Every Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m., from March through November, members of a small choral group leave their homes or workplaces and drive to one of the care homes in Clinton.
Last week, the group, called the Spirit Lifters, were at The Arbors, a home for Alzheimer’s patients, to share a hymn sing with the residents gathered in the back parlor. The 11 singers opened by launching into a spirited rendition of Eugene Bartlett’s “Victory in Jesus,” accompanied by Dolores Tillman on the piano. “Victory in Jesus” was followed by “At the Cross,” then an Easter hymn, “O Glorious Day”.
Ruth Duree, who was leading the group, first read the words of the song, about how the stone rolled away from the tomb.
She also explained how when she was looking up Easter songs, she was surprised to find “In the Garden” in the category. But when she read about it, she discovered that it is a description of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ in the gospel of John, which she shared with the residents.
“God cares for us, like he did for Mary,” Ruth said.
Next, the harmonies of “The Old Rugged Cross” filled the parlor, with the bass voices echoing the refrain. The hymn is a favorite of their listeners, Ruth said, and many in the audience joined in singing the words of the chorus. Research has shown that music is retained in a part of the brain relatively unaffected by dementia, and that people respond to music even if they have lost the ability to understand verbal communication.
According to the group’s historian, Mary Crosswhite, the Spirit Lifters have been involved in this unique ministry for 35 years. It was started by Joyce Halbrook, she said. Mary’s mother used to sing with the group, and they used to travel to Jefferson City to compete in state choir contests, traveling in an unheated bus.
They also used to go out to supper together after they sang, she said.
“One time we went to Donna’s in Tightwad,” she said. “We talked them into making us fried chicken on Christmas Eve.”
Other memories are of the man who played the fiddle to accompany the singers. Bill Ritchie, a Baptist minister for more than 50 years, who added his unique talent.
“He would write a poem during every visit,” Mary said, “and would read it before we left.”
The Rev. Ritchie passed away in 2007. Kevin Griffey, a worship leader at First Baptist Church, is the current leader of the Spirit Lifters, but was out of town last week, so Ruth announced and led the songs.
After the concert, choir members went around to members of the audience to introduce themselves and shake hands. The Spirit Lifters also sing at Clinton Rehab, Jefferson Gardens and Adair Village.
The Henry County Memory Fund, the local Alzheimer’s and dementia support group, is holding a fundraiser on May 4 at the Ohio Street branch of Hawthorn Bank. The 10th annual event, called the Big Purple Party, is a way to honor the memory of family members and friends who succumbed to the disease. It starts with registration at 9 a.m., with the opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m., then teams of families or caregivers, many in matching shirts and carrying signs, walk a short route around the Old Country Club Plaza from the bank parking lot and back.
The walk raises money for the H.C. Memory Fund, which provides local financial support to people with Alzheimers and their caregivers for living expenses, medication, medical equipment, respite care and research. Funds are provided to individuals through an application process. Providing dementia patients with tapes of songs from the era they grew up in, and music players, is one of the services that the Henry County Memory Fund provides.
At last week’s concert at The Arbors, the Spirit Lifters sang “On Calvary,” the first song Ruth said she learned to play on the piano, then ended with the spiritual, “I’ll Fly Away.” To close, Ruth recited the Priestly Blessing from Numbers: The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
“We want to leave you with this blessing, to have something to take with you,” she said. “It’s been a blessing to be here with you.”
Packets of registration forms have been mailed out for the May 4 HCMF fundraiser. Donations to the Memory Fund can be made online at http://cfozarks.org/donate, at the bottom of the page, type Henry County Memory Fund into the box and select it when it pops up, which will take you to a new page to donate.
If you are donating by check, make it payable to Henry County Memory Fund and mail to P.O. Box 741, Clinton, MO 64735.
