A note from Pamela Radford, organist at 1st Presbyterian Church, Statesboro,
Ga. and Savannah AGO member.
I just returned from Italy on a tour with Maureen Simpson and St. Mary Help of Christians
Choir. We did 3 concerts and 4 Masses in Assisi, Orvieto, and Rome. Here's a picture of
me at the console of the organ in St. Peter's Basilica. In the background is the Altar of
St. Peter's Chair. Needless to say it was a thrilling experience. We also an audience with
the Pope and performed there.
Ga. and Savannah AGO member.
I just returned from Italy on a tour with Maureen Simpson and St. Mary Help of Christians
Choir. We did 3 concerts and 4 Masses in Assisi, Orvieto, and Rome. Here's a picture of
me at the console of the organ in St. Peter's Basilica. In the background is the Altar of
St. Peter's Chair. Needless to say it was a thrilling experience. We also an audience with
the Pope and performed there.
Martha Price Thompson—Vidalia, Georgia
Martha worked her way through Bessie Tift college in
Forsyth, Ga. as a concert organist. She was organist and
music director at Forsyth 1st Baptist Church, played organ
for special events at the old Macon City Auditorium, and
was substitute organist at Atlanta’s “The Temple” Jewish
Synagogue and played for USO shows on the “Mighty Mo”
pipe organ in Atlanta’s Fox Theater.
Martha was also organist, music director and a children’s
choir director at Vidalia 1st Baptist Church from 1950-
1971. In 1964, she directed the first ever performance in
Vidalia of Handel’s Messiah.
The year 2007 marked the centennial anniversary of
Washington’s National Cathedral in our nation’s capital. In
recognition of Martha’s 80th birthday, as well as her 60th
anniversary as a member of the AGO, the Music Office at
National Cathedral invited Martha to come to Washington
to tour the Cathedral and to actually play the Great
Organ. This was a life-long dream come true for her.
The Chapter would like to congratulate Martha Price
Thompson!
Thanks to AndyThompson for permission to reprint this
tribute to his mother.
Martha worked her way through Bessie Tift college in
Forsyth, Ga. as a concert organist. She was organist and
music director at Forsyth 1st Baptist Church, played organ
for special events at the old Macon City Auditorium, and
was substitute organist at Atlanta’s “The Temple” Jewish
Synagogue and played for USO shows on the “Mighty Mo”
pipe organ in Atlanta’s Fox Theater.
Martha was also organist, music director and a children’s
choir director at Vidalia 1st Baptist Church from 1950-
1971. In 1964, she directed the first ever performance in
Vidalia of Handel’s Messiah.
The year 2007 marked the centennial anniversary of
Washington’s National Cathedral in our nation’s capital. In
recognition of Martha’s 80th birthday, as well as her 60th
anniversary as a member of the AGO, the Music Office at
National Cathedral invited Martha to come to Washington
to tour the Cathedral and to actually play the Great
Organ. This was a life-long dream come true for her.
The Chapter would like to congratulate Martha Price
Thompson!
Thanks to AndyThompson for permission to reprint this
tribute to his mother.
Martha rescued this 1800's
church organ from the back
porch of a Michigan farm house.
church organ from the back
porch of a Michigan farm house.
| LOCAL STARS |
| Photo courtesy of Timothy Hall |
Martha Price Thompson of Vidalia was recognized by the Governor's Council on
Aging as the 2009 Outstanding Older Worker of the Year for the state of Georgia.
She was notified by letter Sept. 2 that she had been named the Older Worker of
the Year for the Southeastern District of Georgia and was to be presented with the
award at a luncheon held at Callaway Gardens on Sept. 16, along with winners
from the 12 other districts in Georgia.
It was not until all 12 recipients were standing in a line at the front of the banquet
hall that they announced that Thompson had been selected as the State Older
Worker of the Year.
Thompson, 82, recently celebrated her 61st career anniversary as owner and
operator of Pearl Price Florist in Vidalia. The florist shop was founded in 1948 and
named after her mother. Thompson continues to work more than full-time -
supervising a staff, planning weddings, ordering flowers and floral supplies.
Five members of her staff range in age from 52 to 87, and each has been with her
for 40 years.
Thompson worked her way through Bessie Tift College in the 1940s as a concert
organist. She was an organist at Forsyth First Baptist Church, played for special
events at the old Macon City Auditorium, was a substitute organist at Atlanta's "The
Temple" Jewish Synagogue, and a player for USO shows on the "Mighty Mo" pipe
organ in Atlanta's Fox Theater.
During World War II, she was a volunteer for the USO, Red Cross and earned her
service wings from the U.S. Department of War as a volunteer for Army Air Forces
Reconnaissance.
She is presently a member of the Savannah Chapter of the American Guild of
Organists and has played for weddings and special events at Savannah's Christ
Church, Bull Street Baptist, St. John the Baptist and the Pilcher pipe organ in the
ballroom at Mercer House.
In 2007, in recognition of her 60th anniversary as a member of the American Guild
of Organists, the Music Office at Washington's National Cathedral invited her to
tour the cathedral and to play the Cathedral's Great Organ, one of the largest pipe
organs in the world.
She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is a charter member
of the World War II Memorial Foundation in Washington, was an original member of
the Atlanta Merchandise Mart when it was founded in 1957, and was an original
member of the Save The Fox Foundation in 1974 that raised funds to save
Atlanta's Fox Theater from demolition and to restore the landmark.
Five recognized at Conference
The Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging was
awarded five top state awards at the 2009 Georgia Gerontology Society/Older
Worker Network Conference held recently at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain.
The five were:
-- Gail Thompson, AAA director, was the recipient of The Elsie Alvis Award (formally
the Professional Award) given to the outstanding professional in gerontology with a
minimum of 15 years of service.
-- Ophelia Gaines, executive director, Concerted Services, and a sub-contractor of
the HOGA AAA, was the recipient of The John Tyler Mauldin Award, given to an
older individual in Georgia who exemplifies a positive role model of outstanding
achievement in the field of Aging.
-- Adail Treharn, care coordinator and case manager with Concerted Services, and
also a sub-contractor of the HOGA AAA, was the recipient of The Dan Hickman
Award, presented to the person who has shown excellence in the profession of
Care/Case Management and who exhibits leadership in the profession by providing
exceptional direct services, training fellow Care Managers, and or advocating for
improvements in care management.
-- Jennifer Crosby, wellness program coordinator for the HOGA AAA, was awarded
a Certificate of Merit, given to special individuals who deserve recognition because
of achievement, service, exemplary living, and /or commitment to aging.
-- Martha Price Thompson of Vidalia was recognized at the Annual Georgia Older
Worker Network Luncheon, a part of the GGS Conference, as the Heart of Georgia
Altamaha Older Worker of the Year.
Aging as the 2009 Outstanding Older Worker of the Year for the state of Georgia.
She was notified by letter Sept. 2 that she had been named the Older Worker of
the Year for the Southeastern District of Georgia and was to be presented with the
award at a luncheon held at Callaway Gardens on Sept. 16, along with winners
from the 12 other districts in Georgia.
It was not until all 12 recipients were standing in a line at the front of the banquet
hall that they announced that Thompson had been selected as the State Older
Worker of the Year.
Thompson, 82, recently celebrated her 61st career anniversary as owner and
operator of Pearl Price Florist in Vidalia. The florist shop was founded in 1948 and
named after her mother. Thompson continues to work more than full-time -
supervising a staff, planning weddings, ordering flowers and floral supplies.
Five members of her staff range in age from 52 to 87, and each has been with her
for 40 years.
Thompson worked her way through Bessie Tift College in the 1940s as a concert
organist. She was an organist at Forsyth First Baptist Church, played for special
events at the old Macon City Auditorium, was a substitute organist at Atlanta's "The
Temple" Jewish Synagogue, and a player for USO shows on the "Mighty Mo" pipe
organ in Atlanta's Fox Theater.
During World War II, she was a volunteer for the USO, Red Cross and earned her
service wings from the U.S. Department of War as a volunteer for Army Air Forces
Reconnaissance.
She is presently a member of the Savannah Chapter of the American Guild of
Organists and has played for weddings and special events at Savannah's Christ
Church, Bull Street Baptist, St. John the Baptist and the Pilcher pipe organ in the
ballroom at Mercer House.
In 2007, in recognition of her 60th anniversary as a member of the American Guild
of Organists, the Music Office at Washington's National Cathedral invited her to
tour the cathedral and to play the Cathedral's Great Organ, one of the largest pipe
organs in the world.
She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is a charter member
of the World War II Memorial Foundation in Washington, was an original member of
the Atlanta Merchandise Mart when it was founded in 1957, and was an original
member of the Save The Fox Foundation in 1974 that raised funds to save
Atlanta's Fox Theater from demolition and to restore the landmark.
Five recognized at Conference
The Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging was
awarded five top state awards at the 2009 Georgia Gerontology Society/Older
Worker Network Conference held recently at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain.
The five were:
-- Gail Thompson, AAA director, was the recipient of The Elsie Alvis Award (formally
the Professional Award) given to the outstanding professional in gerontology with a
minimum of 15 years of service.
-- Ophelia Gaines, executive director, Concerted Services, and a sub-contractor of
the HOGA AAA, was the recipient of The John Tyler Mauldin Award, given to an
older individual in Georgia who exemplifies a positive role model of outstanding
achievement in the field of Aging.
-- Adail Treharn, care coordinator and case manager with Concerted Services, and
also a sub-contractor of the HOGA AAA, was the recipient of The Dan Hickman
Award, presented to the person who has shown excellence in the profession of
Care/Case Management and who exhibits leadership in the profession by providing
exceptional direct services, training fellow Care Managers, and or advocating for
improvements in care management.
-- Jennifer Crosby, wellness program coordinator for the HOGA AAA, was awarded
a Certificate of Merit, given to special individuals who deserve recognition because
of achievement, service, exemplary living, and /or commitment to aging.
-- Martha Price Thompson of Vidalia was recognized at the Annual Georgia Older
Worker Network Luncheon, a part of the GGS Conference, as the Heart of Georgia
Altamaha Older Worker of the Year.