By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist
The Columbiana Christmas Parade festivities will be Thursday, Dec. 4, on Main Street. Local favorite Austin Foster, son of Kim and Ron Foster, will sing Christmas carols on the stage at the corner of Main and College streets starting at 5:30 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m. the award-winning Dream Makers dance team will perform.
The parade starts at 7 p.m. with Mayor Stancil Handley as emcee and Grand Marshal Ouida Mayfield lighting the Christmas tree.
The Columbiana Merchants and Professionals Association has the annual honor to choose the parade’s grand marshal and unanimously selected Mayfield for 2014.
Mayfield tirelessly serves her community and is one of the most well-known women in Columbiana. Her service is long, extensive and far-reaching.
Mayfield graduated from Montevallo High School and received three degrees from the University of Montevallo: B.S.; M.A.T. with highest honors; and Education Specialist degree where she was selected the most outstanding student in the School of Education.
An educator for 40 years, Mayfield retired in 1997 after serving the last 17 years as principal of Columbiana Middle School.
Active in civic work, she has been a member of the three federated clubs of Columbiana: GFWC Culture, Vignette and Novella clubs and served as president of Culture and Novella. She won the highest award given by Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs, Louise Wilson Outstanding Clubwoman.
She has been a member of Community Bible Study for 13 years with 10 in leadership. Active at Columbiana United Methodist Church, she has been a member of the Pastor-Parish Committee and is currently co-chair of the Circle of Hope.
Mayfield is serving her fourth term on the Columbiana City Council where she is the Mayor Pro Tem.
She has been extremely active on other city boards and committees: Beautification Board Chair since 2000; Library Board for 14 years; Public Safety Committee Chair; Shelby Woods Board Chair; Columbiana Christmas Parade Chair since 2001; and Liberty Day Cleanup Day Chair.
“I have strived to improve and promote the quality and appearance of our community with things that have a positive effect with community life,” said Mayfield.