The King
Mr. Raymond Johnson Sherer, Jr.
Reigning over the 59th Beaux Arts Krewe Ball is King Raymond Johnson Sherer, Jr. He is a lifelong resident of Birmingham and is the son of the late Dr. Raymond Johnson Sherer and Barbara Palmer Sherer.
King Ree is a graduate of Indian Springs School. He attended Washington and Lee University and graduated from the University of Alabama with a BA in Economics. He retired in 2019 after a 37 year career with EBSCO Industries. During this time he also served as President of the EBSCO Federal Credit Union, was on the board of Girls Inc. and the board of Boys and Girls Club. He served on the President’s Advisory Committee at Birmingham Southern College and on various committees for United Way. Ree is a long time member of Canterbury United Methodist Church and The Country Club of Birmingham. In his spare time, our King enjoys playing golf, exercising, reading, and traveling. But he particularly enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren at Lake Martin.
King Ree has been a member of the Krewe for 42 years. In that time, he has enjoyed many years of camaraderie working in various roles helping to prepare for previous Balls. He served as Captain of the 1991 Ball and was President of the Krewe in 1992. He is married to the former Valgerdur Nielsen (their first date was to the Krewe Ball in 1980). Their daughter, Valgerdur Nielsen Sherer Noble, is married to Andrew Jackson Noble IV and was presented as a Lady in Waiting at the Ball in 2008.
Their younger daughter, Elizabeth Palmer Sherer Bray, is married to Robert Mobley Bray III and was presented as a Lady in Waiting at the Ball in 2010. King Ree’s grandchildren, Andrew Jackson Noble V, Virginia Beeland Noble, Robert Mobley Bray IV, and Raymond Harris Bray are serving as Trainbearers.
King Ree is grateful to the Krewe for the honor of serving as King of the 2026 Beaux Arts Krewe Ball and is honored to share the throne with Queen Neely. He is also grateful for the many volunteers whose hard work has made this year’s Ball possible and for the Krewe’s continued support of the Birmingham Museum of Art.
The Queen
Neely Key Carruthers
Neely Key Carruthers is the daughter of Thomas Neely Carruthers III and Brooke Monroe Carruthers and is the granddaughter of Thomas Neely Carruthers Jr., who reigned as King in 1995. She is also the granddaughter of Robert Key Monroe Jr, Janice West Monroe and Dale Gilder Carruthers. She ts the niece of Virginia Carruthers Smith and Catherine Everette Carruthers, who were also presented in 1982 and 1984. Her older sister, Gilder Scout Carruthers, also had the honor of being presented in 2023.
Neely grew up in Mountain Brook, where she attended Crestline Elementary School and was an active member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. From an early age, she devoted herself to the arts and athletics, spending fifteen formative years at The Dance Foundation in Homewood. There, she was encouraged and nurtured both as an athlete and as an artist, developing discipline, creativity, and a strong work ethic that have remained central to her character. Neely enjoyed playing soccer and spent a special season on a team with Princess Halli Hollingsworth; they were lovingly coached by Halli ‘s dad, the late Jamey Hollingsworth.
Throughout her childhood, Neely was afforded the opportunity to travel extensively and participate in a wide variety of sports. She has visited 43 states and 5 countries, experiences that have fostered her curiosity and appreciation for new cultures and environments. Influenced by her father’s love of winter sports, Neely developed a passion for skiing and spent time at numerous ski resorts, cultivating a lifelong love for the mountains and snow.
A member of the National Honor Society, Neely graduated from Mountain Brook High School in 2023. She is currently a Junior at Montana State University, majoring in Exercise Science, and has earned Dean’s List honors each semester. Deeply involved in campus life, Neely represents her sorority, Delta Gamma, through multiple leadership roles. As Director of Primary Recruitment and a returning member of Honor Board, she has gained valuable experience in leadership, accountability, and service to others. In the fall, Neely can be found cheering on the Bobcats at football games, and during the winter and spring months, she enjoys snowboarding at Bridger Bowl. Her academic interests, love of the outdoors, and commitment to leadership reflect both her curiosity and her drive.
Neely is deeply grateful to serve as queen of the 2026 Beaux Arts Krewe Ball, the proceeds of which benefit the Birmingham Museum of Art. Her grandfather, King Thomas, was a longtime supporter of the museum and was the recipient of the 2008 Legacy of Leadership Award. She is especially thankful for her guards, including her uncle, David Smith, and is honored to share this moment with King Ree Sherer. Neely extends her heartfelt thanks to her family for their unwavering love and support. Queen Neely invites everyone to enjoy this evening and proudly says, “Go Cats!”