To herald the upcoming 40th anniversary of its organization, theKrewe of Ceres celebrated with “A Premier Edition” Charity BallSaturday evening.

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the ball’sking and queen, David Hill Strong and Hannah Meré Estess and thepresentation of the court.

Thirty-nine years have passed since the first Charity Ball washeld, setting up the theme for this year’s ball, which highlightedpast kings and queens and the service of the Krewe in helping tomeet the community’s needs.

Guests were greeted by flashes simulating the cameras ofpaparazzi and entered the event on a red carpet. As guests enteredthe foyer they were transported back in time as they observedenlarged and framed photographs of past kings and queens suspendedon a dramatic black wall.

The red carpet directed guests through the photo gallery intothe main ballroom where silver gossamer draped the ceiling. Silverstars, symbolizing the “stars” of the 40 past years were cascadingin groups from the center portion of the ceiling.

The court was presented on a plush red carpet and introduced toguests under the glittering stars.

The king’s and queen’s throne was a sight to behold, with aroyal red curtain pulled aside to frame the royalty and theircourt.

Atop silver columns, four grandiose urns of mixed textures andshades of green flanked the stage.

The guests’ tables were accented with wire topiaries designedwith shades of green and white flowers and red satin ballssurrounded by white votive candles.

Dinner for the evening was served from two large areas where thefocus was placed on two magnificent urns of greenery complementingthose on the throne.

After the presentation of the king and queen and their court,guests enjoyed a night of dancing and entertainment provided by”Meet the Press.”

King David Hill Strong

King David Hill Strong was born in Crosby in rural Amite County,to Oren Henry and Lexine Sorrells Strong. He is the youngest of sixchildren and was named after the physician who delivered him, DavidThornhill.

He attended Crosby Public Schools where he graduated with honorsin 1956 as president of his senior class. He enjoyed athletics andplayed high school football, basketball and baseball. He was activein Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

After graduation, Strong entered Millsaps College and majored inbiology with an interest in attending medical school. While atMillsaps, he was on the Dean’s List, President’s List, published apaper in the Biology Review, and was initiated into Kappa AlphaFraternity. He lettered in varsity baseball for three years and wasa member of the M Club.

Strong graduated from Millsaps in 1960 and was offered ateaching position at McComb High School. After a year of teachingbiology and coaching baseball, he knew that teaching was not hisprimary interest. In 1962, he entered the University of MississippiMedical Center as a freshman medical student. He graduated in 1966,and did his internship in general medicine at John Gaston Hospitalin Memphis, Tenn.

During this time, the Vietnam War was ongoing and medicalgraduates were asked to volunteer for active duty in the military.In 1967, Strong entered the United States Air Force as a captainand served two years as a General Medical Officer at Pope Air ForceBase and Fort Bragg Army Base. It was his privilege to care for theAir Force personnel, including the Green Berets and theparatroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division.

After completing his military duty, Strong began searching for aplace to practice medicine in Mississippi. While at Millsaps, hewould hitchhike from Jackson to Crosby, frequently walking downHighway 51 by Brookhaven’s King’s Daughters Hospital. During thesetimes he often pictured himself coming to Brookhaven and practicingin that hospital. In 1969, he wrote to the Brookhaven Chamber ofCommerce and inquired about the possibility of opening a medicalpractice in Brookhaven. The chamber referred his letter to Dr.Frank Massengill, who invited Strong to join him in practice.

With the help and encouragement of many people, in 1969 heestablished a successful medical practice, even though the chargefor an initial office visit was only $3. He practiced in Brookhavenfrom October of 1969 to July of 1998. During that time he servedtwo terms as Chief of the King’s Daughters Hospital Medical Staff,and was Medical director for Silver Cross Nursing Home, BeverlyHealth Care, Haven Hall Nursing Home, and Lincoln ResidentialLiving Center.

He was the clinical physician for Copiah-Lincoln CommunityCollege for 20 years and provided services for its student body andathletic programs. He was a member of the American MedicalAssociation and the Southern Medical Association.

Now, Strong serves as a board member of Deaconess Home Health,Southwest Mississippi Opportunity Inc., and Brookhaven AcademyInc.

He is an active member of First United Methodist Church, wherehe has served in many capacities including chairman of theadministrative board, chairman of the trustees and a longtimeteacher of the senior ladies Sunday school class.

Strong has many hobbies, including quail and turkey hunting,fishing, tennis and golf. At retirement he desired to give back tohis community that had provided so much for him and his family. Hewas contacted by the Rev. Jerry Durr, director of BrookhavenOutreach Ministries, about reviving a medical clinic that providesfree services to those in need. Since August of 1998, Strong andhis wife Debra, along with valued volunteers have operated theclinic providing medical service to approximately 1,000 LincolnCounty citizens per year.

The clinic has now operated for nine years from privatedonations and support of the Brookhaven medical community. Strongand his family are also active in other Brookhaven Outreachprojects which include providing school supplies locally, OperationBlessing, Thanksgiving food for the local elderly and handicapped,and Christmas gifts for needy Lincoln County children.

Strong has been blessed with a supportive family for which he isvery proud and thankful. He has five sons: David Jr., Circuit CourtJudge, who is married to the former Alison Boyd; Mark, acardiologist; Jason, an attorney, who is married to the formerSaundra Brown; Patrick, an attorney, who is engaged to MarianneMiranda; and Jonathan, a junior premed student at Ole Miss. He hasfive grandchildren, William, Luke, Whitney, Anna Cate and Jack.David’s wife, the former Debra Norwood, was former royalty servingin the 1973 Harvest Ball and his son Jonathan was an escort in the2006 Charity Ball.

Living in Brookhaven has given Strong the opportunity to achieveprofessional goals and enjoy raising his family in a supportivecommunity. He appreciates the support and trust that have beenawarded him through this honor. He is humbled by thisrecognition.

Queen Hannah Mere’ Estess

Queen Hannah Mere’ Estess is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. CecilP. Estess, of Brookhaven. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. RobertLewis Estess, of McComb, and the late Mr. Estess, and Mrs. Wayne B.Williams, of Brookhaven, and the late Mr. Williams.

She is a 2004 special honors graduate of Brookhaven Academy.While at Brookhaven Academy, Estess was secretary of the NationalHonor Society, recipient of the Cougar Leadership Award, theTrustmark Female Athlete Scholastic Award, and was selected MissBrookhaven Academy.

She was senior captain of the girls’ tennis team, winning thetitles of Girls’ Doubles District Champion for two years and Girls’Doubles State Champion one year.

She served as senior co-captain of the varsity cheerleader squadand was on the Elite Cheer Competition Team. She was voted MostCourteous, Most Likely To Succeed, junior homecoming maid, juniorclass secretary, a member of the Service Club and the Fellowship ofChristian Athletes.

She served on the lead team of her youth group at First BaptistChurch of Brookhaven, participated in the Lincoln County JuniorMiss Program, the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce LesBelles déHospitalite, Cancer Relay for Life, Big Brothers BigSisters of Mississippi mentoring program, and served as a page inthe Mississippi House of Representatives.

Estess’ scholarships included Lincoln County Junior Miss,Lincoln County Mississippi State Alumni Association, MississippiState University Academic Scholarship, and Champion of ChildrenScholarship.

A junior at Mississippi State University, Estess is anaccounting major. She is a member of the Mississippi State Chapterof Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society and the Delta Gamma socialsorority, where she has served as assistant to finances.

She has been on the Dean’s List, a 2004-2005 Mississippi StateCheerleader, served on the Student Association for Campus Outreach,the Baptist Student Union leadership team, attends Campus Crusadefor Christ and is currently a Match Mate for the MSU Men’s VarsityTennis Team.

Estess’ volunteer service includes Habitat for Humanity, Servicefor Sight, a nursing home in Starkville and a spring mission tripto inner city New York.

She is a member of the Debutante Club of Mississippi. She was anaide to Queen Sunday Sones Holmes and King James Elliot in the 1996Charity Ball and a maid in the 2006 Ball. Her brothers, Clint andJustin, served as escorts in the 1998 and 2001 Charity Balls.