The sparkle of Mardi Gras royalty is dimmed by the passing of legendary designer N. Carter Church on October 19, 2018. An artist and designer in the many fields of fashion, costume and interior design Church was presented the Lifetime Achievement Away from Fashion Group International, following over a hundred other awards presented by the group, for his almost six decades of design work for the fashion industry.

While known primarily for his Mardi Gras designs for the royal courts of Louisiana, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Alabama, Church created bridal, debutante, and special occasion clothing for children and women throughout the country, including Carol Channing, Sandy Duncan and Elizabeth Taylor.

As a leader in the Mardi Gras industry of the South, Church never tired of the heady peace of the short season of revelry. He was an active participant of the Royal Courts having been selected as King for many of the Krewes for whom he designed.

His career in art began with early watercolor classes with his grandmother evolving to attending the Parsons and Traphagen Schools of Design in New York where he was introduced to the work of Romain de Tyrtov (Erte') whose work was the major influence in Church's design graphics.

Design was his passion, but Church was also a patron of the arts, civic activist, and leader of cultural activities in his earlier home of New Orleans and later in his much loved, adopted home of Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, where he assisted with the opening of the city's Mardi Gras Museum in the historic depot for all visitors to have a bit of Mardi Gras pageantry and excitement.

Church is survived by his spouse and business partner of 33 years, Yancy L. Pogue of Bay Saint Louis and his sister, Martha Church Frank, Bay Saint Louis. He is preceded in death by his parents, Nelson Cellar Church and Martha Earhart Church and his sister, Carole Church Group, all of New Orleans.

There will be a celebration of life to honor Church at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations to the HCTC Mardi Gras Museum, 1928 Depot Way, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 or Friends of the Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 2274, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39521-2274.