Bow to the kings and queens

Royalty and grand marshals will take to streets in Krewe of Lul, Des Allemands parades this weekend

The time has finally come for the 2011 St. Charles Mardi Gras krewes to roll, but the parades would be incomplete without our own local royalty to lead them.

William “Bill” Sirmon Jr. and Edith “Edie” Sirmon of Luling were named this year’s Krewe of Lul royalty. The theme for their float is “Saints and Sinners.”

“Sometimes we’re saints and sometimes we’re sinners and as you go through life, you choose your role every morning when you wake up,” Edie said of their choice of theme. “My sons have also been known to have a good time in their lives, so we thought that would be a cute theme for them.”

The Sirmons said their grandchildren are especially excited about participating in the parade this year.

“The little girls are going to have on wings and halos and the boys will have on devil horns,” Edie said.

Bill will be throwing specialty doubloons featuring the king and queen crowns and the Sirmons’ names and Edie will be giving out a special scroll designed by family friend Tuna Seither.

“We’re just so honored to be chosen,” Edie said. “If you look at the lineage of all the kings and queens of the Lul parade, they’re all such wonderful people – givers, civic-minded and generous people.

“To be among those ranks, we are just tickled to death.”

While neither Bill nor Edie are originally from St. Charles Parish, they have lived here for over 40 years. They are active parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Church.

Bill is on the Board of Commissioners of the Lafourche Basin District and is a member of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association, Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association, Ducks Unlimited and the Knights of Columbus Council 9933. He has also previously been involved with the St. Charles Parish Council, state Architectural Board, Engineering Board and Maritime Board and the board for the PIP program, a professional improvement program for teachers.

Edie is a volunteer teacher for Holy Family Catholic Church RCIA, an adorer for the Adoration Chapel at St. Mark Catholic Church in Ama and a board member of Creative Family Solutions, Louisiana Retired Teachers Association, St. Charles Parish Retired Teachers Association and AARP. She was an educator for 37 years and served as principal of both Norco K-3 Elementary and New Sarpy Kindergarten Center.

Returning to his roots in St. Charles Parish is this year’s Krewe of Lul grand marshal, Glynn Boyd.

Boyd is an Emmy award-winning journalist at WGNO News in New Orleans, but was raised in Boutte.

“I’m excited – I’ve bought all sorts of throws,” Boyd said about being chosen as Grand Marshal for the first time. “The big thing for me is seeing so many people who I haven’t seen in years…because it’s a local parade and everybody will be on that parade route.”

Boyd has been in many parades when he was drum major at Hahnville High School, and he even marched in one of the first Krewe of Lul parades over 30 years ago.

Boyd will ride with his oldest son and is looking forward to leading the parade and being “the big cheese.”

“I’m looking forward to it and I can’t wait. I hope we have a beautiful day,” Boyd said.

The Krewe of Lul parade will roll on Saturday at noon.

This year, the Krewe of Des Allemands chose St. Charles natives Clifton and Genevieve Fanguy Cologne as king and queen.

The couple grew up and raised their children in Des Allemands but had to relocate to Raceland two years ago after Hurricane Ike damaged their home.

They were crowned during a coronation dance on Feb. 12. “We had all of our family at our dance…we had a blast,” Genevieve said.

The two have never served as king and queen of a parade before, but they are excited to have been chosen after being nominated by their children.

They plan to throw special cups, medallions and beads.

Des Allemands grand marshals are Shirley Foret Dufrene and Clara Bell Usie Dufrene.

The two women are very excited to lead the parade on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Clara has lived in the parish for over five decades and worked for the St. Charles Parish school system for over 30 years. The former Granny Catfish Queen has been involved with St. Gertrude’s Church for years, helping at the Catfish Festival and monthly dances.

 

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