Page 29 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2020

“My grandfather, Walter Henry ‘Skeet’ Hunt was four when he saw his first Mardi Gras parade. So, in 1908, he helped organize the first Mardi Gras parade in Biloxi. There were 17 floats, 150 flambeau carriers and a band. In 1916, he started the Biloxi Carnival and Literary Association, which was organized
to promote Greek mythology and an annual parade.”
She said her father, Little Walter “Skeet” Hunt helped her grandfather with the business of Mardi Gras organization. And before long, Little Skeet was making his name in the history of Mardi Gras on the Coast.
“Mardi Gras was solely a Biloxi thing until 1929 when other cities were asked to join,” she said. “The literary association was changed to the Gulf Coast Carnival Association in 1949. In 1950, my father became the general manager of the Gulf Coast Carnival Association and the parade chairman. He was the association’s first captain in 1953, a position he held until 1971.”
She said her family’s love for Mardi Gras proved infectious and the holiday, which starts 12 days after Christmas and lasts until Ash Wednesday, became something to which she annually looked forward. Even when she was receiving her education at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Mississippi, she said she never missed a Mardi Gras.
“I would come home to ride on the floats,” she said. “I love the family aspects of Mardi Gras, the traditions and especially the parades. I love parades in general but Mardi Gras parades are my favorite.”
Hunt continues to carry the proverbial Mardi Gars torch passed down from three generations. She has made Mardi Gars part
of the curriculum and culture at Biloxi Excel By 5, which is located on the campus of Lopez School on St. John Avenue. The facility
is decorated in Mardi Gras garb and the Gulf Coast Carnival Association queen pays the class an annual visit. She also overs sees the Biloxi Children’s Parade and the annual shoebox float contest in Biloxi public schools.
“I love teaching children about our Mardi Gras traditions,”
she said. “It’s important for them to learn about them and to continue them. I love the Biloxi Children’s Parade and being a part of that. We have
a great parade and then we do
Mardi Gras activities. We’re just
trying to ensure that the Mardi
Gras traditions continue with the future generations. Who doesn’t love Mardi Gras? I do. I look forward to it every year. It’s a family tradition.”
Susan Hunt visits with 2018 Gulf Coast Carnival Association Queen Ixolib Kimberly Rushton.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net February 2020 | 29