Her Majesty, Queen Lee Carruthers Sturdivant, is an incredible Mississippi beauty that has a smile that takes your breath away. Queen Lee is a graduate of Pillow Academy in Greenwood, Mississippi where she finished sixth in her class. She served as Student Council President, and a member of "Pillow Academy Hall of Fame". During each of her years of High School, Queen Lee was an Honor Society member, involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Homecoming Maid, and active in various clubs. Not only beautiful, Queen Lee is an avid and accomplished athlete. SHe played on a State Championship Soccer Team, and lettered in Cross Country, Track, and Basketball, winning two state and two overall championships.

Our Queen is a form believer in community service and voluntarism. She has worked as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Food Pantry, Relay for Life, Tupelo's Garner-Simmons Home, and Oxford's First Presbyterian Christmas Store. She is a member of 1st Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, Mississippi. Queen Lee is currently a junior at the University of Mississippi, in Oxford, majoring in Marketing and Dental Hygiene. As an involved member of Chi Omega Sorority, she has served on the Executive Board and Scholarship Committee, been a Parade of Beauties nominee each year, Recruitment Chairman last year, and is currently Panhellenic Representative. Her college accomplishments also include the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key, ODK, Order of Omega, Student Body Senator, Chancellor's and Dean's List, and Chancellor's Leadership Class. Her athletic prowess has continued at Ole Miss, where she has played Intramural Golf, Basketball, and Flag Football (as star receiver for the championship team).

Queen Lee and her family have been involved in Carnival Memphis for years. She was a Royal Page in 1990, and King Peyton Self's Princess in 2000. Her mother, Jan Carruthers Sturdivant, was a Royal Court member twice. Her grandfather, Ewing Carruthers, was General Chairman of the Grand Krewe od RaMet in 1956. Queen Lee is very excited about her reign during the 71st anniversary of "The Party with a Purpose."

The Queen's big brother, Micajah is a member of the Grand Krewe of Osiris. She has taken a special interest in involving all the Royal Court members in the Carnival Memphis Children's Charity Initiative, which is entering it's fourth year. The Queen has selected Special Cargo (part of United Cerebral Palsy of the Mid-South) as her special children's charity in honor of her mother's life long interest in horses and horseback riding.

Despite the more than two hour commute from their Itta Bena, Mississippi farm home, where Mike grows cotton, corn and soybeans, Mike, Jan and Queen Lee have already enjoyed the Carnival festivities at many of the Grand Krewe coronations and celebrations thus far. They have started new friendships and will certainly become even more involved in the Memphis Community throughout the season.

Queen Lee expressed the following thoughts on Carnival. "Memphis has always felt like a second home to me. I am thrilled once again to have the opportunity to make more Memphis friends and contribute to the community through Carnival and the Children;s Charity Initiative. Seventy-one years ago, Carnival began with a close connection between Memphis and the Delta. I am pleased to be able to continue that tradition in 2002."