Ray City Glee Club | Ray City History Blog

1939 Ray City Glee Club Goes On Tour

September 22, 2013 at 12:00 am (Ray City School, Society and Leisure)
Tags: Allen Yawn, Alma Luke, Annie Ruth Clements, Billy Guthrie, Bruce Knight, Carolyn Swindle, Evelyn Moore, Frencholyn Guthrie, Harold Moore, Hazel Tabor, Hubert Comer, Hubert Starling, Hugh Clements, J. O. Stanaland, Jack Vickers, Josephine Collier, Juanelle Clements, Juanelle Starling, Lakeland Grammar School Glee Club, Lakeland High School Glee Club, Lamar Weaver, Marjorie Garner, Martha Ernestine Cantrell, Maurice Johnson, Mrs. Garth Webb, Mrs. Rudolph Zeigler, Myrtle Hendry, Pauline Skinner, Peggy Carter, Ray City Expression Department, Ray City Glee Club, Ray City School, Ronald Parrish, Roy Carter, School of the Air, Victoria Sirmans, WAYX

Following a successful 1939 Christmas Cantata performance, the Ray City School Glee Club went on a spring tour performing in local towns and even on the radio:

The Nashville Herald, March 2, 1939

Ray City Glee Club Heard at M.E. Church

The Ray City high school Glee Club was featured in last Sunday night services at the local Methodist Church, singing before a packed house. Reverend J.O. Stanaland, pastor, announced that it was nearly a capacity congregation.

The Glee Club very ably and with pleasing harmonious voices rendered a group of chorus selections. There are twenty-eight mixed voices in the Glee Club.

^{Transcription courtesy of Skeeter Parker}

and

The Nashville Herald, March 16, 1939

Ray City Glee Club Gave Program at Lakeland Recently

The Ray City High School Glee Club numbering twenty-four voices, presented a program last Tuesday morning at the Lakeland School auditorium during chapel period. Several readings were also given by students representing the Ray City Expression Department. The performance received an enthusiastic response from the Lakeland faculty and student body. Mr. House praised the work of the visiting group, and stated that on account of the pleasant scholastic relations in literary and athletic events which had always existed between Ray City and Lakeland he was exceptionally glad to have had the Ray City school represented here on such a delightful an occasion. Similar programs were presented in Ray City last fall by Lakeland High School and Grammar School Glee Clubs prior to the School of the Air Broadcasts. The Ray City Glee Club is preparing a program to be broadcast over radio station WAYX in Waycross at 2 o’clock p.m. April 7. – Lanier County News.

^{Transcription courtesy of Skeeter Parker}

Members of the Glee Club:

Peggy Carter
Annie Ruth Clements
Juanelle Clements
Marjorie Garner
Frencholyn Guthrie
Myrtle Hendry
Alma Luke
Evelyn Moore
Victoria Sirmans
Pauline Skinner
Juanelle Starling
Carolyn Swindle
Allen Yawn
Roy Carter
Hugh Clements
Hubert Comer
Billy Guthrie
Morris Johnson
Bruce Knight
Harold Moore
Ronald Parrish
Hubert Starling
Jack Vickers
Lamar Weaver
Miss Josephine Collier
Mrs. Rudolph Zeigler (Martha Ernestine Cantrell)
Mrs. Garth Webb
Miss Hazel Tabor

Robert J. Starling was at Emory College, Valdosta, GA 1948

November 7, 2012 at 12:12 am (Education In the Wiregrass, Remedies and Medicine)
Tags: Anna Martha Grissett, Barbara Swindle, Billy Creech, Bob Starling, Caswell Yawn, Coffee County GA, Donalsonville, Emory College, Fain Guthrie, Ferrell Herring, Frances Carolyn Singletary, GA, Henry Lavern Starling, Hubert Starling, Juanelle Starling, Juniper Griffis Starling, Kenneth Cameron, Lamar Hardie, Lois Burkhalter, Moseley Hospital, Ray City Glee Club, Ray City School, Ray City Symphonet Band, Robert J. Starling, Sadie Griner, Seminole Memorial Hospital, Valdosta GA, Wylda Starling

Emory at Valdosta

Robert J. “Bob” Starling, a son of Henry Laverne Starling and Allie Purvis, attended the Emory College campus in Valdosta in 1948. His father was the school lunchroom supervisor at Ray City, and his grandfather, Juniper Griffis Starling, was a pioneer settler of Coffee County, GA.

Bob Starling grew up in his father’s household on Park Street in Ray City, and attended the Ray City School along with his brothers and sisters. The Starling kids were all involved in the Glee Club. In 1939, Bob and his sister, Wylda Starling, played in the school’s Symphonet Band, along with Lamar Hardy, Fain Guthrie, Ferrell Herring, Barbara Swindle, Annie Martha Grisset, Lois Burkhalter, Kenneth Cameron, Billy Creech, Casswell Yawn, and Sadie Griner. His older siblings, Hubert C Starling and Juanelle Starling sang with the school chorus.

Robert J. Starling, 1948, Emory Junior College, Valdosta, GA

Emory Junior College, 1940s, Valdosta, GA

Bob Starling went on to become Dr. Robert J. Starling. He married a nurse, Frances Carolyn Singletary, and practiced medicine in Donalsonville, GA. He eventually purchased the hospital in Donalsonville and he and Frances operated it for many years.

A writer on the Donalsonville Forum: Remember the Good Ole Days, posted in 2011:

Dr Earle Moseley built the facility and it was known as Moseley Clinic and Hospital until his death in 1963. After that time, Dr Bob Starling purchased the hospital and it was renamed “Seminole Memorial Hospital”. Dr Jake Holley came that same year and joined him. Later he was joined by Dr Lewis Chisholm for a while, then later Dr Charlie O Walker.

Another writer in 2008 recalled the doctor’s bedside manner:

“Doctor Starling was such a kind and gentle man. I was never afraid of going to him as a child. I wish he was still around for my own children. I cut my hand when I was a senior in High School, and he was on call in the emergency room that day at lunch. I had never been to him; we always went to old man Dr.B….But Dr. Starling took me in, and soothed me quickly. He had 6 stitches in my hand before I could squeeze out another tear for my mom !! I remember Fran and Scott Starling, Linda and Robert too.They always had the best Halloween decorations!”

Glee Club Gave 1939 Christmas Cantata

December 22, 2011 at 6:53 am (Ray City School, Society and Leisure)
Tags: Allen Yawn, Alma Luke, Anna Martha Grissett, Annie Ruth Clements, Barbara Swindle, Betty Garner, Bill Gray, Billie Guthrie, Bob Starling, Bruce Knight, Carolyn Swindle, Caswell Yawn, Doris Forehand, Doris Mobley, Elizabeth Weaver, Evelyn Moore, Fain Guthrie, Ferrell Herring, Frencholyn Guthrie, Harold Moore, Harvey Wood, Hazel Sirmans, Hazel Tabor, Helen Scarborough, Hilda Sirmans, Hubert Comer, Hubert Starling, Hugh Clements, Hulda D'Ree Yawn, J. D. Carter, Jack Vickers, Jessie Francis Webb, Josephine Collier, Juanella Clements, Juanelle Starling, Kenneth Cameron, Lamar Hardie, Lamar Weaver, Lois Burkhalter, Marjorie Garner, Martha Ernestine Cantrell, Martha Ernestine Ziegler, Mona Faye Swindle, Morris Johnson, Myrtle Hendry, Paula Skinner, Pauline Skinner, Peggy Carter, Ray City Glee Club, Robert Martin, Ronald Parrish, Roy Carter, Rudolph Scarborough, Sadie Griner, Victoria Sirmans, W.M. Creech, Wylda Starling

In 1939 the Ray City School Glee Club gave a Christmas Cantata with many students and teachers participating.

Ray City School, circa 1949. The school building was originally constructed in 1922.

The Nashville Herald, December 14, 1939

Ray City School Glee Club to Give Christmas Cantata

      Ray City High School Glee Club will present a Christmas Cantata, “Memories of Bethlehem,” (Holton), on Wednesday evening, December 20, at 8 o’clock in the high school auditorium. The glee club will be assisted by Miss Josephine Collier, pianist; contralto, Mrs. Rudolph Zeigler (Martha Ernestine Cantrell Ziegler); soprano, Mrs. Garth Webb, and Miss Hazel Tabor.

      Members of the club appearing on the program will be:

      Sopranos and altos:

      Peggy Carter, Annie Ruth Clements, Juanelle Clements, Marjorie Garner, Frencholyn Guthrie, Myrtle Hendry, Alma Luke, Evelyn Moore, Victoria Sirmans, Pauline Skinner, Juanelle Starling, Carolyn Swindle, Allen Yaun.

      Baritones and basses:

      Roy Carter, Hugh Clements, Hubert Comer, Billy Guthrie, Morris Johnson, Bruce Knight, Harold Moore, Ronald Parrish, Hubert Starling, Jack Vickers, Lamar Weaver.

      The Symphonet Band, which has been organized since October, will play for the processional. They are:

      Lamar Hardy, Fain Guthrie, Ferrell Herring, Barbara Swindle, Annie Martha Grisset, Lois Burkhalter, Kenneth Cameron, Billy Creech, Casswell Yaun, Bob Starling, Sadie Griner, Wylda Starling.

      Ushers for the occasion will be Helen Scarboro and Betty Garner. Candle lighters will be Robert Martin, Rudolph Scarboro, Bill Gray, Harvey Wood.

      Wise men will be Hilda Sirmans and Doris Mobley.

1939 Class Seniors, Ray City School. Miss Tabor, Teacher. Pictured are Annie Ruth Clements, Elizabeth Weaver, Mona Faye Swindle, D’Ree Yawn, Hazel Sirmans, Doris Forehand, and J.D. Carter.

Ray City History Blog

1939 Ray City Glee Club Goes On Tour

Robert J. Starling was at Emory College, Valdosta, GA 1948

Glee Club Gave 1939 Christmas Cantata

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