Western North Carolina Musical Legacies: Hidden In The Melodies Of Life

By Patricia McAfee

For many readers, this book series will introduce people in the Western North Carolina community and tell of their musical experiences, struggles, triumphs, tragedies, hopes, and dreams. For some, it will awaken memories of faces and gathering places where music took center stage from basement blue lights to strobe lights to foot-stomping praises in church. Musical gifts were passed from generation to generation. For others, this journey will connect streetlight dreams with the stage of Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, and the Grand Ole Opry. A few groups and several individuals were fortunate to obtain national recognition. Many performed beyond the borders of the State of North Carolina. Some gave a lifetime of musical service and died before any documented recognition, and others remain dedicated silent partners whose voices and musical gifts continue to ring out, yet are hidden in the melodies of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781681977157

Book preview

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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

MUSICAL LEGACIES

PATRICIA MCAFEE

HIDDEN IN THE MELODIES OF LIFE

ISBN 978-1-68197-714-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68197-715-7 (Digital)

Copyright © 2016 by Patricia McAfee

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

A TRIBUTE TO CLARENCE BENTON WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO LOUIS RAY WITH PATTYE RAY

A TRIBUTE TO EDDIE E. EDGERTON WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO LAPERLE JONES WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO MARGARET O. KIRKLAND WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT BLACK JR. WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN RICHARDSON WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO TERRENCE NESBITT PICTURED WITH LOVELY WIFE, ANGELA WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM BILL MILLS WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM BILLREID WITH JUSTIN REID

A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT BUDDY POORE PICTURED WITH LOVELY WIFE, SARAH WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO ERNEST CHARLES GASH WITH MRS. EDNA GASH ASHLEY

A TRIBUTE TO FRANCES SHEARER GRANT WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNIE MOON WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO LULA M. AND RALPH B. BROWN SR. WITH RALPH B. BROWN JR.

A TRIBUTE TO MELVIN L. WATERS WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO PERVIS BOWENS WITH BOBBY BOWENS

A TRIBUTE TO QUENTIN K. MILLER SR. WITH QUENTIN K. MILLER JR.

A TRIBUTE TO WILLIE MAE HARRISON WITH BETTY HARRISON

A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND ROBERT LEE ALLEN WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO GERALDINE WILLIAMS HILL WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO ALVIN A. PEARSON SR. WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO ERNESTINE FORNEY WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO GLADYS COWAN KENNEDY WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND OTIS WARE WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO THELMA S. EDGERTON WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO LOUDORA ROSS WITH PATRICIA WRIGHT

A TRIBUTE TO DR. ARSIE RUTH MILLER GRANT WITH JAMES A. GRANT

A TRIBUTE TO ELWOOD STOUT WITH EMMA STOUT WISE

A TRIBUTE TO MOSES SINGLETON WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO JAMES AND ELLA HUDGENS WITH JAMES CALVIN HUDGENS JR.

A TRIBUTE TO LOUISE COLEMAN WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO JOE STEPHEN GRIFFITH ON LEFT WITH FRIEND, LOUIS RAY ON RIGHT WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO ELDER ARCHIBALD BOAZ ROBINSON WITH RACHAEL H. ROBINSON

A TRIBUTE TO MAXINE BROWN WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO RAYBURN WHITT PICTURED WITH LOVELY WIFE, SUSIE

A TRIBUTE TO DR. RICKY DUCKETT WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO BOYCE H. LAYTON SR. WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT BOBBY ELLIS PICTURED WITH LOVELY WIFE, BRENDA DEAN WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM ENGLISH PICTURED WITH LOVELY DAUGHTER, JACKIE WITH CHILDREN JACKIE, CHERYL, AND WILLIAM JR.

A TRIBUTE TO FRANCES FIELDS ROLAND WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO RUTH AND ELVIN MILLS SR. WITH BEVERLY MILLS

A TRIBUTE TO FRANKLYN PEARSON BROWN OWENS WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO HENRY JUNE MOSLEY WITH PATRICIA MCAFEE

A TRIBUTE TO ANNETTE L. MCDANIELS WITH REVEREND GARY MCDANIELS

Part One: The Tributes

Dedicated to the Memory of Clara McAfee Jeter

my mom - my friend

Yesterday, a shy little girl found comfort and strength in her mom’s smile and touch.

Yesterday, and unaware, a young woman received valuable training on the ways of life. The subjects were life situations, and Professor Mom provided the instruction through example. Unselfishness, hard work, prayer, courage, consistency, compassion, humor, honesty, faithfulness, determination, common sense, and love were her teaching tools.

Yesterday, a middle-aged woman had to suddenly say good-bye to her mom’s physical touch, gentle spirit, and lifelong friendship.

Today, I wake in thankfulness and put one foot in front of the other in gratitude and love. I miss you, Mom, beyond words!

—Pat

Acknowledgments

Thank you God. I am nothing (and can do nothing) without you!

Thank you to my family for your support, tolerance, and unfailing love.

Thank you, Brother Robert Jackson Sr. and the late Brother Henry Robinson, for early enthusiasm and advice.

Thank you to Brother Dwight Crawford for taking the time to edit and suggest when help was desperately needed (laborers can sometimes be few).

Thank you, Brother Ernie Mapp, for drawing a simple streetlight under which powerful historical and musical conversations have taken place.

Thank you, Sister Mary Hutchinson, for one of your many kindnesses.

Thank you, Minister William Dudley, for stopping by (while on one of your business trips from Seattle) to pray for blessings on this project.

Thank you, Pastor and Mrs. David G. Perry and the St. John Nation, for your care and love.

Thank you to those that could not see the worth or vision. Inspiration can sometimes come through different forms.

Thank you to the staff at Christian Faith Publishing for treating my work with dignity and integrity.

Finally, thank you to all who have offered any kindness!

Introduction

The only way I can introduce this work is to first acknowledge the work of the late Mr. John Baxter, a native Ashevillian, who was born in 1910—an entrepreneur, a community activist, and a historian. It was through the University of North Carolina at Asheville, DH Ramsey Library, Heritage of Black Highlanders Collection, that Mr. Baxter provided an oral history (later transcribed into a four-page document) relating to black educators and musicians in the Asheville area between 1920 and 1970. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Baxter before his death, but I thank him for his vision and share his interest in preserving local musical history (particularly among the black culture) in Western North Carolina. My objective is to expand on the project he started years ago and to bring a few more musical contributions to the pages of history.

Unsung heroes have always walked the pioneer trail. By no means will this book series reflect a complete account of all that should be honored (there are many more). But this effort continues to celebrate and preserve the history of the heroes whose love of music was, and is, the common link that connects them and their community.

But more importantly, this project will reawaken and reinforce a community pride that uplifts those that reside here and provides another historical resource for our youth and visitors. Never has there been such a need for lifting the spirits, voices and other musical gifts that continue to ring out in the hills, valleys and mountains of our communities.

A TRIBUTE TO

CLARENCE BENTON

WITH

PATRICIA MCAFEE

Clarence Benton

I had the pleasure of interviewing Clarence Benton at his home in early 2004. He began by stating that he’d had a