Aunt Nadine Shepherd was the main organist (pump organ) and pianist for the Dexter Presbyterian Church. About as soon as her own kids and nieces and nephews could read music, she gathered us into a children’s choir, along with other youngsters in the church.
During the 1950s, we’d all had a terrific music teacher, Ruth Sellers, at school, which was just a couple of blocks from the church. So it was even handy for us to walk there for practice after school.
It wasn’t long before we became the main choir, especially since most of our fathers were farmers and there were seasons of the year that they just couldn’t get to choir, even in the evening.
Back row: Bruce Atherton, Vince Wells, Joy Neal, Susan Shepherd, Judy Neal, Bonnie Johnson, Bob Cook, Jane Neal
Front: Gloria Neal, Dixie Thomas, Sandra Grant, Carolyn Cunningham, Patty Wells, Kenny Shepherd, Glenn Heckman
At first we wore short white surplices with dark dickies.
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Your post brings back fond memories of singing in the church choir when I was in high school.
Several of us sang in choirs for decades after that. Our church doesn’t have one anymore and the organ is rarely played.
What a beautiful recollection of your experience in a youth choir! Many churches don’t have enough youth involvement to support choirs now. Thank you for sharing your memories, Joy.
Thank you, Nancy. We didn’t realize how blessed we were in those days!
Like you, Joy,I am indeed one o the olders who miss the choirs and the organs, and sometimes cringe at the guitar and percussion hymns of today. More pumping. Less cowbells.
Season’s Greeting.
I started out playing piano and organ for church and even took a semester of pipe organ in college. It might be even harder for my husband whose mother, age 99, still plays piano at her church, using hymnals but she also embellishes. Thank you, Don. God’s blessing to you!
That is so wonderful, playing church piano at the age of 99.
Music is certainly an important part of your family tradition, Joy. I envy that. Our family has grown from the radio to the phonograph, CD player to “Alexa, play some Christmas music.
We never got as far as Alexa! ha If our upright piano didn’t have a cracked sounding board, I just might try some W.C. Handy again!
Sounds like a plan. The weather is making me grouchy. I think I’ll try some W.C, Fields.
But I will tell Alexa to play St Louis Blues first.
Love it!
I have been asking people to take time to remember those that are usually forgotten. Your family knows about that all to well…
https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/wwii_santa_soldier-e1608637971836.jpg
Friday’s post is even more poignant. Christmas 1946. Thank you, GP. (I’m working on next year’s book: What Leora Didn’t Know: World War II Casualty Reports is the working title. )
That’s a wonderful memory! How fun to have your cousins in choir with you. I did sing in choir for a year or two as a young kid. Did some cantatas on high school. I always enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service.
Wonderful memories! Lots of names of kid’s families I am familiar with.
Thanks for your note, Virginia!