TARBORO —
Most readers will remember and recognize the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the a capella choral group from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Jubilee Singers were organized in 1871 and their tours were (and continue to be) a successful means of raising funds for the institution. The popular group is known for singing spirituals as well as a wide variety of other songs.
The Tarboro Jubilee Singers, organized in 1976 by Walter Plemmer, Jr., is modeled somewhat on the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The group had a “great desire … to express themselves creatively, to sing songs of intellectual and aesthetic value, to perform monuments written by the world’s outstanding masters of composition, to keep alive in the hearts of people the wealth of Black Spirituals that represent a major segment of American music and to enhance the musical quality of life of the community.”
Performances by the Singers included Union Baptist Church, St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, Week-long production of “The Edgecombe Story,” Tarrytown Mall in Rocky Mount, Delta Sigma Theta in Greenville, Edgecombe County Bicentennial Commission, WNCT-TV ( two half-hour concerts) in Greenville, Wells Chapel (“Messiah” accompanied by the ECU String Quartet) in Greenville, Tarboro High School (“Messiah” accompanied by the ECU String Quartet), Elizabeth City State University Alumni Association in Snow Hill, Celebration honoring Dr. M. A. Ray, All America City Celebration, and Celebration honoring Mr. B. G. Burnette.
Organizer Walter Plemmer, Jr., came from a musical family. His parents, Walter and Lucy Dunn Plemmer, recognized his talent and supported his musical education and endeavors. His first piano teacher was William P. Arnold, husband of Florence Thorpe Arnold who was a life-long friend of Walter’s.
Walter Plemmer, Jr., graduated from W. A. Pattillo High School in 1944 and went on to earn a B.A. degree from Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a M.A. degree from North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. He taught English and music in Edgecombe County schools for 36 years, first at Conetoe High School, then at North Edgecombe High School. He retired in 1984.
Walter Plemmer, Jr., married Martha Albritton, and they had one child, a son, Andre. He died in 2000 at age 79.
While Walter Plemmer, Jr., taught music for more than fifty years and mentored students in every area of music, he is best remembered today for the Tarboro Jubilee Singers which he created for Tarboro’s Bicentennial celebration in 1976. The original members were sopranos Salina Forbes, Alice Hart, Elizabeth Moten, Suejette Jones, Lorna Lloyd, Rita Ricks, Carrie Stanley, and Gracie M. Vines; altos Lillie Boyd, Alma Cobb, Joanne Knight, Jessie Pitt, Florence Arnold Armstrong, Lottie Staton, Charlotte Strong Privette, and Ingrid J. Wesley; tenors Winston Bryant, Milton Pippen, Jimmy Stanley, James Vines, and J. Lamar Baum; and basses McCoy Brown, Horace Hussey, Warren Jones, Reginald Moss, and Alton Wesley.
Later additions to the Jubilee Singers were sopranos Fannie Costen, Nettie Hart, and Dorothy Hunter; altos Antoinette Battle, Miriam H. Carraway, Catherine Jones, and Dorethea Walston; tenors Donald Rogers, Kelly Andrews, and Thomas Bratcher; and basses Clifford Coles, and Joe Jones.
After Walter Plemmer, Jr.’s death, Lorna Lloyd carried on the direction of the Tarboro Jubilee Singers. Ms. Lloyd, the daughter of Bennie and Lowney H. Pitt, graduated from W. A. Pattillo High School in 1951. She went on to earn a B.S. degree in Elementary Education at Fayetteville State University where she also studied music and was a pianist for the college choir. Later, at East Carolina University, she obtained certification as a Speech Clinician and Reading Specialist.
Ms. Lloyd first taught at the Living Hope Elementary School, then in the Rocky Mount and Tarboro City School systems. In the Tarboro Schools she became a speech clinician, was promoted to be Director of the Exception Children Program, and retired as a Test Coordinator. She retired June 30, 1987.
The last performance of the Tarboro Jubilee Singers was at the History Days at the Blount-Bridgers House in Tarboro in September 2006. As Mrs. Lloyd said, “We tried to keep it going, but illness and the passing of members did not leave us with a balanced group.”
C. Rudolph Knight is a Tarboro native, a retired community college educator, and a research historian.
Community
Related Photos
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The Original Tarboro Jubilee Singers: Front row: Gracie M. Vines, Lottie Staton, Salina Forbes, Charlotte Strong Privott, Alma Dickens Cobb Middle row: Ingrid J. Wesley, Carrie Stanley, Jessie Pitt, Florence Arnold Armstrong, Suejette Jones, Alice Hart, Elizabeth Moten, Joanne Johnson Back row: Jimmy Stanley, McCoy Brown, Walter Plemmer, Alton Wesley, R. A. Moss, Winston Bryant, James Vines, and J. Lamar Baum. Not pictured: Rita Ricks, Lorna Lloyd, Lillie Boyd, Warren Jones, Milton Pippen, and Horace Hussey.
The Tarboro Jubilee Singers
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WALTON EARNS SCHOLARSHIP
John Ronald Walton, a 2013 graduate of Edgecombe Early College High School and son of John and Lesa Walton, is presented a $2,000 scholarship check by Edgecomber County Farm Bureau Presidet Tom Proter. Walton is enrolled at NC State University for the fall semester.
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Edgecombe County Public Schools announces 2013-2014 teachers of the year
Fourteen Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) teachers have been chosen as the teacher of the year for their schools. Now they will compete against one another to be named Edgecombe County Teacher of the Year.
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Woodmen help Tarboro High School JROTC
Ruth Cherry, Trustee of Woodmen of the World, Tarboro Lodge 115, presents a check for $100 to Tarboro High School aerospace science instructor Senior Master Sgt. (ret) Steve Alderman. These funds will be used to help send Tarboro High School JROTC cadets to summer leadership school. This is one of Woodmen's outstanding fraternal projects.
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State Employees’ Credit Union Members Award $10,000 Scholarship to Area High School Student!
Edgecombe County – State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) members via the SECU Foundation, presented a $10,000 four-year college scholarship to Dawson Blaire Gould, a senior at SouthWest Edgecombe High School. Dawson is the daughter of Jeff and Pam Gould. This scholarship was awarded for study at Appalachian State University, part of North Carolina’s 16-campus University of North Carolina System.
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Helpful Scouts
A Scout is helpful. Yes, it's true, evident in the work these young Scouts from the First Free Will Baptist Church Troop 816 performed for America in Bloom (AIB) Community Cleanup Day on Saturday. In spite of heavy spurts of rain, they collected litter along the railroad track from Albemarle Avenue, across Main Street all the way to Saint Andrew Street. Afterwards, they met Buddy Hooks at the south end of Main near the traffic circle and helped him complete two AIB projects that will complement the south entrance to town. By spreading mulch around the plantings at the Thorne Realty landscape and edging the walkway at the Quigless Clinic landscape where other colorful plants were installed. Cornelia McGee-Anthony, from the Nash-Edgecombe Keep America Beautiful provided gloves and trash bags for all the volunteers. Troop 816 Scouts participating in the effort included (left to right) Bryson Parker, Davonatte McDowell, Jessie Tyson, Wayne Davis (assistant scoutmaster), CJ Keel, Dean Wells (scoutmaster), Steven Davis, Garrett Parker, Allen Taylor.
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Nonagenarian Tea Honors Six Tarboro Women
The Perry-Weston Historical Institute recognized and honored six community nonagenarians on Saturday, June 1, in the Calvary Episcopal Church Memorial Hall.. They were Carrie Lawrence Bridgers (91), Magnolia Spencer Bryant (92), Irma Harrison DuBose (91), Lillie Mae White James (90), Bessie Brown Lawrence (91), and V. Dorothula Harrison Vines (92). Since 2004, citizens 90 years of age or older have been honored at the Perry-Weston Nonagenarian Tea. This is the fourth such event.
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New senior leadership team in place at ECPS
The current school year is in its final days, and a new leadership team at Edgecombe County Public Schools (ECPS) is gearing up for the upcoming school year.
The team of three leaders in the executive cabinet includes superintendent John Farrelly, who is wrapping up his first year as ECPS leader, associate superintendent Karen Dameron and Dr. Valerie Bridges. Bridges will begin her role as the assistant superintendent of the educational program services division on July 1. Bridges replaces Dr. Renee Franklin, who is transferring to Caswell County Schools as the superintendent. -
Dr. Sibyl E. Moses Featured Speaker
Dr. Sibyl E. Moses, was enthusiastically received as the featured speaker at the Nonagenarian Tea, sponsored by the Perry-Weston Institute on June 1 at Calvary Episcopal Church Memorial Hall. Dr. Moses talked about “The History of the Afternoon Tea Within the African American Community.” In her research, she has identified more than 800 different kinds of afternoon teas.
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Essie Ruth Richardson Humanitarian Award
The Perry-Weston Historical Institute presented the first Essie Ruth Humanitarian Award to the first recipients on June 1, as a part of the Nonagenarian Tea at Calvary Episcopal Church Memorial Hall. The Essie Ruth Richardson Humanitarian Award has been established by the Perry-Weston Historical, Educational, and Cultural Institute to honor Ms. Richardson’s work, to preserve her memory, and, at the same time, to recognize outstanding members of our community.
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Stocks Elementary buggy day
Stocks Elementary School first graders on Friday participated in fun insect-related activities at “Buggy Day.”
The day began with a lecture from Entomologist Bruce Panneton from Edgecombe Community College. Panneton discussed his study of insects with the students before they broke off into groups to learn more about bugs through exciting activities. - More Community Headlines
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