Currently, I'm working on compiling a library on Gospel Demo CDs. Ass my demos become completed, they will be available for promotional purposes.

It generally takes me a while to do put my music together. Once I get spiritually tuned to a song, it becomes easy to minister. 

My father did not live with us. In my family, I have two sisters and five brothers. Due to my mother's illness, I had to discontinue school at the age of 17. Eventually, it became necessary to get a job to help mother with household income. $135.00 a month was very little for nine people to live off, yet God always provided.  All this occurred in the late 50’s.

Married at the age of 19. My first child Karen, was born. Mother passed when Karen was only three months old. 

Russell and I took in my brothers and sister Lillian.  Our husbands also wanted the children to stay together. It was very difficult time for the family. We lived in a two room house with the baby and three other children. Russell brought home only $35.00 per week after taxes, but God brought us through our hard times.  My father lived from pillow to post, being no help at all to us. Dad eventually purchased himself an apartment in Atlanta and started selling candy, cakes and soda. 

As time passed things begin to get better for us. I also have another daughter (Heidi) and a son Emery. Eventually, I asked my father for $125.00 to buy a piano. He gave it to me with no question asked. Unfortunately, dad became furious after I told him that the money was spent for buying a piano. He just did not think I could learn to play the piano.   After dad's negative reaction, I became more and more determined that I would learn how to play the piano and sing.

Over a period of time, I bought every piano book I could find. God bless me to teach myself music. Later on, all my brothers, sister and children grew to love Gospel music and still do.

Despite my background disappointments, the Lord made it possible for me to eventually get my GED at the age of 45; It was what I needed before I could attend college for obtaining a degree in music. After finding out the enormous tuition cost, I decided not to pursue college. At that time,  my husband preferred me not to work a standard job.

To make along story short, The Lord has put people in my path to help me with my dreams of singing and playing the piano; people such as Sarah Bradford, a great church musician, David Wayne Lawrence Piano by Ear & Gospel arts, Elder Kenneth Paden, Minister of music for Georgia Mass Choir, Pastor Michael Dennis (Pastor D) of Word Clarity International Ministries.

In 1982 I started my own group The Joyful Gospel Singers, Betty Strong and Shirley Moore was with me. This was the beginning of my ministry in Gospel singing. We started accepting invitation the very next week. The Lord Blessed us to form a wonderful gospel quartet. As God opened the doors, we spread The Word through music and lived the life. It seemed that with each invitation another new person tried out for the group. Our organization even grew to fourteen members.  

We sang at almost all the local churches in Fairburn.   

On one occasion, our group song  I’LL MAKE IT SOMEHOW, and I’M GOING ON. Each time we tried to end a song, someone in the pews would start it up again. The musicians was great and the spirit was extremely high. During the excitement of the program, the Lord spoke to my heart and said "don’t let small things stop you. You are doing a work for me. Go on!" The Lord used a member name Deborah to confirm what the Lord had said. Oh what a time we had! 

As time passed we searched for more musicians. Considering the circumstances, I started playing piano as best I could. Deborah became interested in playing the bass guitar. My brother Richard was out drummer.

After learning to play the piano well enough, many people who heard me play, started requesting me to teach them the little I knew. So I did started teaching music. It became necessary for me to rent a space in a Christian book store in Union City, Ga. Just for a moment the Lord bless me to have 22 students. due to the store closing business, three months were all the time I could work with students. After that, I moved back home and continued teaching for seven years.

After the lost of my husband. i felt a need to get away from the house and find something productive to do. Working a sewing plant seemed to have come along just when I needed something to do. I truly miss my husband! But thank God!, meeting Pastor D, working in the Church, and creating music has truly motivated me to go on with my life despite the sorrows of the past.

I encourage you to do the same thing. If you fail, get up and keep trying. Never give up on your dreams and aspirations. God is faithful and will bring his will to pass as you trust him for the provisions.  Be blessed!   

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