Christa Rouse Bishop; and Hallie Carrington Jussely, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Herring Jussely. The Queen’s Princess, Hayden McKenzie Shifalo, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Strom Shifalo, and her Prince, Daniel Dews Jussely, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Herring Jussely. The Queen’s Pages, Princess and Prince were identically costumed like the King’s Court.

As the beautiful young Queen made her ceremonial walk among her loyal subjects, she paused to curtsey to the former Royalty and to her family.

Upon returning to the stage, the Queen was met by her King and together they paraded to center stage. It was there that His Imperial Majesty crowned his Queen and presented her with her Royal Scepter. The Queen’s crown and scepter were designed and made by Dynasty Collection Inc. of Mobile. The design of the crown was inspired by the tiara given to Princess Margaret by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The crown and scepter were made of Swarovski crystals imported from Austria. The band of the crown consisted of three rows of round stones. Rising from the base were majestic laurels made of Tiffany crystals, flanked by delicate marquis stones. Between the laurels were scrolled pillars known as lamps of love, made of delicate crystals, topped with an oval diamond-cut stone. The scepter follows the design of the crown and both were finished in 14K gold.

After receiving confirmation of Krewe members, the new Monarchs took their appointed places on the Royal Thrones. Once seated, they were serenaded by the Royal Troubadour, Samuel Joseph Britain.

To the delight of the attendees, the music of the Roaring Twenties filled the Saenger as Flappers, costumed in sleeveless, short slip-gowns in rich jewel tones, accented with beading, sequins, fringe and feathers and paired with coordinating headbands, danced the Charleston, the popular dance of the decade of the origin of the Krewe. The Flappers, Ladies-in-Waiting to her Majesty, were Anna Kathryn Andy, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Orlando J. Andy; Kelley Michelle Courtney, granddaughter of Mrs. Karlynn Hughes Courtney; Callie Ann Farris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Christopher Farris; Emily Elizabeth Nichols and Mary Magruder Nichols, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Wright Nichols III; Margaret Aileen Roberson, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Boone Roberson; India Renee Smith, daughter of Mrs. Glenn Norman Smith and the late Dr. Smith; Laken Sierra McBride, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert O’Neal Tatum Sr.; and Allison Layne Watts, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William Edward Walker.

Fast forward from the Roaring Twenties to early 1941. As the winds of war began to blow, the Mystic Krewe of Zeus moved its coronations from the Sans Souci Tea House to the old Forrest Hotel in downtown Hattiesburg. Like everything else, music in the 1940s centered around World War II. Patriotism was at an all-time high as men enlisted and women went to work. Performing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” were Zeus’ Royal Troubadours, Nikki Melvin Johnson, India Renee Smith and Julie Walker Tator. The jumping and jiving dancers, all children of Krewe members, were Caroline Adele Azar, Mary Morgan Gratwick, Sarah Shaunak Henderson, Grace Caroline Hester, Rachael Harley Perkins, Jessica Tate Phillips, Sarah Lane Rester, Lanie Nicole Sutherland, Mary Moore Widemire and the Bugle Boy, Richard Jackson Pecunia. They were costumed in green and gold military garb, edged in red, and topped in envelope hats.