The Nubian Social Aid and Pleasure Club of Natchez recently crowned Alexine and Jeffrey Jordan, a mother and son from Brookhaven, as King and Queen of the club’s upcoming Mardi Gras festivities. Queen Jordan said she will be using her position to promote reading.

“I want to instill in our kids and their parents a passion for reading,” she said, “and getting back to just good old fashioned reading a book – reading aloud to your kids and kids taking the time to read. Excellence in reading can take you places you’ve never been before.”

Jordan said she has a passion for giving back what others gave to her and explains that this goes along with the Nubian Club’s mission – “support, encourage and improve socialization in the Mississippi-Louisiana community. The principles are: truth, justice, harmony, balance, cosmological order, propriety and reciprocity.”

Jordan is a retired teacher who taught first grade for 39 years in the Brookhaven School District, the last 20 as first grade teacher at Mamie Martin Elementary.

“The title,” she said, “gives me a chance to go back to my roots – passing on my experience to the younger generations. When I was young I was given guidance and wisdom from others, and I want to do that same thing.”

Jordan runs an after-school tutoring program at St. Paul Baptist Church in Brookhaven with students in kindergarten through fourth grade. She is also filling in for a teacher on maternity leave at Brookhaven Elementary.

Son Jeffrey Jordan is very active with the youth at Rhema Word and Worship Church in Brookhaven where he is also a member of the choir, serves as a trustee and is president of the men’s ministry. He is married to Kechia Taylor Jordan. They live in Brookhaven with their three children.

Ms. Jordan said her son pushes kids to achieve, too.

“He encourages excellence in school,” she said, “he got that from his mama,” she laughs.

The social club has a Mardi Gras event every year. The Nubian club in Natchez was founded in 2011. Their motto is “Party with a purpose.” The club focuses on a “family style Mardi Gras event to be enjoyed by people of all ages.”

Throughout the year members are busy with community service projects which include monthly bingo at Glenburney Nursing Home, preparing care bags for local radiation and chemotherapy patients, collecting and donating canned goods for the local stewpot, adopting elderly citizens for Christmas and giving scholarships to area students.

Nubian Social Aid and Pleasure Club’s Third Annual Tableau Mardi Gras Ball will be Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Natchez Convention Center. The theme is “Only in N’awlins.”

Tickets are $40 per person and include dinner, drinks, and entertainment. Tables are also available.

It will be a formal attire event: floor length gowns for ladies and black tuxedos for men.

Entertainment will be provided by Burnell Taylor, a 2013 American Idol Finalist, and the House of Cards Band. Tickets can be purchased from any Nubian SAPC member or call 601-597-8063 or 601-392-3344.