WOODVILLE – A quiet and kind soul and a tireless servant leader are a couple of the ways that Ofeira Gazzaway was described at a party to honor her, held last Saturday.
The event, which took place at the Allan Shivers Library and Museum, included a catered spread in the beautiful museum portion of the complex, and presentations inside the Bunch Reading Room. A large crowd turned out to celebrate and enjoy the evening with Gazzaway, who retired as the executive director of Heritage Village Museum.
Long-serving Tyler County Heritage Society (TCHS) member and volunteer, Annabeth Willis, who organized the event, along with Roschelle Springfield, said that Gazzaway “always made it easy on me as a volunteer and did most of the work herself.”
Willis said she was always amazed at how many different project Gazzaway could juggle at one time and still have a smile on her face.
Willis, who is the caretaker of the Clyde Gray House and Museum, which is on the Village premises, said that if she had to name a favorite project they worked on together through the years, the journey they took together with the Gray House would be it.
“It has been a lot of work, but I have never made single request that Ofeira was not right there to see that it was taken care of as soon as possible.”
“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work with her all these years,” she added.
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin presented Gazzaway with a flag flown in her honor above the capitol in Washington, D.C. In his remarks, he said, “I have had the great honor of coming here, and giving you a flag that has been flown in your honor above the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. I am so proud of Ofeira and her big family, almost as big as the Babin family. We really appreciate your family and what you mean to this community and the wonderful thing that we call Heritage Village.”
Babin called the Village “an irreplaceable jewel,” and recounted how he set up the dental office out there with Dr. R.B. Barclay.
“It’s good for our kids to see what America used to be like and the values that made America what it is, we need to retain those values,” he said.
In his presentation of the flag, Babin remarked, “in recognition from the congress of the United States, congratulating you and honoring you on the 22nd day of February, on behalf on the 36th Congressional District of Texas in recognition of your service to Heritage Village and Tyler County”.
Woodville mayor Amy Bythewood presented Gazzaway with a proclamation, which says in summary, “the city of Woodville honors Ofeira, we have had a partnership, we have collaborated in so many ways. She has done more than just being the director, she is the personal touch, she takes care of us”. In the proclamation she added, “Ofeira Gazzaway is a distinguished and honorable resident of the city and has served as executive director of Heritage Village for over 30 years and has worked at the Village for more than 37 years.”
“She moved to Tyler County with her husband John, where they raised a family and have been faithful servants of this community since 1978. While serving this community she has been active in the Woodville Methodist Church, the Hope United Methodist Church, she has received the Carlos Bullock Lifetime Achievement Award, the Tyler County 2015 Citizen of the Year award, the Woodville Methodist Church Heritage award and the Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow award.”
“Ofeira has worked diligently to further Clyde Gray’s vision for Heritage Village, worked to develop numerous attractions such as the buggy barn, the fiber arts building, the Big Woods Nature Trail, and the Clyde Gray Museum. She has worked tirelessly to promote events at the Village such as the Festival of the Arts, and the Harvest Festival. She has been instrumental in putting the world-famous Pickett House on the map/ She has proudly promoted Tyler County and Woodville in an effort to promote tourism in our area. She has been a civic leader, having served with the Tyler County Dogwood Festival, the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce, the Tyler County Heritage Society as well as an avid supporter of the Woodville Rotary Club.”
Gazzaway was also presented a lifetime membership in the Heritage Society and was presented with a beautiful crystal vase from the TCHS Board of Directors.
TCHS President Mike Cabaniss said that he has gotten to know Gazzaway, personally, and said that in his observations, watching her work, that she was always enjoying what she was doing, and is well-respected in the community, something he said he came to know why once he got to know her.
“She is a quiet and kind soul, with a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the Village and its history.”
“I wish her all the best in her retirement,” he said. “I’m really glad that our paths crossed.”
Gazzaway offered up the following remarks, “Most of you know that I’m not a speaker, I like to tell people what to do. I am so honored by the kindness, for your support, like I always tell most people that I talk to, that it takes all of us to raise a village. It’s not just the one-person job. I am so proud of this community, I brag on how many museums we have in this little community. We have Allan Shivers Library and Museum, the Emporium and all the events. I want to say a special thank you to the board members. I know that sometimes we don’t always agree, but you always support and step up when we need help.”
She added “there are tourism partners here, thank you so much for coming, they help us spread the word about the Village and about Woodville. We have a lot of things we are so proud of. Thank you to my children for putting up with me all these years and for John helping us, anytime I ask, even though he says no, I say, I’ll see you at the Village.”
