The Krewe of Ceres in Brookhaven will conduct its 56th annual Charity Ball on Saturday, Feb. 25, at The Lincoln Civic Center. Presentations begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by calling 601-757-2967.

Escorts this year are Jon Albritton, Sam Allen, Blaine Dunaway, Trey Fortenberry III, Pierce Legg, Will Mayfield, Josh McCreary, Drew Meilstrup, August Sullivan III and Cade Watson.

Jonathan William Allbritton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Allbritton and Mary Margaret Allbritton. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Allbritton, Mrs. Sue and the late Mr. Jerry Magee, and Mr. and Mrs. Greg Hoff. 

Jon was a 2021 honors graduate from Brookhaven High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He received the Tanner-Therrell Football Award his junior and senior seasons, and was also on the baseball and powerlifting teams at BHS. 

Allbritton is a sophomore at Mississippi State University, majoring in Building and Construction Sciences. He made the Dean’s List in 2022. Allbritton has interned for Innovative Construction Management and plans to intern for B.L. Halbert Construction this summer. 

His great-grandfather, Kenneth Warren, served as Charity Ball King in 2011, and sister Lil was a trainbearer in 2021. His mother, Mary Margaret, and stepmother, Kensy, both served as maids on previous Charity Ball courts. Allbritton is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church.

Samuel Robert Allen is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Robert Allen. He is the grandson of Mrs. Patricia Black Allen and the late Robert Owen Allen, and Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Grey Mason.

Sam is a 2021 honors graduate of Brookhaven High School. He was Valedictorian, STAR Student, inducted into the BHS Academic and Athletic Halls of Fame, National Honor Society and a Mississippi Scholar. Allen lettered all four years in tennis and was the 2021 5A Singles State Champion. He also participated in the Homecoming Production for four years. 

Allen is a sophomore at Samford University where he received the Sherman Oaks, Davis and Crosland Scholarships. He is majoring in Journalism/Mass Communications, is a University Fellow, member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Connections Leader and 2022 Spirit of Step Sing Award Winner. He enjoys playing the drums and podcasting.

Allen served as trainbearer in 2014, sister Lucy was a train bearer in 2016, father Will was an escort in 1993, Grandmother Patricia Black Allen was Queen in 1967, Aunt Julie Foncea was Queen in 1991 and Grandfather Bob Allen was King in 2006. He currently attends Redeemer Church in Birmingham.

Blaine Alexander Dunaway is the son of Ms. Karen Dunaway and the late Mr. Lee Dunaway. Blaine is the grandson of the late Mrs. Betty Eickenhoff and Mr. Harper Lorraine Dunaway. He is also the grandson of Mrs. Patsy Gartman and the late Mr. Thomas E. Gartman.   

Blaine is a 2021 honor graduate of Brookhaven Academy where he received Mississippi Scholar Distinction. He also received the Exchange Club scholarship, Jeremy Johnson Scholarship, Russ Michael Mangold Scholarship, John R. Gray Scholarship and ACT (American College Test) scholarship. He was a member of the National Honor Society and was a starting offensive lineman on the varsity football team. 

Dunaway received early entry into the School of Pharmacy at the University of Mississippi where he made the President’s list for academic distinction his first year, and he is now in his sophomore year. He is a member of the University’s chapter of National Society of Leadership. 

Dunaway’s mother, Karen, served as maid on the court of Krewe of Ceres in the year 1994. He is a member of First Baptist Church. 

Hugh Russell Fortenberry III is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Russell Fortenberry Jr. He is the grandson of the late Mr. Hugh Russell Fortenberry Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Folsom and Mr. and Mrs. James Robert Rayburn. 

Trey is a 2021 Honor graduate of Brookhaven Academy. He was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Science Honor Society, and was a Mississippi Scholar. He played football, baseball, track, and basketball, and was chosen to represent BA on the 2020 MAIS All Star Football Team. He was the recipient of a King’s Daughter’s Medical Center scholarship, Copiah Lincoln Community College Presidential Scholarship, and Copiah Lincoln Community College Football Scholarship.

Fortenberry is a sophomore at Copiah Lincoln Community College majoring in Nursing. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, has been on the President’s List each Semester, and chosen to be a part of Who’s Who at Co-Lin. He plans to further his education at University of Southern Mississippi in the fall of 2023. He is a member of First Baptist Church.

Pierce Andrew Legg is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Andrew Legg and grandson to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Smith Legg and Mr. and Mrs. David Allen Farnham. 

Pierce is a 2021 graduate of Brookhaven High School. Graduating with a 3.93 grade point average, he was a member of the National Honor Society, and graduated as a Lincoln County Mississippi Scholar. He also lettered and played varsity for the Brookhaven High School tennis team where he received the Senior Panther Award. 

After making a 32 on his ACT, he earned many scholarships to the University of Mississippi such as Academic Merit, Mississippi Eminent Scholar, and 1848 scholarships. 

Legg is currently a Sophomore at the University of Mississippi majoring in accounting. He has earned a 3.55 cumulative grade point average. As a Dean’s List scholar, he is also a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, where he has served his college community in the Charity Bowl and Foodstock. His sister, Kate Legg, has served as a maid on the court. 

William Allen Mayfield is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Mayfield Jr. He is the grandson of Mrs. Cindy Mayfield and the late Mr. Robert Allen Mayfield Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lee Williams.

Will is a 2021 Honors graduate of Brookhaven High School. He graduated as a member of the National Honor Society, was a Mississippi Scholar, and a Tech Master. He participated on the soccer and baseball teams and was a member of the band. He is a recipient of the Swalm Scholarship and the ACT Academic Scholarship.

Mayfield is a sophomore at Mississippi State University majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He was a Dean Scholar through his freshman year and was recently named a President Scholar. He is a longtime member of Easthaven Baptist Church and currently attends Pinelake Church in Starkville.

Joshua Ellis McCreary is the son of Mr. Robert and Mrs. Melainie McCreary and the grandson of Mr. Robert and Mrs. Patricia McCreary.

Josh was a 2021 honors graduate of Brookhaven High School, was involved in National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Mock Trial, Future Business Leaders of America, Mississippi Scholars and Mississippi Scholars Tech Masters. 

He is currently a sophomore at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. McCreary is a History major and the President of the Student Government Association, the President of the Centurions History Club, a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a Trailblazer, and the Reporter for the Future Business Leaders of America. He was also selected for Who’s Who at Co-Lin. He plans to transfer from Co-Lin to Mississippi State University in the fall and to later attend Law School. McCreary is a member at Faith Presbyterian Church.

Andrew Thomas Meilstrup is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Meilstrup. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Hank Smith, the late Jean Smith, and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Meilstrup.

Drew is a 2021 graduate of French Camp Academy in French Camp, MS. He was a member of the varsity baseball and football team and was a senior captain. He was a member of the yearbook staff and active in campus life. He enjoyed working in the stables and participating in events at Camp of the Rising Son. While at FCA, he helped with the construction of French Camp Presbyterian Church and the renovation of the Council House Café.

Meilstrup is a sophomore at Copiah-Lincoln Community College where he is in Lineman School. He was a member of the Co-Lin Cheerleading team for two years. He is a member of Gym of Dreams level six competitive cheerleading team. At the gym, he coaches tumbling and the boy’s ninja warrior class.

Meilstrup served as a trainbearer in 2014. His sisters were trainbearers in 2008 and 2011 and maids in 2017 and 2020. His brother was a trainbearer in 2016. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Brookhaven.

Augustus Lavelle Sullivan III is the son of Mr. And Mrs. Lavelle Sullivan and Laurie Sullivan. He is the grandson of Mrs. Jeanette Sullivan and the late Mr. Stanley Sullivan and Mrs. Bobbie Sue Tedford and the late Mr. Rodney Tedford.

August is a 2021 graduate of Brookhaven Academy and was a Mississippi Scholar. Sullivan was a multi-sport player, earning awards such as most valuable player in tennis for two years, best offensive lineman, and all-state for football his junior and senior years. His senior year, he received the Cougar Leadership Award for his leadership on and off the field and the Cougar Citizenship award.

Sullivan is a sophomore at Copiah Lincoln Community College majoring in accounting. He is a member of the Co-Lin Wolfpack cheerleading squad and the men’s tennis team. He was selected to be a part of Who’s Who at Co-Lin, and plans to further his education this fall at Mississippi State University.

Sullivan served as trainbearer in 2014, sister, Katie was a trainbearer in 2011 and a maid in 2020, sister, Olivia served as trainbearer in 2015. He attends First United Methodist Church.

Robert Cade Watson, son of Dr. Bob and Dr. Dianne Watson, is the grandson of Mrs. Peggy Smith, the late Mr. J.C. Smith, and the late Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Watson.   

Cade graduated with the highest honors from Brookhaven Academy in 2021. While at BA, Watson played varsity football. He was also a member of the ACT 30+ Club, Student Council, National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Teenage Republicans, Quiz Bowl Team, Old Capital Bowl Team, Chess Team, History Club, Science Club, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Watson served as captain of the C-Spire Coding Challenge Team, Science Club President, and National Honor Society’s State Secretary. He was elected Senior Class President and voted Most Dependable and Best Christian Character, as well as Prom King. He received a Community Service Award for amassing over 300 hours of community service. He is also in BA’s Hall of Fame.

Watson currently a sophomore at Mississippi State University majoring in computer science and is a member of the Smash-Dawgs Club, a video gaming group. He is a recipient of a Dave C. Swalm Scholarship, an ACT Scholarship, an Academic Excellence Scholarship, a Bagley College of Engineering Excellence Scholarship, a Boys State Scholarship, a Colvard Future Leader Scholarship, and a Study Abroad Scholarship.

His brother, Colton, served as an escort for the court in 2019. His sister, Cameron, was a maid in 2020. Watson is a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church but attends Pinelake while at Mississippi State.