I'm not sure if some of my Sheffield's (not direct line but siblings) are connected by the names sure are similar. I am not African-Am. but I don't know much about the family of the Sheffield other than names etc. but perhaps it might help.
My ancestor Elizabeth Sheffield was born 1832 in Wilcox Co AL. She married William Wiggins there and later moved to south LA. But she had a brother Warren Barnett Sheffield. He was born 1834 and married Mary Jane Weatherly .I have him last located in AL in 1880 census. I know that at least one of of his children ended up in Devine TX (was there in 1938). This is a list of his children:
William Isaiah Sheffield b 1871 m Mary Etta Wright
Benjamin Franklin Sheffield b 1871
Mary Lillian Sheffield b 1874
Earl Barnett Sheffield b 1877
Ernest Lamont Sheffield b 1877
Mattie Octavia Shefffield b 1881
Mittie Luna Sheffield b 1881 m James Wright Jr.
Pattie Edna Sheffield b 1883
Grover Cleveland Sheffield b 1885
Benilo Sheffield b 1887
Mae Belle Sheffield b 1888 m Willie Brunley or Carter? [lived i Divine TX 1938]
Bonnie Ethel Sheffield b 1892 m Joel Muriell Nabors [lived in San Angelo TX in 1938]
Janie Vera Sheffield b 1894 m Howard Harrison Berry

I have no idea if this group is connected to your Sheffield's or not... but the given names sure sound familiar. I got these names and info from letters written by Ethel Sheffield Nabors in 1839.
Let me know if I can help.
Cindy P.