Achaeans
“Athena, the goddess of wisdom, spied him among the bold | And gave him the gift of a dagger more powerful than gold.”
These poetic lines in the ball program of The Achaeans, which held forth formally and festively in the Hyatt Regency’s Celestin Ballroom, referred to Diomedes, a prominent Achaean (Greek) hero and King of Argos. Yes Athena gave him the powerful dagger, but she counseled him to use wisdom in warfare. He took her advice and she was pleased.
Turning to pacific overtures, queenly glory was manifested at “Athena and Diomedes” by Miss Charlotte Sydney Wirth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Roy Wirth. The 2025 scepter was held by Miss Abigail Hartsfield Chaffe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Blackshear Hamilton Chaffe IV.
Maids to queen Charlotte were Misses Patricia Randle Aucoin, Emma Rose Baumer, Kate Franklin Bensel, Lyden Henriette Bland, Eliza Brandon Favrot, Caroline Staples Picou and Camille Adair Sewell. They, as did countless others, received the 2026 Achaeans krewe favor, a beautiful dagger pin/pendant made of gold-plated pewter and embellished with crystal stones.
Other recipients were seated in prominent areas of the ballroom and enjoyed the music of Robert Maxwell leading the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra. Noted were royal mother Ginny Wirth, the 2015 queen Courtney Cooke Geary, Ms. Rebecca Fransen Worley, Ms. Pamela Georges Dongieux, and Mmes. Robert Bruce Worley Jr., Michael Patrick Cook, Andrew Herrington, Clayton Cooke Geary, Michael Kent Philips, Newton Rowan Reynolds, Thomas Gerard Diano Jr., Cyril Paul Geary III, James Favrot Geary, Gordon Hardin Kolb Jr., Robert Duncan Brown, Nicolas Price Lanier, John Benton Smallpage III, Bryan Westfeldt Fitzpatrick, Hunter Garrett Hill, David Gunn Bailey and Tom Benson (Gayle Marie Benson).
All admired the radiant royal, who was gowned by Suzanne Perron St. Paul. The regal trumpet-silhouette dress had a curving pattern of lace with defined marquise motifs that extended vertically throughout the skirt. Dense beading of iridescent white beads, luminous bugles, Swarovski crystals and sequins created radiance. The same couturiere designed the strapless gown of her majesty’s mother, Mrs. Wirth. It was of garnet double silk with a sculpted peplum.
At the end of the bal masqué, and after the departure of the monarchs, the white-outfitted captain passed the whistle to a successor. The transference of Carnival power was received “with roars of cheers by all.”
Choice socializing occurred both before the ball at the Wirth family home and afterward within the host hotel. The tables, which were decorated with flowers by Pam Dongieux, also held favors reflecting the queen’s personality, such as hats, koozies, frost flex cups, and red blinky bracelets. Both she and the king had favor pins made for their royal occasion. Hers was a crowned elephant and his, a palate of sheetrock. In addition, his majesty, who relished his regal role, provided blinky beads.
Late-night cuisine fueled the lively crowd before they darted to the dance floor for the non-stop music of the 17-piece Liquid Blue band from San Diego.
In her royal reflection, queen Charlotte expressed deep gratitude for her reign and the future memories, acknowledged new friendships, and concluded with the honor she had of celebrating and upholding “a tradition that means so much.” Somewhere, Athena was smiling.
Stories to Spin
“Mother Athena’s Nursery Rhymes” titled the tableau for the Krewe of Athenians, whose 117th masked ball unfolded in the Orpheum Theater with echoes of childhood tunes, starting with “Three Blind Mice” as led by Robert Maxwell for the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra. Frolicking krewe members tossed signature doubloons.
Reigning was Miss Lillian Margaret Roussel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Farrell Roussel, and the fourth “gold queen” in her family. She was resplendent in a classic A-line skirted gown created by Chase Zibilich of cream peau de soie that was overlaid with gold beaded tulle and crystal rhinestones. A sentimental accessory was a golden butterfly pin that belonged to her great-grandmother, Lillian Cressend Schonberg. Mrs. Roussel followed sentimental suit with a bracelet inherited from her grandmother, Emmy Lou Cowand, the 1946 queen of Carnival. Her Chase Zibilich gown was of hot pink brocade.
Gowned in white, the ladies of the court, the maids, were Misses Marché Marie Beals, Adelaide Elizabeth Benzman, Suzanne Marie Brown, Ellen Margaret Daly (Olympians queen), Piper Katherine Franks, Julianne Quaid Good, Lucy House Hall, Sloane Alexandra Paysse (Caliphs queen) and Grace Goodwin Romero. The pages were Masters Charles Nicholas Dietz, Matthew Charles Gainey, Hayden West Janke and John Martin Roth, and the princesses, Misses Isabelle Garland Alexander, Mary Agnes Baxter, Miller Carlisle Breland, Mary Margaret Fischer, Marguerite Elaine G’sell, Elizabeth Anne Henican, Loretta Livaudais Miner, Ann Wilkie Newman, Natalie Florence Sharpe and Samantha Josephine Sharpe. Mr. Charles T. Walsten was the ball’s general chairman.
Enjoying prominent seating were Mmes. Roussel, Robert Joseph Schonberg, Thomas Dale Blackburn, Richard Devlin Roussel, Albert Peyton Bush IV, David Cressend Schonberg, Glenn Gill Goodyear, Stephen Benjamin Hales, and Caroline Cowand Roussel, Emily Lillian Blackburn, Erin Curry Reily, Cheri Clark Hemelt, Yvette R. Monju, and her 2025 majesty Marguerite Lisette Breaux, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Gerard Breaux. Also, Mmes. Breaux, James Harrington Reily, Kamran Zaheri, Paul Louis Friedlander, James Colligan Wilbert, Charles Emmett Redfearn, Daniel Gerard Busse and Edward Begnaud.
After the ball, the New Orleans Country Club was the welcoming location for breakfast with king cake, along with the king and queen, and hours of dance floor action to The Boogie Men. Years will hold the memories of Lillian’s monarchal glory and her “gold queen” legacy. She emphasized the importance of celebrating with family and friends, concluding with, “Everything was perfect.” More smiles from Athena.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
