My final week in MS was a very special one. I spent Wednesday and Thursday in Tylertown. It is a small town in the southwest part of the state. While a junior at Mississippi College, I served as the Interim Minister of Music at Tylertown Baptist Church. At the time, Ellen Sullivan was the pianist. Ellen, her late husband Jerry, and daughter Lee Ellen found a special place in my heart that year. Jerry passed away a few years ago, and Ellen, Lee Ellen and I have remained in touch. For the past several years, Ellen has directed the music ministry at Tylertown UMC. I'm so proud of the work she has done at that church. I honestly believe Ellen and I could talk for days without stopping and without repeating anything. What a gift it was to share this time with her. And the great news is that our youth choir will be singing at her church this summer!
Dr. Richard Joiner is a retired choral conductor and music educator. He was my choral conductor and voice teacher at Mississippi College from 1992-1996. Shortly after that time, he and his wife Marilyn moved to Jackson, TN, where he was head of the music department at Union University. He retired this year, and they moved back to Clinton. Dr. Joiner could have had many more years in the music ed. world, but...in his words...he wanted to quit conducting while he was still singing. I cannot begin to put into words how I feel about this man. He was so much more than a voice teacher or a choral conductor to me. He was my mentor. He was my friend. And he remains so this day. His wife Marilyn prepared a wonderful southern-style supper one night then I went back and talked "business" with Dr. J the next day. I hope we have many more opportunities to sit and chat like we did that day.
Thank you, Dr. Joiner...and thank you Ellen...for your important role in my journey. I surely would not be where I am or who I am without you.
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