|
Royce and Betty grew
up in the days of “All Day Singings and Dinner on the Ground and Singing Schools taught from shaped note Stamps-Baxter
songbooks. It was a time when almost all churches had Sunday night services, usually less formal than the morning service,
and with lots of singing. Often the song leader would just call on three other people in the congregation to come up and sing
a special with him. There was almost always someone there to sing each part. Practice sessions weren’t needed —
everyone knew all the songs, and holding a hymn book in case you forgot the words was quite acceptable. Many songs such as
“Jesus Hold My Hand,” “Just A Little While,” and “Church in the Wildwood bring back lots of
fond memories.
Royce and Betty are members of the Bettie
United Methodist Church, where he serves as music director and she plays the piano. They are blessed to now have both their
children and their families live nearby, and are thankful to be able to spend lots of time with grandchildren Diana and David
Gee and Hannah Cook.
Royce has worked as parts manager at
several East Texas Ford dealerships over the past 30 years. He currently is employed in the parts department at Pegues-Hurst
Ford in Longview. Betty has worked at the local newspaper, “The Gilmer Mirror,” since 1980.
Royce and Betty at Rosalie in Natchez, MS.
|
