2026 Juneteenth Parade Information and Grand Marshal Bios
The 6th Annual Texarkana Juneteenth Parade returns to the Four States Fairgrounds on June 20, 2026, celebrating freedom, culture, and community pride with this year’s theme, “Resilient Women.” Organized by Resilience Studios and The Scholars Reading Knowledge, with Ayden Howard as the organizer, the parade will honor Grand Marshals Andrea Kelley, Katina Levingston, and Charkeitha Washington—three women whose leadership and service embody the spirit of Juneteenth. Families, organizations, and local businesses are invited to participate for a $25 registration fee, with cash prizes awarded to standout entries. The parade begins at 5 p.m., and participants can register via the event’s QR code or by contacting organizers directly. This annual celebration continues to grow as one of Texarkana’s most vibrant displays of unity and heritage.
Katina Levingston:
Katina Washington-Levingston is an Arkansas High School Class of 1991 graduate whose life reflects leadership, perseverance, and a deep commitment to serving others.
Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Mrs. Levingston continued her journey in Texarkana, Arkansas, where she built the foundation for a life dedicated to family, faith, and community impact. For more than 30 years, she has served in the medical field as a certified medical billing specialist, coder, auditor, office manager, and HIPAA compliance officer, and for over 28 years she has successfully led her own business, Levingston Medical Billing, Inc.
Her commitment to service extends far beyond her profession. She is the founder and president of the Tough Kookie Foundation, which supports children, families, and survivors affected by childhood and breast cancer, and she is herself a proud 10-year breast cancer survivor whose journey strengthened her purpose to uplift others. She also founded the Twin City Multicultural Council and the Women of Texarkana Tea Party, organizations that promote unity, service, and community engagement.
Mrs. Levingston’s leadership has been recognized across the region and beyond. Among many honors, she was named the Remarkable Woman of the Ark-La-Tex, served as a panelist on the Women in Business presented by Christus St. Michael Health Systems, is a member of Women for A&M Texarkana, received the Chamber Choice Award from the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, received the NAACP Dr. Shirley Finn Trailblazer Award, and the Junior League of Texarkana Outstanding Sustainer of the Year Award. Notably, in 2019 she made history as the first African American recipient of the Junior League of Texarkana Marguerite Whitmarsh Holman Award.
A graduate of Leadership Texarkana and an advocate for lifelong learning, she will soon earn two bachelor’s degrees in leadership and healthcare management—further reflecting her dedication to growth and service.
Above all, Mrs. Levingston credits her work to a simple but powerful lesson passed down from her grandmother: it is better to give than to receive, and whatever you learn can never be taken away from you. She lives those words every day through her faith, her family, and her commitment to strengthening the community she loves.
Andrea Kelley:
Andrea “Coach Cookie” Kelley is a licensed social worker, educator, entrepreneur, fitness motivator, and dedicated community advocate committed to empowering individuals and strengthening the Texarkana community through mental health awareness, wellness, education, and service. A proud Texarkana native, Coach Cookie is the daughter of Linda and the late Vincent, the wife of Andre, and the proud mother of Courtney, Ny’Dreyia, Ayden, Xander, and Maddox.
Coach Cookie is the owner of Resilience Studios, a wellness and fitness space created to encourage confidence, healing, empowerment, and healthy living for women and families in the Texarkana area. Through Resilience Studios, Coach Cookie has combined her background in social work and wellness to create a unique environment focused on both mental and physical well-being. Since becoming a personal trainer in 2020, Coach Cookie has led one-on-one training, group fitness, dance fitness, boot camps, virtual wellness programming, and pole fitness classes, helping clients collectively lose hundreds of pounds while building confidence and community.
In addition to her work in wellness, Coach Cookie is an educator and speaker with extensive experience in human services, trauma-informed care, child welfare, and community engagement. She has facilitated workshops, trainings, and educational presentations focused on resilience, emotional wellness, empowerment, and culturally responsive practice. Coach Cookie also earned the ACUE Promoting Active Learning Credential, demonstrating her commitment to innovative and engaging educational practices. Additionally, Coach Cookie is a professor at Texas A&M Texarkana where she teaches curriculum aligning with social work.
Coach Cookie is deeply rooted in service and civic engagement throughout the Texarkana region. She actively supports and volunteers with local organizations and numerous local outreach initiatives focused on youth, families, and underserved populations. She also serves as the assistant facilitator of the Texarkana Juneteenth Parade, helping celebrate culture, unity, and community pride.
In 2022, Coach Cookie became the proud Black female owner of property in downtown Texarkana, further investing in the revitalization and growth of her hometown. Whether through education, advocacy, wellness initiatives, mentorship, or community outreach, Coach Cookie continues to dedicate her life’s work to helping others heal, grow, and thrive.
In the words of Coach Cookie: “Let’s get it!!!”
Charkeitha Washington:
Named in honor of her late paternal grandmother, Emma Lee Snowden Washington of Nash, Texas, Emma’s Grand Divine Creations LLC was founded by entrepreneur and community leader Charkeitha Washington with a vision rooted in faith, family, perseverance, and purpose. Known throughout the region as “The Cookie Lady,” Charkeitha has become widely recognized for her homemade desserts, creative cookie flavors, and extraordinary impact on the community.
Born to Willie L. Washington Sr. and Evelyn Joyce Pierce Chivers, Charkeitha transformed her passion for baking into a thriving business that quickly gained regional attention. She has earned multiple Best of the Best honors, several Readers’ Choice runner-up recognitions, and awards from organizations including Better Business Bureau, The Scholars, and other business and leadership organizations. She was also recognized as a “Hidden Gem” and received the Class President Award after earning her Life Coach Certification in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019.
Before becoming a full-time entrepreneur, Charkeitha worked for FedEx, where she earned the prestigious Bravo Zulu Award for outstanding performance and leadership.
Known for creating unforgettable flavors and experiences, Charkeitha became famous for lines of customers stretching nearly half a mile down Stateline Avenue, with some supporters waiting up to six hours just for a taste of her desserts. Beyond business, she is deeply committed to serving and uplifting her community. She has assisted with feeding the homeless, taught mini entrepreneurship courses at local middle schools during summer programs, and spoken at area schools and colleges to inspire future entrepreneurs.
During the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Charkeitha prepared hundreds of meals from her shop for families and individuals impacted by the storm. She organized meal pickups at her store and personally helped deliver meals to many residents in need, demonstrating her heart for service during times of crisis. Today, Charkeitha Washington proudly serves as one of the 2026 Juneteenth Parade Grand Marshals, representing entrepreneurship, resilience, faith, legacy, compassion, and community empowerment.
