Eagle Creek pianist, organist celebrate 42 joint years

August 9 marked an Eagle Creek Baptist Church, Dadeville, homecoming celebration that organist Debbie Brewer and pianist Vicky Patterson will never forget, as they were honored for their 42 years of joint musical service.

Surrounded by family and friends, Brewer and Patterson were surprised when their names were called and they were presented plaques documenting their years of dedication to the Tallapoosa Baptist Association church’s music ministry, as well as corsages distributed by their grandchildren.

“It was a great day and a good thing to honor them because they’ve been faithful,” Pastor David Johnson said.

Lifelong members of Eagle Creek, Brewer, who has beat the organ pedals for 44 years, and Patterson, who has occupied the piano bench for 42 years, both began developing their musical artistries at the church when they were 10 years old.

Whether reading music compositions or playing by ear, Brewer and Patterson “are willing to do anything and can adapt to anything,” Johnson said, adding that being able to have two individuals serve side by side in that capacity for such a long time “brings stability” to the church and the music ministry.

“It’s a great blessing to have them as our accompanists,” he said. “We are a rural church but we flourish and function. I know a lot of my colleagues have trouble finding musicians, and so to have two that have been playing that long and are still fairly young people is a blessing. … They are still enthusiastic about it and still go out of their way to do whatever they can for the music program.”