Elgin, Texas celebrated Black History Month with a tip of the hat to local community hero Elsie Williams. The event, dubbed Hatitude, was sponsored by the City of Elgin and several community partners including Firewild Events and Catering and the Elgin Sub District Ministers Wives and Widows. Williams was honored on Saturday, February 3, for her unwavering commitment to volunteering which spans several decades.
The significance of hats within the black church, as explained by Sonja Wright, traces its roots back to scripture, and this historical perspective was imparted to an engaged audience. During the ceremony, the crowd partook in a choral rendition of the reverential anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing," while being treated to standout musical performances by Byron Cardwell, Rev. Lucious McShan, and Byron Mitchell.
A broad coalition of community organizations, which includes Mt Carmel Baptist Church, St John District BLH Bradshaw, NAACP Branch 6174, Juneteenth Festival Committee, Elgin Cares, and the City of Elgin, came together to acknowledge the significant contributions of Williams. Apart from her recognized service, Williams also dedicates time to the Elgin Ministerial Alliance, Elgin Subdistrict, St John District Youth, and the South Central Women’s Ministry, among others.
Elsie Williams's invaluable service to her community was formally acknowledged by Mayor McShan with a Proclamation that was publicly presented by Councilmember Love, as detailed on the Elgin city website. In addition, special recognition was given to Ms. Wright for sharing the detailed history of the role of hats in black ecclesiastical tradition which was a highlight of the event as much as the main celebration itself.
