Queen Susan Shamoon and King Steve Azar were honored as Junior Auxiliary of Greenville Royalty on Saturday, February 22nd at the 2025 Charity Ball which was held at the Greenville Golf and Country Club.
The King and Queen were presented during the coronation ceremony which included the presentation of the royal court comprised of school aged sons and daughters of lifetime Junior Auxiliary members.
Susan Bell Shamoon was born and raised in Greenville, except for six years in Jackson. Her business career began in the insurance industry working with Fred S. James Company. As their only female agent, she had success in selling to the agricultural industry in the Mississippi Delta—catfish farming.
Shamoon returned home for her sales career at The River Broadcasting Company. After four years, she resigned to launch her own business.
Shamoon coordinated painted artwork and the purchase of VCRs and videotapes in the Jim Henson Pediatric Unit of King’s Daughters Hospital. She also organized a St. Jude dinner fundraiser to create local support and awareness of the vital services provided to over 90 children for childhood cancer in Washington County.
Shamoon was able to secure the community’s help in establishing the Jim Karr Memorial Garden at the YMCA. Her talents are displayed in the design and installation of the Delta Museum.
Shamoon is a Life Member of the Junior Auxiliary of Greenville. She chaired the first Crown Club project and co-chaired the Camp Looking Glass project as an active member.
After serving as a board member of Camp Looking Glass, Shamoon established a festival fundraiser raising over $200,000 and assisting in reaching the Camp’s goal of a permanent property in Washington County.
Shamoon served as the Vice President of the West Delta Chapter of the American Red Cross. She assisted in establishing a shelter after Hurricane Katrina.
The Greenville Rotary Club presented Shamoon, a member of 30 years, with her 2nd Paul Harris Fellow during the aftermath of the Rolling Fork tornado. She served as the editor of the club’s newsletter, awarded Best of the Best at the District level.
Shamoon has served our community in positions including: Chairwoman for the Rotary District Foundation Gala, President of the Washington County Hospitality Association, President of the Community Counseling Center, a board member for Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, King’s Daughters and Sons Circle #2, the Greenville Symphony, Women’s Aglow-Delta Chapter, Delta Center Stage, Delta Children’s Museum, Republican Party of Washington County and the United Way Fundraising Committee. She currently serves as the District 3 Commissioner and Vice-President of the Washington County Sportsplex Board.
Shamoon received the 2024 Delta Democrat Times Community Activist Award and is a two-time recipient of the Chuck Jordan Leadership award. She was named as one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Business women by the Mississippi Business Journal.
She opened the first female owned advertising business which grew into an award-winning and full-service agency known today as Shamoon Advertising and Marketing. Her husband joined in 1994, and they worked together until his passing in October 2023.
She publishes a monthly magazine, Life in the Delta, and the annual Washington County Welcome Guide.
Shamoon’s family were members of the Sonflower Church in Anguilla where she spent time serving as the children’s pastor. Recently, she has joined Emmanuel Baptist Church.
She and Jimel, her husband of 37 years, have two daughters, Katherine and Emily.
Stephen Thomas Azar is a hit songwriter-recording artist, music producer, music industry consultant, keynote speaker, podcast/radio show host, record label founder and best-selling author.
Born in Greenville, MS, Steve matriculated at St. Joseph High school where he has been inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame. Steve and his family attend St. Joseph Catholic Church. Mr. Azar attended Delta State University where he was active in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Steve is married to his wife of 35 years, Gwen Nabholz Azar of Conway, Arkansas and they have three children: Strack, Adrian, and Cecilia Azar.
Azar has had three #1 videos, including one featuring actor Morgan Freeman, has released seven critically acclaimed studio albums and has had nine charted singles on Billboard Hot Country Songs. Among these is his smash hit single, “I Don’t Have To Be Me (‘til Monday),” a 4X recipient of the prestigious BMI Million-Air radio award. Since its release, it has remained one of the top five most played songs since 2000 on country radio. Azar is a featured artist with his song “Our Castle is Your Home” on the 2025 Grammy nominated Rock for Children, Vol.1 album. Azar was personally chosen by Bob Seger for his 2006-2007 Face the Promise Tour. Azar’s song “One Mississippi” became the new official state song of Mississippi in 2022. Following the success of the song, "One Mississippi" was transformed into a number one best-selling children's book, authored by Azar and illustrated by Oxford’s Sarah Frances Hardy. The book is centered around seven characters who guide readers through the lyrics, focusing on Mississippi history. This engaging format helps young readers connect with the state's rich heritage. Mississippi legislation is currently voting on a proposal to use the book and its accompanying curriculum throughout all public and charter schools for second graders.
Azar was enshrined on the Mississippi Country Music Trail as the trail’s 32nd marker in 2019. He is the recipient of the 2018 prestigious Mississippi Arts Commission “Governor's Choice Award” was named to the 2019 class of Mississippi Top 50 in the Business, Media And Culture category and received the 2023 Mississippi Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Steve has been honored with “Steve Azar Day” in the states of Mississippi and South Dakota.
Steve has served as the artist in residence at the Delta Music Institute, part of Delta State University. He is the brand ambassador for the award-winning Dancing Rabbit Golf courses and Pearl River Resort.
Steve and his wife Gwen founded the Steve Azar St. Cecilia Foundation, which annually produces the Delta Soul Celebrity Golf & Charity Event and donates millions of dollars to worthwhile causes.. Azar is also the official Music & Culture Ambassador of Mississippi and is an in-demand keynote speaker. Currently, Steve remains dedicated to his hometown where his resident show, "Steve Azar's Mississippi", is Viking Cruise line's number one rated show and event on the Mississippi River.
The Junior Auxiliary of Greenville is grateful for all of its sponsors and supporters this year. For more information, please visit facebook.com/greenvilleJA.
