Butler County, Alabama

Georgiana
Methodist Episcopal Church
Singing School

submitted by: Susan Register Collier


 
Susan Register Collier's mother, Desland Gipson-Pride Register, provided this photograph of her Georgiana singing school of the 1930s.  (She was known as Desland PRIDE because Robert Pride was her step-father.)  "The photo attached is of the Methodist Episcopal Church Singing School, and Mother drew an arrow to herself on the photo. Another arrow to her little sis, Edna Earle Pride  . . . .  I hope it comes through well enough on the site that others might be able to 'recognize' their parents or family members among the other children!"

Update on identifications


  

 
submitted by: Susan Shehane

My sister-in-law sent me the link to the photo of the singing school at Georgiana.  I can definitely identify my parents, Joseph E. Lee, far right, second row; and my mother, bottom front row, far left -- Lois Isabell Countryman.  Oak Grove is located outside Georgiana in a crossroads known as Avant, a community without a post office, so it might get lost except for people who can still attest to the fact that there was once a four-room school there.

The singing school would have been taught by my grandfather, Mr. Countryman -- I believe his first name was John but I'm not sure -- I want to say John Harmon, but again, I'm not sure.  Others in attendance whom I cannot specifically identify but I know to be present would have been Chester Brooks ... All of these I mention are now deceased.

However, Marjorie Countryman (Joyner), whom I do not see in the picture but whose father taught the singing schools, is still living. She's 96 and lives with her daughter in Hilton Head, SC.  I have some CC camp pictures that I need to scan in and send to you -- and somewhere, somewhere in my parents' belongings -- is a picture taken at that same Oak Grove Church -- but in that school Hank Williams is pictured.  He may be in this picture -- I'm just not sure.

By the way, a person I should mention, as well, would be my grandmother, Zille Mae Cook Countryman, who likely would have been involved in all the singing schools.

My father, Joseph E. Lee, who spent his life attending so many singings and, like many in the Great Depression, learned to always have hope through singing, said that Brother Countryman (he was a Baptist preacher) made $8 at each singing school that he taught.


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Page updated 9 Sep 2009.