Griff Perry of Anniston has donated his organ music library to Judson College in Marion. The library includes more than 300 pieces of organ music.
Perry served as organist at Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Anniston for 36 years and as choir director for 32 of those years. Since that time he’s served as organist at other churches. He currently serves as organist at Temple Beth El in Anniston.
“I’ve tried to serve all these years,” Perry said. “I believe we should give the best we can possibly give to our Lord. What pleases me is that the music we perform in church will draw the congregation into a deeper love for Christ.”
Extensive career
Perry is a graduate of Mercer University and studied organ at Wesleyan Conservatory in Macon, Ga., and at Shorter College in Rome, Ga.
Although his full-time jobs were at the Anniston Foundry Company and as Budget Analyst at Fort McClellan, he continued with his church responsibilities. He directed five choirs, organized a girls’ sextet, directed the Student Nurses’ Choral Club at the Anniston Memorial Hospital and began Parker Memorial’s now annual Christmas Candlelight Service in 1951.
Perry’s wife, Martha, said she was “with him at every rehearsal.” She was assistant librarian with the choirs and spent time cataloging and repairing music.
“I developed a system so that I knew who had each piece of music,” she said. “When they were late, I knew who to call.”
The Perry donation will be used by students at Judson and is given in honor of his maternal grandfather, William John Noyes, and his mother, Ruth Margaret Noyes Perry.
Elizabeth Hostetter, professor of music at Judson and current organist at Parker Memorial, thanked Perry for his donation during a Dec. 9 service honoring him.
“We commit to upholding your high standards of musicianship with the goal that in all things God will be glorified,” Hostetter said. (JC)
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