Grand Marshals of the Annual Lighted Christmas Parade have been announced as Waymond and Fern Sheppard. This active couple has been members of the Bangs community for a lifetime. Both grew up in Bangs and graduated from Bangs High School, and after Waymond’s military service, returned to raise a family and have careers in the area.
Waymond made his career at 3M for 33 years, then after retirement, he formed a partnership to create, Sheppard and Pannell Painting, besides his local civic duties. He is on the Bangs City council and has been for 20 years. Waymond has served on the budget and finance committee at First Baptist Church for 5 years, being Chairman the last 2 years. Waymond is an active member of the Bangs Business Association and always willing to help out whenever it comes to anything to help the Bangs community or the local kids.
Fern has worked for several Banks, and Kohler, but her favorite job was at Bangs ISD as a teacher’s aide for 14 years before her retirement. After retirement she continued to substitute teach until 2005, when she ran and was elected to the Bangs ISD School Board and is still an active member after 8 years. They are the proud parents of two sons, Alan and Kevin, and bubbling grandparents to 5 priceless wonders. If you travel down Fitzgerald during the Christmas Holidays you cannot miss their yard, so brightly decorated and their home too. They take great pride in Bangs and how it looks year round.The Parade starts at 6 p.m., with the Mighty Dragon Band leading the way. There is no fee nor registration to enter the parade, simply line up – turn on CR 180 by Dollar General, follow Fitzgerald to Ash Street, then onto Gantt and the school transportation barns to line up. Lineup starts from there up Gantt Street, on Saturday, December 14, at 5:30 p. m., and the parade rolls promptly at 6 p.m. From there it moves out of the east end of Gantt street onto CR 180, one block and back down Fitzgerald all the way to South 1st Street and right to the downtown area, then right on Kyle Street, 2 blocks then right on 3rd Street, 1 block then left on Spencer to end at the Park Pavilion on the right. There will be free homemade cookies and hot cocoa with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the park along with a live nativity by Bangs First Baptist Church children’s group.
For questions contact LaFreda Kilburn at 325-998-1567.
