Th e Krewe of Athena celebrated its 18th annual Ball
on January 18 at the West Cal Event Center in Sulphur.
Entertainment was provided by the Th ree Th irty Seven band
from Lafayette, and Kyle Mestayer was the emcee.
Captain Athena XVIII is Becky Connor McCain,
a native of Cameron and a resident of Sulphur. She
is a graduate of South Cameron High School and
McNeese State University. She is employed as a
manager at The Broussard Group. Captain Becky
is a charter member of the Krewe and is currently
serving her sixth year as VP of Finances. She has
a son, Garrett (Karlee) McCain, a grandson Case
McCain and a daughter Alexandra McCain (fiancé’ Gary
Jones). The Captain is a member of Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church in Maplewood and the Krewe of
Cosmos.
Duchess Aglaia XVIII is Joanna Orndorff Laningham.
A resident of Lake Charles, she is a 1981 graduate of
Sulphur High and attended McNeese. She is co-owner of
Laningham’s Th rift y Way Pharmacy in Lake Charles. She
and her husband, Barry have two sons, Bradley (Kaitlyn)
and Bryce (Kay). Joanna is a charter member of the Krewe
and a member of St. Luke-Simpson Methodist Church.
Duchess Euphrosyne XVIII is Christine Deshotel Landry.
A lifelong resident of Lacassine, she is a 1986 graduate
of Lacassine High and a 1990 graduate of McNeese. She has a
son Justin (Jennifer) Landry, a granddaughter Jovi Nora and a
daughter, Natalie Landry. Th is is Christine’s ninth year in the
Krewe. She is a teacher at Fenton Elementary and is a member
of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lacassine.
Duchess Th alia XVIII is Heather Bagwell Istre. A lifelong
resident of Sulphur, she is a 1998 graduate of Sulphur
High and a 2003 graduate of McNeese. A teacher at Our
Lady’s School, Heather is married to Derrick Istre and they
have fi ve children: Allison, Gabe, Bryce, Seth and Kylie.
Heather has been a Krewe member for eight years and attends
Victory Worship Center.
Queen Hera XVIII is Dana Ann Taylor of Sulphur.
A lifelong resident of Sulphur, she is a 1979 graduate of
Sulphur High and attended McNeese. She is the human
resources manager for Business Health Partners.
The Queen’s husband is Ray Taylor and they have five
children: Nick (Randi) Taylor, Craig (Winter) Bowman,
Natalie (Tim) Fontenot, Josh Taylor and Lauren (Neil)
Ponstein. They have 13 grandchildren: Dava, Grace,
Carter, Kyler, Kennedy, Dawson, Emily, Gibson, Lillian,
Eisley, Charlotte, Cara and “Baby P.” Dana is a charter
member of the Krewe, previously served as Krewe rep for
two years, and is currently serving her third year as the
VP of public relations. Dana is a member of St. Theresa’s
Church in Carlyss, Krewe of Cosmos, and multiple professional
and social organizations.
Th e Krewe honors young adult children of members by
presenting them as Princesses and Gents. Kamryn Elise
Benton, daughter of Kellie and Marc Benton, is a Sulphur
High graduate and attends McNeese. Kyli Elizabeth Gremillion,
daughter of Jammie and Gary Gremillion, is a graduate
of Sulphur High and is attending LSU. Emma Marie Sarver,
daughter of Heather and Darin Sarver, is a graduate of Barbe
High and attends McNeese. Dillon Th omas Duplechan, son of
Jennifer and Glenn Duplechan, is a graduate of Sulphur High
and attends McNeese. Gabriel James LeJeune, son of Chauntelle
and Chad LeJeune, is a graduate of Sulphur High and is
employed at SPAR Rec Center. Dalton Reed Szymanski, son
of Paullette and William Szymanski, is a graduate of Sulphur
High and is employed at Billy Navarre Chevrolet. Zeke Shaw
Verzwyvelt, son of Courtney and Jeff Verzwyvelt, is a graduate
of Grand Lake High School and attends McNeese.
Th e Krewe of Athena is a women’s Krewe with 145 members,
choosing its royalty strictly by the “luck of the draw.”
It provides the “Tracy Beaugh Rising Star Award” scholarship
at SOWELA each semester.
FEBRUARY 24, 2020 • MARDI GRAS SOUTHWEST • 09