Before he died, Daddy’s (Wallace Edenfield) remaining brother told me an interesting story about Granddaddy Edenfield. Others in the community called him ‘Mr. Arthur,’ and Grandmother and their children called him ‘Papa.’ That night’s telephone call turned to music, especially singing. It seems that Granddaddy had a fine tenor voice which he only exercised in two venues.

One of those venues was the Saturday night family gathering around the fireplace. Grandmother would read the Bible and pray, and Granddaddy would sing, rendering ballads, school songs and hymns. It was during these times, also, that radio programs drew the family group close, interested as they were, both in performances and the latest news that might be broadcast.

A favorite of Papa’s, so Daddy told me long ago, was “Dinah and Wilkin,” a mournful ballad, and a vowel song as well as hymns like “Oh, That Will Be Glory for Me” and “It Is Well with My Soul.” Daddy taught me the Romeo and Juliettype ballad and the vowel song when I was just a girl, riding with him in the front seat of his pickup on our way to see his sister and her family near Midville. I remember them still. That’s been over a half century ago.

Dinah and Wilkin - As Dinah was walking the garden one day, Her papa came to her and this he did say, Go dress yourself, Dinah, in dressing so gay, And choose you a husband so gallant and brave. Oh, Papa, oh, Papa, I don’t feel inclined. In order to make this here young man a bride. I’ll leave my whole fortune to the nearest of kin, And you shall not reap the benefit of one pen. When Wilkin was walking the garden around, He found his poor Dinah, lying dead on the cold ground. A cup of cold poison was a’ lyin’ by her side. One dip from the pill box she’d taken and died. He called for dear Dinah a thousand times o’er. He called for dear Dinah, but Dinah no more. He drank the cold poison like a soldier so brave, And Wilkin and Dinah both lay in one grave.”

My memory is clear on these songs, most likely reinforced by the pleasure of riding along with Daddy, listening to his rich bass voice and contemplating that wonderful dinner my Aunt Ada Mae would have on the table when we arrived…maybe fresh English peas and dumplings, pork chops and homemade biscuits, too!

Another of his favorites was a school song used to teach young children their vowels and the sounds long vowels made. Perhaps this one was one Grandmother had taught her pupils when she was a teacher and later a principal in a rural, two-room schoolhouse. Many years later, Daddy taught it to my niece Lauren who told her Watkinsville, GA, music teacher about it, learning as she did that her teacher was familiar with the old song as well.

The Vowel Song: B-a Ba, Be Be, B-i Bic-a-bi; B-o Bo, Bica bi Bo B-u Bu; Bic-a-bi Bo Bu.

Granddaddy’s other venue was singing during the services at Millen Baptist Church where their family attended services when he and Grandmother moved to town after their marriage, his membership coming from Oak Hill where his father, Henry Green Edenfield, preached and hers from the Wallace-rich heritage of Green Fork. Uncle Hermon said he never remembered their Papa’s singing in the choir or singing solos. He just sang from his pew and his heart.

There was a lady, a Mrs. Lanier, who frequented the church, sitting behind ‘Mr. Arthur’ if she could. For some reason if someone else assumed her spot, she’d leave soon after church began. Upon observing her slipping out on several occasions, one of the brethren asked her what the problem was. She quickly told him that if she couldn’t sit behind ‘Mr. Arthur’ and hear him sing, she’d leave!

A duet sung by Granddaddy and Daddy, tenor and bass. That will be something to look forward to ... one day. I can still hear Daddy’s voice leading the congregational singing in those great, old hymns from the Broadman Hymnal. Especially did I enjoy his singing the descant of favorites such as “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” No one else did so.

Granddaddy and Daddy’s love of music was passed on to my daughter Hayley who has passed on this love of music to her three children, the oldest of whom, Meredith, almost ten now, sang her first solo part during the children’s choirs Christmas program one recent Sunday evening at First Baptist Church, Statesboro.

Granddaddy and Daddy would be pleased that this love of music and singing has extended to yet a fourth generation and that her voice was raised in song, glorifying God, as were their voices many years ago.

I subscribe to The Millen News, the paper issue, because I enjoy actually holding it in my hand, reading it.

I have especially enjoyed reading all the positive things that Editor Deborah Bennett puts in the newspaper. She must love her job because she finds so many good things to say about Millen, Jenkins County and its people. Reading it, many would never guess that this is a newspaper from one of the most depressed areas of Georgia. Thank you, Deborah! Keep up your fine work!