Meet the Gulf Coast Carnival Association’s 2020 king and queen
The Gulf Coast Carnival Association’s king and queen for 2020 are Abbie Elizabeth Brashier and John William Atherton.
2020 Queen Ixolib
Abbie Elizabeth Brashier
Abbie Elizabeth Brashier of Biloxi is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Allen Brashier of Biloxi and Ms. Karen Dibbs Brashier of Biloxi. Her maternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. John E. Dibbs. Her paternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Brashier.
She attended Biloxi High School where she graduated with highest honors. At Biloxi High School she was senior class president, editor-in-chief of the yearbook staff, president of the history & law club, a member of National Honor Society and a Biloxi High School Hall of Fame inductee. She is a senior at the University of Mississippi majoring in public policy leadership with a minor in journalism. She is member of the Trent Lott Leadership Institute as well as a Patricia Lott Scholar and Bledsoe Scholar. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Rho Lambda Honor Society and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
She is a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. She was the 2016 recipient of the City of Biloxi Youth Volunteer of the Year award and was a member of the 2017 Mississippi Gulf Coast Debutante Society.
GCCA affiliations: She served as a page to Queen Ixolib in 2009 and was a maid in 2019. Her father, Robert A. Brashier, served as a duke in 2003 and 2013. Her uncle, Jim E. Brashier, served as a duke in 2000 and served as King d’ Iberville in 2003. Her cousin, Dewey Brashier Mason, served as a flag bearer in 1999, a maid in 2008 and served as Queen Ixolib in 2009. Her cousin, Analise Brashier Riggins, served as a flag bearer in 2002, a page in 2003, a maid in 2009 and served as Queen lxolib in 2013. Her great aunt, Mildred Eley, served as Queen Ixolib in 1927.
2020 King d’Iberville
John William Atherton
John William Atherton of Gulfport is the husband of Lori Callahan Atherton. They are the parents of Anna Atherton Marshall and Molly Catherine Atherton. He is a 1978 graduate of Gulfport High School where he was the winner of nine varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a member of the 1977 State Championship Football team and was selected as the Most Dedicated Player. He was also Team Captain in baseball. He was a member of the Student Council, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society and Phi Kappa National Fraternity where he served as President and as a National Officer. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. He was inducted into the USM Hall of Fame. He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, president of the Interfraternity Council and was selected as Greek of the Year. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity where he served as Vice President and President and was recognized as the Outstanding Member. He received additional education at Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2018, he retired from Mississippi Power Company after thirty three years of service. Most recently, he served as Vice President for Public Relations and Corporate Services where he was responsible for public relations and communication, charitable giving and volunteerism, environmental affairs, information technology, supply chain management and corporate services. He is currently the president of Waypoint Incorporated, a business consulting firm serving clients in the utility, architectural/engineering and executive coaching/training space.
He is a past member of the Bayou Bluff Tennis Club and USM Advocacy 100. He is also a past board member of the MS Arts and Entertainment Experience and Climb CDC. He is a board member and president of the USM Research Foundation, a member of the USM Business Advisory Board and a member of the USM Alumni Association where he was a past member of the board. He is a member of the Century Club and the Gulfport Yacht Club where he served as Past Commodore and board member. He currently serves on the board of the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Manufacturers Association, Leadership Gulf Coast and Gulf Coast Carnival Association. He is working with the Mississippi Aquarium Capital Campaign.
He received a Sun Herald Top 10 Community Leader Award in 2006, a Coast Young Professionals Forever Young Award in 2014 and American Legislative Exchange Council Private Sector Member of the Year in 2002. He is a graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast and Leadership Mississippi. He is a member of St. James Catholic Church where he formerly was a parish council member and chair of the Fall Festival.
GCCA Affiliations: He served as a duke in 2005 and 2006. His daughter, Anna Atherton Marshall, was a maid in 2011. His daughter, Molly Atherton, was a flag bearer in 2006, a maid in 2014 and served as Queen Ixolib in 2017.
This story was originally published February 23, 2020 at 12:00 AM.