Determined: Building Family Memories- The Singing Cousins
January 3, 2023
Determination: Building Family Memories- The Singing Cousins
Barbara , Joyce, and I grew up together in Brunswick with our other siblings, living within walking distance apart. We were in church a lot so we played church often imitating the adult members and creating situations that sometimes got us in trouble.
The three of us sang with a gospel group called the “Mighty Echolettes. Barbara’s dad had a group of men called “The Mighty Echoes”, so he managed both groups. We were quite a challenge to manage. The three of us would rehearse but when it was time to sing, Joyce would back out. She had the most beautiful soprano voice and Barbara equally as talented with and alto voice, but Joyce would not sing in public. On those occasions Barbara and I sang. Later Gwen & Helen sang with us until we all got too grown. Then the group fell apart.
It seemed like Deacon Earl Dart ( Barbara’s dad) would start the service every Sunday with the same song “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”. So on this particular Sunday Barbara, Joyce and I decided to sing over his voice. When he hit that first note we took over the song. The church was quiet and shortly my grandmother’s purse came sailing in our direction. We sat quietly for the remainder of the service, knowing we were in trouble. We never did that again. We shared a priceless childhood memory. We talked often about getting away from Brunswick and doing something great. We thought we wanted to grow up!
Barbara was blessed to do many great things here in Brunswick, being a Pastor was not one of the things we talked about as we were growing up. She was where God directed her path. We were so blessed to have realized many of our dreams and we shared them with each other. We had many long conversations reminiscing about our past and the things our mothers did not tell us about the aging process.
Barbara visited me in Arizona, and we had a most precious time. We had realized a lot of our dreams and goals. We talked about our health issues and were amazed that we looked okay( according to our view) in spite of our health. We were grateful that God had brought us this far.
Inthe last couple of months, she had a few health issues that she had to take care ofbut we discussed plans for her to come back to Arizona and bring Helen, instead she joined the Heavenly choir with Joyce making a joyful noise.
I will miss her so much and will always remember that laugh when we shared stories of our lives, work, health, children, grandchildren and the past.
Wanda F Moore, Chair, University of Arizona Minority Outreach Program Tucson, AZ 85718
Barbara , Joyce, and I grew up together in Brunswick with our other siblings, living within walking distance apart. We were in church a lot so we played church often imitating the adult members and creating situations that sometimes got us in trouble.
The three of us sang with a gospel group called the “Mighty Echolettes. Barbara’s dad had a group of men called “The Mighty Echoes”, so he managed both groups. We were quite a challenge to manage. The three of us would rehearse but when it was time to sing, Joyce would back out. She had the most beautiful soprano voice and Barbara equally as talented with and alto voice, but Joyce would not sing in public. On those occasions Barbara and I sang. Later Gwen & Helen sang with us until we all got too grown. Then the group fell apart.
It seemed like Deacon Earl Dart ( Barbara’s dad) would start the service every Sunday with the same song “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross”. So on this particular Sunday Barbara, Joyce and I decided to sing over his voice. When he hit that first note we took over the song. The church was quiet and shortly my grandmother’s purse came sailing in our direction. We sat quietly for the remainder of the service, knowing we were in trouble. We never did that again. We shared a priceless childhood memory. We talked often about getting away from Brunswick and doing something great. We thought we wanted to grow up!
Barbara was blessed to do many great things here in Brunswick, being a Pastor was not one of the things we talked about as we were growing up. She was where God directed her path. We were so blessed to have realized many of our dreams and we shared them with each other. We had many long conversations reminiscing about our past and the things our mothers did not tell us about the aging process.
Barbara visited me in Arizona, and we had a most precious time. We had realized a lot of our dreams and goals. We talked about our health issues and were amazed that we looked okay( according to our view) in spite of our health. We were grateful that God had brought us this far.
Inthe last couple of months, she had a few health issues that she had to take care ofbut we discussed plans for her to come back to Arizona and bring Helen, instead she joined the Heavenly choir with Joyce making a joyful noise.
I will miss her so much and will always remember that laugh when we shared stories of our lives, work, health, children, grandchildren and the past.
Wanda F Moore, Chair, University of Arizona Minority Outreach Program Tucson, AZ 85718