The Lincoln County Civic Center was transformed for a royal occasion Saturday night as the Krewe of Ceres presented its 46th Annual Charity Ball.

Reigning over the event were Charity Ball King William D. Boerner, Esq., and Queen Lydia Elizabeth Warren.

Charity Ball attendees Saturday night were treated to “A Venetian Masquerade.” As guests pulled into the Lincoln Civic Center, they were greeted by two mysterious masks awaiting them at the front entrance.

Once inside, the foyer was draped in black and white with a large feathered chandelier and white floral arrangements. As guests made their way through the draped doorway into the grand ballroom, they were greeted by the elegance of black and white throughout. The ceiling was draped with black and white fabric and a large, colorful, crystal chandelier in the center.

The backdrop for the presentation stage was framed with black and white harlequin fabric, white lights and a large gold Venetian mask in the center.

Two smaller golden masks were placed on either side of the stage with greenery accents. The gold king’s and queen’s bench with an elaborate harlequin cushion and white floral arrangements completed the stage area.

The tables were arranged banquet style and set with black cloths. Each place was set with a gold charger and a Venetian mask for its awaited guest. Tall feathered floral arrangements adorned the tables along with short single flowers wrapped with black and white harlequin ribbon. Votive candles completed the table décor.

Guests enjoyed a sumptuous feast served on two L-shaped tables covered in black cloths with harlequin fabric accents. The savory dishes were accented by two large masked topiaries with white feathers and flowers.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 46th Charity Ball court, which culminated in the announcing of the 2013 king and queen.

A longtime Lincoln County resident, King Bill Boerner has been a practicing attorney here for 38 years. He is the middle of three sons of the late Bruce J. Boerner and Delphine Clark Boerner.

Boerner was born in Milwaukee, Wis., and moved to Pensacola at the age of 10. Then his family moved to Brookhaven, where he graduated in the class of 1967 from Brookhaven High School.

He attended Millsaps College where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

During college he met Merrie, the love of his life. They married in 1971.

Boerner then continued his education at the University of Mississippi School of Law and earned his law degree in 1973.

His first job after law school was as an assistant attorney general working for the attorney general of the state of Mississippi, then Hon. A.F. Summer. He served in the criminal division handling appeals of criminal cases to the Mississippi Supreme Court.

Thereafter, Boerner was employed as a legal aid attorney for Mississippi Bar Legal Services where he staffed an office in Canton and opened an office for that organization in Yazoo City.

In March 1975, Boerner opened his solo practice of law in Brookhaven. He served as municipal judge for the city of Brookhaven from 1975 through 1981.

He is now the senior member of Boerner Law Firm, P.C., where he practices with his son, Brad, and a new associate, Joe R. Norton IV.

Boerner is a member of the Lincoln County Bar Association, Mississippi Association for Justice and Mississippi Bar Association, having served as past president of the Lincoln County Bar Association.

His practice has extended throughout the states of Mississippi and Louisiana, in both state and federal courts, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Boerner is married to Merrie Russell Boerner, formerly of Vicksburg. She actively serves as grandmother, wife and accomplished artist.

Boerner has served as his wife’s proud assistant at art shows across the country, and they have hosted many artists for wood firings at their home.

They are the grateful parents of Brad Boerner and wife, Lissa; Michael Boerner and wife, Kate, of Jackson; and Betsy Belk and husband, Nic.

The couple spends a great amount of time with their grandchildren: Aquinnah Claire Boerner, 7, Tyndale Locke Boerner, 4, Violet Olivia Belk, 5, James Redding Belk, 4, and Eva Louise Belk, 1. They are prayerfully expecting a sixth grandchild due in August (Michael and Kate).

Boerner is an active member of Faith Presbyterian Church where he has served as deacon and as a member of the church choir.

Boerner has been a member of the Brookhaven Kiwanis Club since 1975, now Brookhaven Servitium Club, of which he has been president and lieutenant governor.

He is a past member of the Brookhaven Jaycees, Brookhaven Mutual Investment Club; Brookhaven/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, where he has served on the Board of Directors; and Brookhaven Country Club, where he served on the Board of Directors and as president.

Boerner currently serves on Board of Directors of Brookhaven Animal Rescue League. He has coached youth soccer, football, baseball, and basketball. He enjoys golf, tennis, hunting and fishing, despite his stated lack of proficiency in any of the activities.

His three children were all raised here in Brookhaven and educated in the Brookhaven School District, where Boerner served as a member of the Board of Trustees from 1989 through 1994.

He is pleased and proud to be practicing law with his son, Brad, whose wife, Lissa, is a speech-language pathologist at Mamie Martin Elementary. His son, Michael, is an architect and partner in Wier + Boerner Architecture, PLLC. Kate, Michael’s wife, is a practicing attorney in Jackson. Boerner’s daughter, Betsy, is a full time wife and mother and her husband, Dr. Nic Belk, is owner of Belk-Ditcharo Dental here in Brookhaven.

The Boerners have been active members of the Krewe of Ceres since 1994 and are presently sustaining members.

Their son Brad served as an escort in 1994, and son Michael served as an escort in 1995. Their daughter Betsy Belk served as an aide in 1990, a maid in 2000 and as queen in 2002.

Bill is delighted to support this year’s fundraising event and honored to serve as King of the Ball with Queen Lydia Elizabeth Warren.

Queen Lydia Elizabeth Warren is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Brooks Warren and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James William Elliott and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kenneth Warren, all of Brookhaven.

Warren was an honors graduate of Brookhaven High School in 2009, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Latin Club and the Future Business Leaders of America. While at BHS, Warren served on the Brookhaven High School Annual Staff and the Panther Prints Newspaper Staff.

She was elected to the Student Council where she served as senior class representative. Warren was selected to Who’s Who Among American High School Athletes and was named a Daily Leader Scholar-Athlete.

She was co-captain of the BHS Varsity Cheerleading Squad, selected as an NCA All-American Cheerleader, and named one of 25 senior finalists across Mississippi for America’s Best Cheerleader Competition.

Warren was a Select soccer player for the Clinton Futbol Club, and as a BHS Varsity soccer player, she was named co-captain and received the Most Valuable Defensive Player award her senior year.

Warren was a member of the BHS Varsity Tennis Team, receiving titles for District and South-State and Class 4A runners-up for State. She received the Most Valuable Player award and the Most Valuable Doubles Team award. Following graduation, she was selected as the number two player for the South on the All-Division Mississippi All-Stars Team.

Warren was also a member of the Varsity Cross Country Team, winning first place in SMCC’s Homecoming 5k run her senior year. She was named to the BHS Hall of Fame for both cheerleading and cross country.

Upon graduation, Warren was awarded the Paul Moyer Memorial Cup presented to one graduate for excellence both on and off the athletic field. She was also the recipient of the Distinguished Athlete award presented by The United States Marine Corps.

Warren was a volunteer for Vacation Bible School and a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She was named a Les Belle and was a member of Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary’s Crown Club.

Warren is presently a senior at the University of Mississippi from which she will graduate in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. She was selected to the Chancellor’s Leadership class her freshman year and is a member of the Ole Miss Marketing Organization.

She is an active member in Kappa Delta Sorority, having served on the Public Relations and Shamrock Committees. On Shamrock Committee, she headed and organized the annual Shamrock Golf Tournament raising $47,000 for Kappa Delta’s National Philanthropy “Prevent Child Abuse”.

Warren is a brand ambassador for Two Dots Marketing Productions. She served two summers as a counselor at Camp Mystic for girls in Hunt, Texas. She spent the summer of 2012 studying abroad through the University of New Orleans International Division at the University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria.

She is associated with the Ole Miss Golf Course, Ole Miss Printing Services and the Oxford Park Commission. She was also selected as a scheduling assistant for Ole Miss Orientation.

Warren was presented by the Debutante Club of Mississippi in 2010.

Throughout college she has enjoyed participating in Ole Miss intramurals for her sorority. She takes pleasure in volunteering with Girl Scouts of America and is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Brookhaven.

Warren holds close family ties to the annual Charity Ball having served as an aide to the king and queen in 2002 and as a maid in 2011.

Her sister Sarah Rice Warren served as an aide in 2008. Her brother Elliott Warren served as an escort in 2009. Miss Warren’s father, Paul Brooks Warren, served as an escort in 1981. Her mother, Amanda Elliott Warren, served as an aide to the queen in 1973, a maid in 1982, and queen in 1984.

Both of Warren’s grandfathers have reigned as king, James William Elliott in 1996 and Paul Kenneth Warren in 2011. Warren’s cousins, Kern Hoff, Kensy Hoff and Kay Hoff, have also been members of the court.

Warren’s uncle, Beck Warren, and aunt, Meg Nordberg, represented the court in 1981 and 1985.