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Members of the Carroll County RSVP Angel Choir include:
(in no particular order) Rubbie Sims, J. D. Evans, Jane
Simpson, Nathanael McCullough, Cleo Horn, Blanche Tynes,
Beatrice Hurt, Lawrence Breeden, Glen Jordan, Claudine
Jordan, Lonelle McMillan, Jane Cole, Bob Cole, Clarence
Norman, Ruby Norman, Arville Wilks, Pat Wright, Leonard
Brinkley, Roseland Cole, Bill Cole, Willard Sullivan,
Joyce Sullivan, Bill Brandon, Azlee Brandon, Elisebeth
Pate, Vonita Gant, Bill Gant, Myrtle Hall, Ralph Joyner,
Catherine Wall, Neil Massey, Mildred Massey, Rachael
Jordan, Imogene Sanders, Pat Eastman, Nell Deck, Ezra
Martin, Evelyn Hanes, Leon Purvis, Carolyn Purvis. Also
pictured is Carroll County Executive Kenny McBride and
RSVP Coordinator Elaine McDonald.
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"Under the patient loving direction of Brother John
Leonard Brinkley and the best pianist anywhere, Catherine
Wall, the Carroll County RSVP Angel Choir has been singing
across Carroll County for more than a year," says Myrtle
Hall, one of the charter members of the organization that
has grown to 40 members and is "ever-growing."
RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) serves men and
women 55 and older who "want to make a difference in their
community," providing volunteers with "service
opportunities in schools, libraries, nursing homes,
project graduation, community centers, food source and
genealogy museums."
While the Carroll County RSVP Angel Choir has its roots in
the program, Myrtle and Cleo Horn, both volunteers at the
Baptist Hospital in Huntingdon, are quick to counsel, "You
don't have to be a senior citizen to sing with us, we'll
take you while you're waiting to get there."
The all-inclusive, multi-denominational, multi-ethnic
choir sings every Monday afternoon at nursing and
residential facilities in Carroll County. With eight homes
currently on their schedule, most outings cover two or
more stops before the day is done. Two Mondays ago, the
troupe made three visits before ending their singing day.
"We were all just pooped out," laughed Mrs. Hall.
"We keep getting more appointments all the time," she
says. "We are called to sing at different functions around
the county. We performed for the Carroll County Expo last
month, we held a memorial service at Hebron Methodist
Church for one of our former members, Frances Pope,
December 2. We were busy all summer singing for revivals
in the area. We have yet to refuse to serve anywhere. We
have such a good group and enjoy singing together so much
that it's a pleasure we don't like to miss."
It's an uncommon adventure for the seniors who reap the
rewards of their special form of service in many ways.
Their fellowship in coming together may be the best reward
of all. "We have an awful lot of fun together, it's a
really good group," says Mrs. Hall with a satisfied air.
She credits much of their success to the strong leadership
of Choir Director John Leonard Brinkley. "Brother Leonard
is really special, and very talented musically. He has to
have a lot of patience to work with a lot of old people,"
she asserts, saying they are all "set in their ways."
At ages 66 and 74, Ms. Myrtle and Ms. Cleo fall midrange
in an age scale that tops out with two 86 year old
gentlemen "who are beautiful singers", Ezra Martin and
J.D. Evans.
Mrs. Hall has special knowledge of the value Mr. Martin
adds to the choir, declaring, "He has the most beautiful
bass voice; he sings behind me and it gives me goose
pimples."
Members in the choir currently hail from Huntingdon,
Bruceton, McLemoresville, Trezevant, McKenzie, Yuma,
Westport, and Hollow Rock, all of whom come together at
the Carroll County Office Complex in Huntingdon for
practice.
"We have a few husband-wife teams and that really makes it
great," Mrs. Hall continued, counting eight couples among
the members. Many couples started out with wives joining
the choir and husbands deciding later to join as well.
An excellent singing voice is not a pre-requisite to
membership. In fact, Mrs. Hall says the group was
originally formed out of people who "swore they couldn't
sing."
"Everybody had to convince everybody else they could sing
- and they could!" she relates.
Nevertheless, the group has been blessed as well with two
members for whom singing has been a particular passion in
life. Leonard Brinkley was a member of the McKenzie
Quartet (along with his sister) and Leon Purvis, who
joined the RSVP Angel Choir some two months ago, was one
of "The Happy Five".
Patsy Blackburn, the grandmother of Carroll County's
Jessica Andrews, has some claim to fame with her voice
being in the lineage of the acclaimed country singer.
The group further boasts the membership of Ms. Nell Deck,
Senior Queen of Carroll County.
Every member of the Angel Choir is special, however, and
made more special by the gifts they share with others,
bringing joy to the hearts of all who are privileged to
hear their voices raised together in singing the gospel
hymns from their songbooks, "Heavenly Highway Hymns."
They form a striking ensemble dressed in white tops and
black slacks and skirts. To add a festive glow to their
performances during the Christmas season, they added red
tops for the ladies and red ties for men.
Christmas gave some members an opportunity to give even
more to the friends they meet in their visits. "Some of
our members made lap covers for the residents of the homes
as Christmas gifts this month," says Mrs. Hall. "We wish
to thank our members for this service; the friends have
really appreciated them. Those of our choir who couldn't
sew supported those who did by buying material and doing
everything they could to help."
Typically around 30 members of the 40-member choir come
together for each event, with allowances made for those
who have other obligations on a particular date. Some
members drive in to the center to meet the Carroll County
Angel Choir van, which picks up a few members who are
unable to drive. Many others carpool or drive themselves
to the events.
Members are reimbursed for choir-related mileage.
"They realize we're not in any kind of condition to run
around here and there," says Mrs. Hall, who says many
members are widowed and living on fixed incomes.
The status of those traveling by van is prominently
displayed on magnetic signs proclaiming them as the
"Carroll County Angel Choir," an addition provided by
Carroll County under the direction of County Executive
Kenny McBride.
"We go up and down the road advertising," chuckle the
ladies who fairly gush when talking about McBride, without
whose support they say, "we'd have had a time."
"Kenny provides the van, signs our checks, buys our
songbooks, gives us dinners - all money that supports us
goes through the county - he's been in back of RSVP the
whole time," the ladies insist. "He calls us his choir,
maybe it should be the RSVP Kenny Choir," they giggle.
More than just the hand that feeds them, McBride takes an
active interest in the group. "Kenny's got a good voice,
he sings with us when he can when we're practicing," the
ladies smile. "He is in his church's choir - a lot of the
members are."
"Carroll County is the sponsor of the choir," McBride
clarifies, "and that just falls under my umbrella I
guess," he laughs. He values the program because of the
positive effects it has on the lives of the people who
participate. "I know a lot of them told me they were
lonesome before they joined the choir," he said, "They
were sitting in the house and didn't have anything to do.
It gets them out of the house and it's been a good thing."
Elaine McDonald is the RSVP Director for Weakley, Carroll,
and Benton Counties, working out of the Northwest
Tennessee Office on Aging in Martin, an agency of which
Kenny McBride is a board member. RSVP's local
representative, Melinda Quiesenberry, operates from the
local Office on Aging in Huntingdon. The three work
together with Choir Director Leonard Brinkley to ensure a
successful program.
The group came together for a Christmas dinner at Hig's
Restaurant recently, creating an impressive sea of red and
white in the restaurant's dining room, the colors subdued
only by the bright smiles of friends coming together to
celebrate their special bond of service and fellowship.
Sharing that privilege is an item Ms. Horn keeps at the
top of her agenda as she seeks to spread the word to
others who might enjoy becoming a member of the group.
"I carry get well cards, sympathy cards and papers to join
the RSVP Angel Choir with me all the time," she says. Her
efforts earned her "a beautiful butterfly pin for getting
so many new members."
Mrs. Hall agrees that membership in the Carroll County
RSVP Choir is an experience not to be missed: "We are
having the time of our retirement lives singing and
praising our Lord and bringing cheer to some beautiful and
gracious people. There are so many that make it possible
for us to continue our service; we appreciate Daniel
Williams who is an excellent pianist and is ready to
substitute for Catherine when possible. We love you
Daniel. Elaine McDonald has always been a supporter and
encourager; she is the project director for Carroll
County. Thank you Elaine. Melinda Quiesenberry helps all
of us, she is another very patient person. Last but most
important Kenny McBride, we thank you for all that you do
for us. Three cheers for you!" |
