Photography by Brian Lewis
The Shreveport Cotillion Club Royal Court 2024 was announced in January by President of the Cotillion Governing Board, Lloyd Brown.
This 75th Cotillion in April will be an anniversary celebration as well as highlight this year’s theme, L’Esprit Rococo, or The Spirit of Rococo. Ball Chairman is Lara Yerger.
The Cotillion Club describes the French theme this way:
18th century France:
the pinnacle of culture and civility throughout Europe. As the epicenter for the era’s trends in fashion, art, culture, and philosophy, the aesthetic was characterized by its whimsical take on elegance, with an eye toward decadence. The effect? Unparalleled extravagance at every turn. The style, known as Rococo, flourished in the ornamental gardens, opulent palaces, and luxurious decor of the time.
Inspired by the New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewe balls, especially the tradition of Rex, the Cotillion Club was established in 1949 by organizers as a grand social fete that celebrated a festival weekend and its participants, according to the club. Today, the Cotillion Club strives to bring about significant economic impact and a continued interest in the Ark-La-Tex.
His Royal Majesty: Rex LXXV
Mr. Christian Basinger Frierson. He is married to Paula Frierson.
Her Royal Majesty: Regina LXXV
Miss Emma Deas Pickens, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John David Pickens. She attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
His Royal Highness: The Prince
Mr. James Wesley Barlow, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Ray Barlow. He attends Louisiana Tech University in Ruston.
Her Royal Highness: The Princess
Miss Hannah Maurine Falls, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Keith Woods. She attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
The Duchesses of the Court
The Duchess of Caddo Parish, Miss Betty Anne Alford, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Scott Alford. She attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Duchess of Natchitoches, Miss Emily Elizabeth Horton, is the daughter of Dr. Cherry Ingram Horton and Mr. Leland Gray Horton. She attends the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Duchess of Webster Parish, Miss Rosalie May McInnis, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Elam McInnis. She attends the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
Duchess of Cane River, Miss Sheridan Colleen Pesnell, is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Wade Pesnell. She attends the University of Idaho in Moscow.
Duchess of Houston, Miss Larsen Elise Weber, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Jackson Weber, Senior. She attends Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
The Ladies of the Court
Miss Mary Grace Anderson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Erik Kjell Anderson. She attends Tulane University in New Orleans.
Miss Georgia Todd Barrett is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Pryor Barrett. She attends New York University in New York.
Miss Wynde-Morgan Gilbert is the daughter of Ms. Pattie Pittman Gilbert. She attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Miss Anna Pryce Hardtner is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Jonathan Hardtner and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Leraan Klingner. She attends the University of Louisiana Lafayette.
Miss McKenna Brooke Kavanaugh is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Dale Blair and Dr. Arthur Scott Kavanaugh. She attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Miss Millicent Olivia LaBorde is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Peyton LaBorde. She attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Miss Jordan Grace Meiki is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Kareem Meiki. She attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Miss Grace Delaite Lowery Nordberg is the daughter of Dr. Mary Lowery Nordberg and the Col. (Ret.) Robert J. Nordberg II. She attends the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Miss Ryan Elizabeth Roylance is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Rex Roylance. She attends the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Miss Mary Elizabeth Rees Smith is the daughter of Mrs. Catherine Pringle Smith and the late Mr. Mark Henry Smith. She attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Miss Emily Grace Warren is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Richard Stafford and Mr. and Mrs. Jason Michael Warren. She attends the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Miss Caroline Grace Zimmer is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Louis Zimmer. She attends Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.
The Gentlemen of the Court
Mr. James Campbell Brown is the son of Dr. and Mrs. James Scott Brown. He attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mr. Ean William Burch is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Wade Burch. He attends Louisiana Tech University Ruston.
Mr. Pierce Davis Collier is the son of Mrs. Susan Foster Collier and Mr. Glay Hood Collier, II. He attends Centenary College of Shreveport.
Mr. Joshua Lee Courtney is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Jenness Doniphan Courtney III. He attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mr. Carter Preston Culverhouse is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen David Smitherman. He attends Louisiana Tech University Ruston.
Mr. Hunt Alexander Evans is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Lamar Evans and Mrs. Amy Tullos Evans. He attends Louisiana Tech University Ruston.
Mr. Carson David Johnson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Dale Johnson. He attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mr. Nicholas George Pavlick is the son of Ms. Darcey Ann Pavlick. He attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Mr. Edward Lamb Powers is the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Noyes Powers. He attends Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Mr. Harold Kevin Quinn, Junior, is the son of Mrs. Harold Kevin Quinn and the late Mr. Harold Kevin Quinn. He attends Louisiana State University Shreveport.
Mr. Connor Joseph Regard is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond David Regard. He attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mr. Christopher Georgen Rives II is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Georgen Rives. He attends Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee.
Mr. Samuel Joseph Szwak is the son of Ms. Samantha Joan Earnest and the late Mr. David Anthony Szwak. He attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mr. Rowe William Thompson is the son of The Hon. and Mrs. Jefferson Rowe Thompson. He attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mr. Samuel Stephen Vekovius is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Bryan Johannes Vekovius. He attends Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.
Mr. Preston St. Claire Willis is the son of Ms. Dayna D. Willis and Dr. Fred Spencer Willis, junior. He attends Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Mr. Stafford Rand Yerger is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Havard Yerger, junior. He attends the College of Charleston in South Carolina.
His Majesty’s Pages
Master Christian Basinger Frierson III is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Basinger Frierson II. He attends First Baptist Church School in Shreveport.
Master Henry Lanier Moritz is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Andrew James Moritz. He attends St. Mark’s Cathedral School in Shreveport.
Her Majesty’s Pages
Master Andrew James Etier is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Brian Edward Etier, junior. He attends Our Lady of Fatima in Lafayette.
Master Michael Oden Evans is the son of Dr. and Mrs. John Michael Evans. He attends St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Shreveport.
The Heralds
Miss Stratton Beverly Erwin is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Price Erwin. She attends St. Mark’s Cathedral School in Shreveport.
Miss Caroline Friday Guy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sims Guy. She attends Eden Gardens Elementary in Shreveport.
Miss Mignonne Katherine Hernandez is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Michael Hernandez. She attends St. Mark’s Cathedral School in Shreveport.
Miss Frances Elizabeth Smitherman is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Robert Smitherman. She attends St. Mark’s Cathedral School in Shreveport.