Elks celebrate Mardi Gras in Hattiesburg with 'Enchanted Forest' theme
The Krewe of Elks held their 57th Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday at the Hattiesburg Elks Lodge #599. This year’s theme was "The Enchanted Forest," the Elks Lodge announced.
King Elk LVII, James Herman "Jimmy" Ward, was born in Hattiesburg to Ricky Ward and the late Martha Fleming and has three siblings, Wendy Ward of Sumrall, Lori Sorrells of Oak Grove, and Paul Prine of Brandon. He is married to Jennifer Kimble Ward, Carnival ball chairman. Jimmy and Jennifer have three children, Allison Rogers of Starkville, Hayley Ward Everitt of New Orleans, and Dylan Dobbs of Ocean Springs. He has three grandchildren, Layla and Nolan Rogers and Kimble Dobbs.
The king graduated from Oak Grove High School in 1982. After high school graduation, Jimmy Ward began his professional career by working for his father’s company, Ward’s Body Shop. After 14 years as owner and manager of the body shop, he began a long history of service to Allstate Insurance company as an auto adjuster. For 21 years, Jimmy ranked among the top five in customer satisfaction as he served across the state. As a member of the professional automotive industry, Jimmy Ward earned numerous national certifications that allowed him to work not only statewide but also for national disaster relief. He now spends his time as a Class A Production operator for Island Operating Company.
Joining the Elks and Krewe in 2012, Jimmy Ward has served Hattiesburg Lodge 599 as Pool Chairman and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Along with his service, he has given untold volunteer hours to various charitable events. He is one of the five original members of the Burn Your Own Steak team, was instrumental in the first ever poker run and led a team to the last poker run event which supported the Veterans Home in Collins. He served as Krewe Lieutenant in 2021-2022, Duke to King LII, Scott Miller and three years as a Royal Usher. He has "not let a Duke, Duchess, King or Queen ever fall! King Ward’s passion for all things 599 remain close to his heart in all ways," the lodge announced.
His hobbies include fishing, hunting, boating, camping, and racing dirt bikes. He is a lifetime member of the American Motorcycle Association and the Southern Enduro Riders Association (SERA). As a SERA member, he served as Vice President for two years promoting events throughout the southeast. He served as President of Master Link Enduro Club, Vice President of Mississippi High Point Enduro Riders, and still plays a very active role in Ridge Runners Enduro Club. As an outdoor racer, he won two National Championships racing quads, one National Championship racing enduro bikes, one State Championship in Motocross and multiple championships in different classes throughout the SERA organization. Two of his proudest moments, the lodge announced, "came when his son and grandson joined the sport. His love for off road adventures continues today."
Queen Elk LVII, Darla Robertson Arnett, was born and raised "a proud Mississippi girl." She is the daughter of the late Ralph and Carolyn Robertson and was raised by her late Grandparents, Ira and Ruby Anderson of the Talowah community. She has been an active member of the Dixie Community since 1995 when she married her "handsome and wonderful husband, Mark Arnett." Together they have a son, Cody Arnett, who is an active member of Elks Lodge #599, and one daughter, Carley Arnett Headley.
The queen is a graduate of Purvis High School. After high school graduation, Darla began her professional career as a phlebotomist with United Blood Services. She served statewide for 10 years prior to raising her children. She has also been instrumental working alongside her husband building the family businesses over the past 15 years. Together they founded and built a successful national company, MDA Construction Services, LLC, headquartered in Hattiesburg. She is also a founding owner of PineHaven Funeral Home and Crematory; as well as PetHaven Memorial and Crematory. Her position overseeing the accounting and bookkeeping allows her to lend a personal hand in caring for all their employees and their families.
Darla Arnett is a consistent figure around the Elks Lodge where she enjoys social events and helping wherever and whenever needed. She has enjoyed being involved with the Krewe for the past two years. One of her most favorite events is "as a judge for the Womanless Beauty Pageant. She has gained a host of new friends at the Elks Lodge which she feels truly blessed by. She continues to volunteer when able to support the interest of BPOE 599 with organizations like the Auxiliary, Burn Your Own Steak nights, the Veterans Poker Run, and assisting with meals for the members who worked to resurface the pool."
Family has always been a central focus for Darla Arnett. She "enjoys being a mother to her now grown children and very much looks forward to becoming a grandmother one day."
Darla and Mark have always been close with their families and enjoy spending as much time with them as possible. Darla Arnett has become “Momma Bear” to many of her kids’ friends and others she has met in life, and proudly considers them family. If you find yourself on “Team Darla”, you "have a true friend for life with no age limits."
When she is not traveling with her husband around the country, she enjoys spending time at all sorts of shindigs, spending time with her children, family, friends, and shopping.
The king and queen ended their coronation weekend with their King and Queen Celebration on Sunday afternoon to thank their court and Krewe members who helped them throughout the Carnival season and to celebrate their coronation with family and friends.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Hattiesburg Elks Lodge #599 Mardi Gras ball themed Enchanted Forest
