Brownwood News – The Bangs Business Association announced this week that their Grand Marshal for the Mayfest Parade, Saturday, May 6th, at 10 a.m., is LaFreda Kilburn. The Bangs Mayfest Parade has no registration or entry fee. Everyone is welcome to come to Gantt Street in East Bangs, with cars, tractors, 4-wheelers, bicycles and more to join in the festivities. Simply show up at 9:30 to get lined up and ready to roll at 10 sharp. The Mighty Dragon Band will lead the parade again this year, under the direction of Tommy Perkins, and Ms. Smith.
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Humbled by the honor of being Grand Marshal of the Mayfest Parade 2017, she will tell you, she doesn’t like the spotlight and would rather be somewhere working. LaFreda is a second generation Bangs Dragon. She has proudly raised several generations through the Bangs School District , with a granddaughter graduating this year.
Born and raised just west of the city, Bangs has been in her blood her entire life through school, church and family. She is a self- employed contract business owner and past president of the Bangs Business Association. Through the years she has served in several capacities in church and school. Always a room mother chairman and willing to help where ever she can.
LaFreda dedicated her life to missions as a young person at Bangs First Baptist Church, and worked in the children’s department as her son grew up. In late 1993, after the tragic death of her only child, Scotty Brian Purcell, she realized her true mission in life was simply to help others. In late 1994, she took over the leadership of the Bereaved Parents Support Group in Brown County and continues to volunteer her time as leader in her son’s memory. The group offers monthly meetings and designated special events through the year to minister to those traveling the grief journey. In May the group hosts the Annual Balloon Lift Off, where people write love notes and send them off to Heaven to their children or loved one. Every Christmas season she hosts the Angel Memorial Trees inside Heartland Mall in Early, then ends the year with an Annual Memorial Candle Lighting so parents and family can spend one evening during the holiday season honoring their loved one.
She has served as chairman of the Texas Bank Christmas Craft show in Bangs for 22 years. She delights in the Christmas in the Park in Bangs, held the second Saturday in December. The holiday event is hosted by the Business Association, First Baptist Church and the Bangs MDD.
Since her son’s death, LaFreda has adopted three children: Audrey Wallace (husband Steve Dow), Eric Kilburn (wife Rebekah), and Tiffany Lemond (husband Everett), with three grandchildren: Noah Lemond, Rose and Grayce Wallace, and one great granddaughter, Avery Carter. Married to Dean Kilburn for quite a few years, when not working, she loves to work in her yard, and caring for others or simply offering a smile or a greeting everywhere she goes.