By By LYDIA GRIMES Feature Reporter
First United Methodist Church of Brewton will host "A Festival of Gospel Songs and Hymns" in memory of Devon Wiggins who loved singing in general and gospel singing in particular. Sharon White and Marcia De Graaf will be playing and singing to honor the late Wiggins.
Sharon White has been in music all her life serving in a variety of ways. She was the organist at McIlwain Presbyterian Church in Pensacola where she served in various musical capacities from 1970 and primarily as organist from 1979 until 1997. She is currently the organist at Concord Church (PCA) in Gulf Breeze, Fla.
Marcia De Graaf is a native of Michigan and comes from a musical family. She attended Hope College in Holland, Mich., where she received her bachelor of arts degree with a major in voice and a minor in piano. After graduation she moved to Brewton where she served in several area churches as music director.
She is currently serving as music director at the First United Methodist Church of East Brewton.
White and De Graaf have presented several concerts in the area and in Michigan and invite the public to attend this concert at the First United Methodist Church of Brewton Feb. 15, beginning at 4 p.m.
The first annual Henry Wilson Memorial Singing will be held Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. at Jefferson Davis Community College. Headlining the event are The Singing Echoes from Cleveland, Tenn.
The Singing Echoes group consists of members of the Epperson family. It originated in 1969 with Max and Lela Epperson, their two sons Lynn and Gary, and Debbie, Gary's wife. Since that time, Max and Lela have passed away and the grandchildren, Jeremy, Joshua, Matt and Adam have joined the group.
In 1973, The Singing Echoes received a Grammy nomination and they have written many gospel songs recorded by them and other well known singers. The group's work has been recognized by the state of Tennessee, and Governor Lamar Alexander appointed them as "Ambassadors of Good Will" for the state of Tennessee.
Along with The Singing Echoes, other groups scheduled to perform are Mike Upright of Hendersonville, N.C., New Wine of Brewton and The Moyes of Flomaton.