The 2002 Charity Ball, “A Form of Expression,” was held Saturdayevening and celebrated the accomplishments and citizenship of eightyoung men and women from our community. The atmosphere celebratedthe American entrepreneurial tradition so evident in the abstractexpressionist movement of the 1950s.

Abstract expressionism represents a revolutionary event whichrevised man’s view of the arts before and after. Its contributionsencompassed a radical spirit in the visual arts that consciouslyforged a new visual language.

Colorful panels representing paintings by Pollock, Kline,Rothko, Rauschemburg and others were suspended from the ceiling.Alexander Colder mobiles floated above the king and queen, JerryNations and Elizabeth Grace “Betsy” Boerner.

The guests were greeted at the front door by a Robert Smithsculpture and Alberto Giacometi’s tall thin figures, whichcelebrated the survival and essence of humankind and suggested thatit could only be understood from a certain distance.

The Krewe of Ceres was proud to present King Jerry Nations andQueen Betsy Boerner at the 2002 Charity Ball, which was held at theLincoln County Multi-purpose building.

King Jerry Nations

King Nations is a native of Brookhaven and the son of the lateMr. and Mrs. Estus Lafayette Nations. He is a 1958 graduate ofBrookhaven High School.

Nations earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree atthe University of Mississippi and Juris Doctorate at the Universityof Mississippi School of Law. Since his collegiate years, he hasobtained life member status in the University of Mississippi AlumniAssociation and has served as the past president. While attendingthe university, King Nations was active in the Sigma Alpha Epsilonfraternity. He is now a life member and has also served as the pastpresident of the fraternity alumni association.

King Nations is married to Sidney “Butchie” Mize. They have twodaughters, Nancy Virginia Nations of Oxford and Betsy NationsWilson of Hilton Head, S.C. The Nations are members of theEpiscopal Church of the Redeemer where Nations is an activecommunicant. He has served as lay reader, chalice bearer and is asenior warden of the vestry.

Since graduating from the university, he is in his 35th year ofpracticing law. He has served as president of the Lincoln CountyBar Association where he is presently a member. For the MississippiState Bar Association, he has worked on probate and real estatecommittees. Nations has served as county attorney for LincolnCounty and served as youth court prosecutor for eight years. He iscurrently presiding as the municipal judge for the city ofBrookhaven.

Nations has been active in his community affairs also. He is apast president of the Brookhaven Jaycees. In 1966, he served aschairman of the first Harvest Ball, which is the predecessor of thecurrent Charity Ball. At the time of reorganization andincorporation of the Brookhaven Country Club, Nations was presidingas the secretary and since then served as president. He is a pastboard member of the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce, has devoted 20years of service to the Lincoln County Executive Committee of theRepublican Party and was secretary for the party.

Understanding the importance of keeping in touch with past ofhis city, Nations is an active member of Brookhaven Trust. He is amember of the Kiwanis Club and has served as their presidentalso.

Queen Elizabeth Grace Boerner

Queen Betsy Boerner is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William D.Boerner. She has two older brothers, Brad and Michael. Hergrandparents are Mrs. Edward H. Russell and the late Mr. Russelland Mr. and Mrs. Bruce J. Boerner.

Betsy was in the National Honor Society and an honor rollstudent throughout her Brookhaven High School years. During hersenior year, she served as her class secretary, was awarded “Belleof the Belles and Beaus,” and selected to be a senior maid on thehomecoming court. In the Lincoln County Junior Miss Program, Betsywas honored with the “Spirit Award” and she also served as thechairman of the Les Belles D’Hospitalite for the Brookhaven Chamberof Commerce.

As a member of the Eclipse/Elite Choir at Brookhaven HighSchool, Betsy was a soloist’s section leader in small ensemble. TheElite Choir traveled to New York and to Washington, D.C., toperform in 1996. She sang the Brookhaven High alma mater, solo, forher 1998 high school graduation.

As a member of Faith Presbyterian Church, Betsy was active inthe youth group and participated in two mission trips to Juarez,Mexico.

During the past four years at Mississippi College, she has beena member of the Nenamoosha Social tribe. Her club services includebeing pledge secretary, T-shirt and Follies chairman, T-shirtdesigner and tribe chaplain. Betsy was elected president of theLattimer-Webb women’s dorm in 1998, and she served on the Women’sAffairs Board. As a freshman, she was chosen to be a Civitan Men’sService Club Sweetheart. For four years, she has served as anactive member and participated in all of the Civitan social andservice activities.

In 2001, Betsy served on the Mississippi College House ofRepresentatives and was chosen to be in Who’s Who Among CollegeStudents. She was inducted into the MortarBoard Cap and GownChapter, which is based on scholarship, leadership and servicethroughout her college years. She also was honored with the titleof “Mississippi College Homecoming Queen” last fall.

Betsy enjoys working with clay, casting jewelry and painting.Two of her paintings were published in Mississippi College’s yearlymagazine, “Arrowhead.” Betsy spent this past summer traveling andstudying art in Italy with a program sponsored by the University ofGeorgia. Her artwork was exhibited in Cortona, Italy, and also inthe University of Georgia Italy Exhibit. In May, Betsy willgraduate from Mississippi College with a degree in arteducation.

After the presentation of the court, everyone enjoyed asumptuous buffet prepared by members of the Krewe. The guestsenjoyed a night of dancing to the “Nobles.”