2008 Krewe of Roses Queen is Mary Ellen Wheat, owner of Picayune Florist and Gift Shop.
Mary Ellen has lived in the Picayune area most of her life and worked as a floral designer/manager for other shops since she was in high school. Mary Ellen went into business for herself 13 years ago in 1994. A native of Picayune, she is very civic minded and has been a volunteer of Picayune Main Street, Inc. since its beginning in 1996 serving on the Board of Directors for 6 years. The Original Krewe of Roses Parade was started by Mary Ellen in 1998.
2008 King is Rex Thompson. Rex came to Picayune in October of 2004 as News Director for WRJW Radio. Soon after moving to Picayune Rex became associated with Picayune Florist. Rex began his broadcasting career at WFFF-FM radio in Columbia, MS at the tender age of 14. By age 21, he landed his first television weather job at WAPT_TV 16 in Jackson, MS. Rex has broadcast weather in Hattiesburg on WHLT-TV, in Jackson on WJTV-TV and in Chattanooga, TN on WTVC-TV 9. Rex is currently the weekend weather person as well as associate producer for the morning news for WDAM-TV 7 in Hattiesburg. Rex resides in Picayune and loves Picayune.