Honorees

The Tyler County Dogwood Festival is honored to welcome a couple of our Tyler County Pastors as our 2026 Parade Marshals.

Pastors Kenyata Willams &
Elbert "Bubba" Sheffield

The theme of the 83 rd Annual Tyler County Dogwood Festival’s Historical Play is “The Ties that Bind: From a Seed of Faith to a Community in Bloom”. The play depicts how our strong Christian heritage helped shape our community. Through the years, our churches have helped our community grow and flourish. Today, we celebrate the faith
and traditions that continue to bind us together. In keeping with this theme, the
Operating Board of Directors determined that it was appropriate for the Parade
Marshals to be representatives of the Churches of Tyler County. Both Kenyatta
Williams and Bubba Sheffield are not only pastors in the community, but both men have selflessly given back to Tyler County in various ways.

Pastor Kenyata Williams, by the grace of God, has made it his life's mission to preach and teach the word of God, the good news of our resurrected Christ, in an effort that men, women, boys, and girls might be saved by His grace. He currently serves as the Senior pastor of the Springhill Missionary Baptist Church in Woodville, where he has served faithfully since 2015. During his 9-year tenure, the church has and is now
experiencing growth physically, spiritually, and financially, and is a blessing to the entire community and to the people it serves. He was awarded an Associates; Bachelors and Master's of Theology all from the Lord's Outreach School of Theology of Lake Charles,
Louisiana. Pastor Williams is currently taking classes to get his Bachelor's in Education from Grand Canyon University, as he has been bitten by the education bug while working for the Woodville Independent School District for the past 14 years, and the last 5 years as the supervisor for the district's Alternative School. The Lord has blessed him to preach, teach, and minister the good news of Jesus Christ for the past 19 years, and along with that, he enjoys coaching children in extracurricular activities with school and summer activities. Pastor Williams has been married to the former Lady Ranada Lacy for the past 18 years, and they are the proud parents of 4 children: Ivan, Kadan, Kethan, and the spoiled Jo'lee.

Elbert "Bubba" Sheffield is a proud Tyler County native who has dedicated his life to serving the community he calls home. As a 1986 graduate of Colmesneil High School, Bubba has spent decades investing in the people and future of Tyler County. As a veteran of the United States Air Force, Bubba began a lifelong commitment to service. He continued that calling through his work in law enforcement, retiring after faithfully
serving with both the Woodville Police Department and the Tyler County Sheriff's Department. Throughout his career, he remained dedicated to the safety and well-being of the citizens of this community. Bubba continues to serve Tyler County in multiple leadership roles. He is currently the Director of Safety for Colmesneil ISD, where he
works to ensure a secure environment for students and staff. He also serves as Mayor of Colmesneil, leading with integrity and a deep love for his hometown. In addition, for the past 15 years, Bubba has faithfully served as Pastor of Katy Baptist Church in Colmesneil, ministering to families and strengthening the spiritual foundation of the community. He has been married to his wife, Lisa Sheffield, for 30 years. Together, they have raised three children and are the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren. Bubba Sheffield is a great example of dedication, leadership, and heart for Tyler County. He is truly honored and proud to serve as one of this year's Parade Marshals for the Tyler County Dogwood Festival.