One is a classically trained pianist, the other a self-taught organist.
They have spent five decades together, helping the congregation of Westside Baptist Church in Rossville make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
Pianist June Edmondson, 77, and organist Una Atwood, 71, have accomplished a record that few church instrumentalists can claim individually, much less together. Edmondson will mark her 60th anniversary as pianist at Westside on Sept. 18. Atwood, a former piano student of Edmondson, says she has been a member of the church for 51 years and its organist for 48 of those.
Other local longterm church musicians
45 Years: Evelyn Gibbs, Brainerd Baptist Church42 Years: Judy Glass, First Presbyterian Church40 Years: Bruce Clark, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church34 Years: Jeff Scofield, Brainerd United Methodist Church
"While they are utilized throughout the service, our musicians are featured during the musical prelude that prepares us for our time of worship and during the offering, which serves as a time for reflecting on God's provision for us," says the Rev. Gary Moore, church pastor.
Edmondson and Atwood's partnership at the keyboards is believed to be record among area church musicians.
"To have someone play at one church for 50 years is rare," says Linda Thompson, president of the Chattanooga Music Club and church organist at Silverdale Cumberland Presbyterian for 29 years. "It's very rare for two musicians to play together in one church nearly 50 years."
"I can't think of any situation where the same two musicians have stayed together as a team that long," says Jeff Scofield, immediate past dean of the Chattanooga chapter of American Guild of Organists. "They must be able to read each other's minds by now when it comes to playing."
Indeed they can, say both ladies.
Atwood says during the years the organ and piano sat on opposite sides of the altar, facing each other, the two developed their own hand signals to communicate. When the church began a remodeling, the pair asked their instruments be placed side by side, which has made communication easier.
Edmondson was just 17 when she was hired as the church pianist in 1955, but she had been playing in public for several years. The musician laughs that, when she began playing in first grade, she really didn't enjoy piano because the music books she used weren't interesting. It wasn't until she was 10 and teacher Mildred Mullis introduced her to improvisation that she says "she got fired up."
Her glee club teacher at Lakeview High School, where she accompanied the choir, introduced her to classical music. She played with the school swing band and studied at Cadek Conservatory.
"I had aspirations to go to Juilliard, but there was a young man who came along and changed that," she says, chuckling. "I had my membership in Newnan Springs Methodist and my fiancé had his in Ridgedale Baptist. When we got engaged, God put us where he meant for us to be of service. He put us together in (Westside) and we never went anywhere else."
She and Carl Michael Edmondson Sr. were married 54 years before his death. She remains a fixture at the church and says she can't envision her life without music.
"I can't sit through a service and not be doing anything. When my hand was operated on a few years ago, I sang in the choir while it was healing. The only other times I've missed was for illness and when my husband died. Sixty straight years and I don't see any place to pull over yet," Edmondson says.
"She is a great pianist," Atwood says of her colleague. "Music is her life."
Atwood says she learned to play piano when she was offered free lessons and "I picked organ up on my own with June's help." She is retired from the Catoosa County school system after driving a school bus for 30 years.
Her family has attended Westside since 1956 - her dad was a deacon and her mom a Sunday school teacher. She met her future husband, Daniel, at a youth revival there. She began playing organ for the church when she and Daniel married 51 years ago. Additionally, Daniel Atwood was music minister at the church for 35 years.
"We raised our three kids there and have had two married in that church," she says.
Each week, the ladies are responsible for a prelude, offertory, postlude, accompanying congregational hymns, the choir anthem and any special soloists. They are expected to be on their benches for Sunday morning and evening services, choir rehearsals and Wednesday night services.
Multiply those four weekly gigs over 52 weeks a year - then consider the impact Edmondson's 12,480 services over 60 years has made.
"They are faithful to the Lord and his calling, flexible in working with others and adapting to change, and committed to musical excellence for the glory of God," says Moore.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.
