2023 Queen Susie McEachin Johnson & King Cornelius "CD" Smith
Mrs. Susie McEachin Johnson grew up in Meridian and graduated from Meridian High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Asbury University and her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She currently serves as MCC’s Arts & Letters/Theatre Director. She spent ten years as Meridian Symphony Association’s Executive and Education Director and previously coordinated youth plays and workshops for Meridian Little Theatre.
Susie has been active in the community for over 30 years, serving on various boards, committees, and partnerships, including MS Alliance for Arts Education, MUNA FCU, Riley Center for Performing Arts, the Any Given Child Initiative, MLT Youth, Meridian Children’s Chorus, Meridian Council for the Arts, Poplar Springs Arts Advisory Council, Meridian Christian Home Educators, Junior Auxiliary, Symphony League, and the Matinee Philharmonic Club. She has conducted workshops and taught classes for local home school organizations as well as Leadership Lauderdale. She recently worked as an Art Integration workshop instructor and Drama Arts Form Trainer/Consultant; was part of the first Meridian Children’s Museum Midnight at the Museum Gala; and worked with the planning team for The MAX Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
In 2010, Susie founded Stage 2, a teen/college theatre group emphasizing character development and community service. Take 1, its “sister group” for elementary students, began meeting and performing in 2019.
Susie is a recipient of the statewide MAAE Exemplary Arts Service Award, the Judith Coursey Crowson Women’s Leadership Award, MS Arts Educator Award, Meridian Star’s Top Ten Women, and MLT’s Best Musical Theatre Actress. Susie loves to read and travel. She has 3 children: Jenna and Mitch Whidden, Benjamin and Lauren Johnson, and KK Johnson.
Susie has been active in the community for over 30 years, serving on various boards, committees, and partnerships, including MS Alliance for Arts Education, MUNA FCU, Riley Center for Performing Arts, the Any Given Child Initiative, MLT Youth, Meridian Children’s Chorus, Meridian Council for the Arts, Poplar Springs Arts Advisory Council, Meridian Christian Home Educators, Junior Auxiliary, Symphony League, and the Matinee Philharmonic Club. She has conducted workshops and taught classes for local home school organizations as well as Leadership Lauderdale. She recently worked as an Art Integration workshop instructor and Drama Arts Form Trainer/Consultant; was part of the first Meridian Children’s Museum Midnight at the Museum Gala; and worked with the planning team for The MAX Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
In 2010, Susie founded Stage 2, a teen/college theatre group emphasizing character development and community service. Take 1, its “sister group” for elementary students, began meeting and performing in 2019.
Susie is a recipient of the statewide MAAE Exemplary Arts Service Award, the Judith Coursey Crowson Women’s Leadership Award, MS Arts Educator Award, Meridian Star’s Top Ten Women, and MLT’s Best Musical Theatre Actress. Susie loves to read and travel. She has 3 children: Jenna and Mitch Whidden, Benjamin and Lauren Johnson, and KK Johnson.
A native of Vicksburg, Cornelius “CD” Smith has lived in Meridian for 42 years and has done so much, known and unknown, to improve our community during that time.
CD is a Regional Director for AT&T, has oversight for 31 counties across Central Mississippi (MS), and interfaces with the MS Public Service Commission. Smith has a bachelor’s degree in business and industry and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Mississippi State University. He previously served on the national board of directors of the MSU Alumni Association and finished out his military career after 39 years of service as the highest enlisted position in the Mississippi Air National Guard, the state Command Chief Master Sergeant.
CD has served on too many boards and volunteered in too many ways for us to list now, but to name a few, he is current chairman for board of directors at The Montgomery Institute, vice chairman for the board of trustees for Meridian Community College, chairman for the board of directors for the Meridian Community College Foundation, recently completed a 10-year term on the board of trustees for the MS Public Universities and Institutes of Higher Learning, and serves on boards for Weems Mental Health Center, Trustmark Bank, and the MS Economic Council.
He has previously served on the boards of the EMBDC, Kiwanis Club, Meridian Little Theatre, Meridian Area Navy League, the United Way, State Games of MS, Meridian Symphony Association, Care Lodge, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Club, and the Choctaw Area Council of Boy Scouts of America.
He has also received more awards and recognitions than we will go over now, but he was previously Citizen of the Year by The Meridian Star and MSU-Meridian Alumnus of the Year. He has participated in Leadership Lauderdale and Leadership MS, and if you are a soccer fan, you may know that the field at Meridian Community College is named for him.
CD is a member of the Meridian Rotary Club and NorthPark Church. He is married to the former Linda Joyce Bishop and has three children: Cynthia, Drew, and Danielle, along with three grandchildren, Katelynn, “little”Drew, and Jasper.
CD is a Regional Director for AT&T, has oversight for 31 counties across Central Mississippi (MS), and interfaces with the MS Public Service Commission. Smith has a bachelor’s degree in business and industry and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Mississippi State University. He previously served on the national board of directors of the MSU Alumni Association and finished out his military career after 39 years of service as the highest enlisted position in the Mississippi Air National Guard, the state Command Chief Master Sergeant.
CD has served on too many boards and volunteered in too many ways for us to list now, but to name a few, he is current chairman for board of directors at The Montgomery Institute, vice chairman for the board of trustees for Meridian Community College, chairman for the board of directors for the Meridian Community College Foundation, recently completed a 10-year term on the board of trustees for the MS Public Universities and Institutes of Higher Learning, and serves on boards for Weems Mental Health Center, Trustmark Bank, and the MS Economic Council.
He has previously served on the boards of the EMBDC, Kiwanis Club, Meridian Little Theatre, Meridian Area Navy League, the United Way, State Games of MS, Meridian Symphony Association, Care Lodge, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Club, and the Choctaw Area Council of Boy Scouts of America.
He has also received more awards and recognitions than we will go over now, but he was previously Citizen of the Year by The Meridian Star and MSU-Meridian Alumnus of the Year. He has participated in Leadership Lauderdale and Leadership MS, and if you are a soccer fan, you may know that the field at Meridian Community College is named for him.
CD is a member of the Meridian Rotary Club and NorthPark Church. He is married to the former Linda Joyce Bishop and has three children: Cynthia, Drew, and Danielle, along with three grandchildren, Katelynn, “little”Drew, and Jasper.
2023 Royal Court
Karlie Ryan Pickett - daughter of Robert Pickett and Lifetime member Brandi Pickett.
Bailey Reese Pickett - daughter of Robert Pickett and Lifetime member Brandi Pickett.
Mason Knight - son of Chris Knight and Lifetime member, past president, and current National Association of Junior Auxiliaries chapter support coordinator Kim Knight.
Bailey Reese Pickett - daughter of Robert Pickett and Lifetime member Brandi Pickett.
Mason Knight - son of Chris Knight and Lifetime member, past president, and current National Association of Junior Auxiliaries chapter support coordinator Kim Knight.
2023 Crown Court
Lauren Boutwell
Kinley Cain
Kaitlyn Foreman
Elizabeth Maxey
Alice McCracken
Isabelle Morrison
Alexa Shirley
Libby Smith
Copeland Tillery
Liv Wheat
Kinley Cain
Kaitlyn Foreman
Elizabeth Maxey
Alice McCracken
Isabelle Morrison
Alexa Shirley
Libby Smith
Copeland Tillery
Liv Wheat
