

Organized in 2006, the Krewe of Atlas is named after the mythological Titan warrior Atlas. Krewe Members are bound together by the belief that Mardi Gras is a “Celebration for the Masses.” After storming Olympus and threatening the Gods, Atlas was sentenced to hold up the world on his shoulders forever. Just as the world encompassed people from all walks of like so does our Krewe, and in the spirit of Atlas we strive to lift up our “area of the world” through our community service projects.
About Us
Royal Court XV
2022-2023
Captain Elizabeth Sims
Elizabeth was born in NM and raised on the MS Gulf Coast. She has her bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. She currently lives in Greenwood, LA with her family. She homeschools their children. She is the founder of Superkids Homeschool Group the areas only group for homeschooling your special needs child. She also judges pageants. She has served as our Duchess of Desire XII, Co Captain XIII & XIV, Queen Atlas XIV and on our board as fundraising chair and historian. She enjoys crafting, reading, shopping and photography.

King XV John Smith
Our King was born in Shreveport and is a graduate of First Baptist High School. He then attended Louisiana Tech where he majored in Geosciences. He is the President of Robinsons Royalty and JRS Enterprises. Our King and his Queen have been married for 30 years! He has one daughter and two granddaughters who live in Maine and one step-daughter and grand children who live in south Carolina. His love of animals revolve around rescue felines. He was King Ambassador of Barkus and Meowx in 2013 and Duke of Love for Atlas in 2019. He has been an active member of Atlas for over 10 years. He is very active in Atlas community service and fundraising. One of his greatest pleasures is celebrating the holidays. You all may know their home as the Holiday House at the corner of Piermont and Fern where he proudly decorates for every holiday. In his free time, he loves to cheer on his Dallas Cowboys, listen to good music, and enjoy a good steak.. He is deeply honored to serve as this years King.

Duchess of Mystique - Rebecca Cude
Duchess Rebecca is new to the Mardi Gras world. She joined Atlas this year and hit the ground running. She was born and raised in Springhill Louisiana but calls Benton home now. She has two daughters and two granddaughters. She is a graduate of Northwest Louisiana Technical Collage and Bossier Parish Community College. She received degrees in the medical laboratory program and elementary education. She worked in the medical field until retirement. She enjoys spending time with her daughters and granddaughters, dancing, volunteering, and meeting new people.

Co-Captain - David Sims
David was born and raised in Haynesville, LA. He played football for Haynesville High School where he obtained 2 state championship rings. He resides in Greenwood, LA now with his queen and their 4 children. He works as an oil blender at Lube- Tech in Shreveport. He served as our Duke of Desire XII, King XIV and he has served on our board of directors for the last three years as Lt. of chairty. In his free time he enjoys listening to live music, playing a mean game of dominos, grilling, and watching his beloved Tigers and Saints play ball! David served as your King of Atlas XIV

Queen XV Bitsy Smith
Our Queen was born and raised in Manning, South Carolina and attended the University of South Carolina. She has lived in Shreveport for 40 years. She has a deep love for all animals especially kitty cats. She has 5 special rescue kitties who own her heart. She is married and has one daughter, 3 grandchildren and 2 great grand kids who reside in South Carolina, and one stepdaughter and 2 grand daughters who live in Maine. Our Queen has been involved in mardi gras for the last 20 years. She has been a proud Atlas member for the last 10. She is a past duchess for Atlas, and a past Queen Ambassador for the krewe of Barkus and Meowx. She founded a social group called “Queens Forever”. In her spare time she enjoys traveling back home to visit family, helping animal rescues, doing community service and visiting with all her Queen sisters. She is truly honored to serve as Atlas Queen for this anniversary year.
Duchess of Desire - Kristal Pierce
Duchess Kristal has been very active in the Mardi Gras world since she joined 6 years ago. She calls Shreveport home and has one daughter Bailey, who is her whole world. She has a passion for caring for others and works as a pediatric home health nurse and as a nurse at a correctional facility. Through her job as a nurse, she started taking care of Princess Maddie when she was a tiny baby. She has a huge heart for fur babies and has a few rescue kitties that rule her house. She is a huge supporter of Ainsley’s Angels and all special needs. In her spare time, she loves to cruise the world, shop, craft, and take her girls to ride all the roller coasters. This year she serves on the Atlas board of directors as Lt of fundraising.


Princess Atlas XV Bella Sims
Bella was born in Shreveport, LA. She is 12 years old and in the 5th grade with St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Homeschool Program. She is very active in the Caddo Parish 4H program. She has competed in numerous beauty pageants since she was 4 months old at a local, state and national level. She currently plays volleyball for the Shreveport Force and ball hockey with the Red River Hockey Club. She has 3 older brothers so she is very well protected and spoiled. She has 7 rescue kittys, a toy poodle. Her hobbies include baking, skecthing, playing her xbox, shopping, and eating tacos. When she grows up she wants to play volleyball at Centenary College, obtain a business degree and be the CEO of her own empire.

Jr. Prince XV - Eli Favrot
Eli Favrot is 6 years old and will be in 1st grade at North Desoto Lower Elementary. His hobbies include playing Minecraft, basketball and soccer. When he grows up, he wants to be a ghost bounty hunter! This young man comes from a family of Mardi gras royalty. His mom, uncle, aunt, grandparents and great aunt all have been Atlas royalty at one time or another. Needless to say, the royal blood runs deep in this family. He told Captain Liz; it was his turn to get a crown because everyone in his family has a crown but him.

Jr. Princess XV Maddie-Jo Philyaw
Maddie is 10 years old and a 5th grade student at Mooringsport Elementary. She has one older brother and one younger brother. This princess was born with cystic fibrosis, but she doesn’t let that slow her down. She loves to participate in races with the Ainsley’s Angels running group, play dress up, and riding roller coasters! If eating were a sport this girl would win hands down. She loves her some chicken, jambalaya, and a cold dr pepper. She wants to be a police office when she grows up, so she can give people speeding tickets and put bad people in jail!! She also hopes one day there is a cure for Cystic fibrosis.
