The 2015-2016 St. Paul’s Carnival season will officially begin with a “Kick-Off/Spirit
Party” on September 19th at 7:00 P.M. at the Pass Christian Historical Society Building,
201 E. Scenic Drive, Pass Christian.
St. Paul’s Carnival Association, Inc., invites you to attend and meet this year’s Royal
Contestants: Bennie French, III, and Joann Hanson York. The theme of this Carnival Season
is “TOGA! Where the Games Began.” Please join us in our fundraising efforts in support of
St. Vincent de Paul School, as well as other local non-profit and community organizations.
Introducing King Christian LXXXVI Bennie French III and Queen Christiana 2016 Joann Hanson York
Bennie L. French III is a Pass Christian native. He attended elementary school
at St. Paul Catholic School, graduated high school from St. Stanislaus College
and attends Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
In 1980, he reopened his grandfather's historic business and became
owner and manager of Bennie French's Tavern, a popular local meeting spot
for many years in Henderson Point.
In 1985, he began pursuing a career in Emergency Medical
Services. He obtained his EMT-Basic and EMT-Paramedic certifications and
has been a nationally registered paramedic for 30 years. He joined Acadian
Ambulance Service in 1995 and currently serves as a community and
governmental relations supervisor.
Bennie served as the first firefighter/paramedic for the Pass Christian Fire Department. He also
volunteered his time and services as a firefighter/paramedic for the Henderson Point Volunteer Fire Department
and served as volunteer fire chief for many years.
He currently is the disaster evacuation coordinator for all facilities in Jackson County, Mississippi, and in
Slidell, Louisiana, and is the medical liaison between Acadian Ambulance and the Mississippi Department of Health,
Bureau of EMS, during hurricanes and for all natural and/or manmade disasters.
Bennie has continued to support and volunteer his time at St. Paul's School. He implemented the Pass
Parade Parking program, which continues today through the generosity and oversight of the Knights of Columbus.
He has also managed the beverage booth at the St. Paul Seafood Festival for a number of years and then became cochairman of the entire festival for several years.
Bennie is a member of St. Paul Carnival Association and has been involved with the organization for many
years. His aunt, Bonita Favre, was Queen Christiana in 1995 and is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her reign
this year. Bennie is the brother of Linda French Wittmann, who is the wife of Kenneth C. Wittmann, King Christian
LXV in 1995. He is married to Natasha (Davis) French. Their children attended St. Paul Catholic School.
Joann Hanson York is a Pass Christian native. She graduated from Coast Episcopal High School and then attended
the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. She graduated with honors from the Culinary
Institute before going on to a successful career as a chef and small business owner. Joann worked at The Windsor
Court Hotel in New Orleans, The Country Club of Mobile and the Hyatt Hotel, Greenwich, Conn., before opening her
own popular restaurant in Pass Christian, The Plantation Cafe.
Joann has generously shared her talent for countless events and fundraisers on the Gulf Coast. She is a
member of Holy Family Parish, where she is a Eucharistic Minister; the Co-Chair and Team Leader of the
Bereavement Committee; and a member of the Ladies Altar Society. In addition, she is a member of St. Paul
Carnival Association and Food Chair for the St. Paul Seafood Festival.
Locals have long enjoyed Joann’s cooking through her businesses as a Private Chef; her signature
Wednesday Night Supper Club; and her catering company, Great Bowls of Gumbo. Chef Joann is looking forward to
beginning a culinary program soon at the Pass Christian Boys and Girls Club that will promote healthy eating and
cooking skills to local youth.
Joann's family connection to St. Paul Carnival Association dates back a century. Joann is the grandniece of
Ellen Courtenay, who reigned as queen in 1915, and the grandniece of Thelma Hanson, who was queen in 1917.
Her aunts Julia Hanson (Cerra) and Dora Ellen Hanson Pickich reigned as Queen Christiana in 1941 and 1957,
respectively, and her uncle Shannon Pickich was King Christian XXVI in 1959. Joann's brother, Herbert Courtenay
Hanson, Jr., was King Christian LXXXII in 2012. Joann’s son, Daniel, attended St. Paul Catholic School.