August 14, 2025 • 49 mins
The Salem Gilfield MBC celebrates 160 years and honoring a WDIA Former air personality AC "Moohah" Williams says Annetta Hamilton, BJ Worthy and Rev Stanford Hunt on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Memphis probably presents the Bev Johnson Show.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Let me say Bath.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
I've got.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Me first, let me you say bath.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
She's gone Emphis, stop gain.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
A no matter of the problem, she can have.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
So just all the phono the normans on your mind.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
She understand to me ad in the hair by chilling
you to just keep the thing when a wrangle. I'm
pegging out the chosing show. Becaues bell got this nothing happen.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
You can hear every day.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
W d I ain't my bell got me a missed talking?
(01:48):
Good morning, good morning, good morning, and welcome into w
D i A the Bev Johnson Show. I'm dabbed. It
is indeed a pleasure I have you with us once
again on this Thursday, August fourteenth, twenty twenty five. Enjoyed
this fabulous day to day. Get ready to put your
(02:12):
ears on as we share the good news today. We'll
start off talking about one of our WDA back in
the day personalities. We'll tell you what's going on with that.
Yeah we will, Yeah we will. And also second half,
you veterans, you stick and stay for that. This Pamela
(02:35):
Pullings will be back in my house to help you
veterans out this day, what it's your turn to talk.
You know you can. All you need to do is
dial these numbers nine zero one, five three five, nine
three four two nine zero one five three five, nine
(02:58):
three four to two eight hundred five zero three nine
three four to two eight hundred five zero three nine
three four to two will get you in to me.
And if this day, this, this this day, Thursday, August fourteenth,
(03:27):
twenty twenty five, is your birthday. Happy birthday to each
and every one of y'all out there who may be
celebrating a birthday on this day, we say, go out, y'all,
go out and celebrate your life. You at you, you better,
(03:47):
you better when we come back, share the good news,
keep your ears on. Next with me Bev Johnson on
The Bear Johnson Show only on Double D. I A
(05:02):
good morning and welcome back to WDIA The Bev Johnson Show.
It is indeed a pleasure that I have you with
us once again on this Thursday, August fourteenth, twenty twenty five.
Enjoyed this fabulous day to day. It is a fabulous
day to day because yeah, I know, Stan made the
(05:22):
big announcement what coming up in November As we celebrate
our seventy six year anniversary. WDIA gonna have an anniversary
concert and I understand that Joel Austin and the Manhattan's
will be headlighting that concert along with my sister friend,
(05:48):
my little sister, I called her. We went to college together.
She was under me miss Ring My Bell, Miss Anita war. Yeah,
and I have to tell you the story that I
was in the studio, went to the Jackson when she
was recording Ring My Bell at Malico Studios, and I
had the opportunity to be in in one of her sessions.
(06:08):
So we are looking forward to that, y'all. In November,
we'll be telling you more and more and more and
more about that as we celebrate w DIA's anniversary is
October twenty fifth. Yeah, well we will turn seventy six
years old. And saying all that, I am so glad
(06:29):
to have my guests in the studio because they will
be celebrating one of doubda's own from back in the day,
one of those staples that was here at w DIAS.
Some of you young folks you probably won't remember when
we'll get a lot of history this morning, and some
(06:49):
of you old folks will remember. So let me welcome in.
First of all, the Reverend Stanford Hunt, the pasta. He
said he was this morning about now you may not
be the pastor of the same of Gilfield Missionary Baptist Church.
How you doing past the hut?
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Doing fine? Bell being fine?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Thank you for allowing us to be here, So glad
to be here, uh, in celebration and announcing our celebration
one hundred and sixty years of being about lighting a
beacon in the Mexus community. One hundred and six zero, oh,
one hundred and six. I was gonna say, one hundred
and six zero sixty sixty.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yes, I had it right at first. Yes, yeah, goodness,
gracious y'all been rolling huh.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yes, ma'am, rocket and doing our best we can, doing
our best we can. And of course I must admit
I've only been at Salem Guilfield for fourteen years, okay,
but it has been a light and a beacon for
one hundred and sixty years, and we're just happy to
be able to come today and celebrate talk about our celebration.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Oh good, good, well boy, So tell me Pastor Hunt
and and our listeners were, what what area of Memphis
are you all located?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
In we're located and really what it is.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Called the Cherokee Subdivision, but of course now it is
all lumped into what now is known as Orange Mound,
Orange Mound, Tennessee. And we and we're happy about that
because we we love being a part of the Orange
Mound community and certainly been there since nineteen seventy six
(08:39):
they moved from the old crump and.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
In Florida to this Yeah woword.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah, I used to be a great big church that
used to be there with the big old sparrows that case.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Of course we have miss Annetta Hamilton and she's born
in that church, and so she can tell you more
about it. I can't because she's been there all of
her life.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Well, let me say, welcome to you, miss Hamilton. How
are you? I am wonderful this morning and so happy
to be on WD I ate with you today. I'm
so happy to have you, sister, for so so you
were in that church as a little child all of
my life, all of your life. Yes, wow, So you
(09:27):
know a little history, a lot of histories.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Of our historian good.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I love that. I love that. So you all are
getting ready to have a big celebration. Tell us a
little bit about that. Okay, okay, okay, yeah, yeah, pastor,
be quiet because you don't even know if you're steal
the pastor.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Well, you know how Baptists are. They can vote you
out at any time. It ain't like you seeing me, y'all. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
The Bishop of Points oh in congratulations on your new
by the way.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Well, thank you our pastor Kenneth Thomas. Yeah I heard, yeah,
thank you, thank you so much. Had lunch with your
former pastor Sunday? What past war Yeah, that's the bad
boy from being Hamleton.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Oh. Yes, we let him come into Orange Mound.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Y y'all, let him come in the Orange Rider. All right, Well,
miss Hamilton, tell us about this beautiful and wonderful celebration. Well,
we have lots going on this month. Last Saturday we
had our prayer breakfast and we had a great time yesterday,
last Saturday, celebrating our anniversary one hundred and sixtieth anniversary
(10:39):
prayer breakfast. And on this Saturday, from one until four
we will be on the church grounds celebrating again. We're
going to have our annual picnic and the community is
invited to our picnic.
Speaker 6 (10:54):
We have lots going on lots of food to eat.
If you like ride a horse, you can ride a horse.
If you like the water slides, we've got the water
slides going on. So everybody's invited to be with us
on Saturday for our picnic. And then next week augusta
(11:16):
twenty second, we're going to have our anniversary banquet seven
pm and it will be at the Fellowship Hall, the
Life Center at Mount Moriah East Baptist Church on Haynes
Reverend Melvin Charles Smith is a pastor.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Then the next week we're going to have our revival,
and our revival will be held on August of twenty sixth,
twenty seventh, and twenty eighth, seven pm nightly. In our revival.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
On that Tuesday evening we have a young man from
New Salem Parkway to be our special guest. And then
on Wednesday evening we will have Reverend Walter Rayburn, the
pastor Branch of Christ to be with us. And then
on Thursday evening we will have Reverend James Glover who
(12:10):
pastors Liberty Baptist Church in Coldwater, Mississippi, and he will
be with us. And then our culminating event will be
on the fifth Sunday, that's August thirty.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
First.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
We will be celebrating all day long, starting with Sunday
school at nine to fifteen am, our worship service at
eleven am, and then at three pm we will culminate everything.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
And Reverend Roger R. Brown, the pastor of Greater white
Stone Baptist Church, is going to be brother. That's my friend. Well,
he's going to be our special preacher.
Speaker 6 (12:47):
He is the new moderator of the West Tennessee Baptist
Missionary and Education Association, and he is also the newly
elected Vice President at Large of the other Region of
the Progressive National Baptist Convention. He's going to bring the
message and his entire church will be there to fellowship
(13:09):
with us, to serve and to sing. So we're looking
for a great time all month at Salem Gilfield Baptist
Church ABD. I.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
You know at past Hunt you could have stayed at
home and Miss Hamilton just come on, because this is bad.
You should have stayed at home. You always have it together, yes,
you always have it together. So Miss Hamilton, you all
just the whole month of authors are doing some special things. Yes, yeah,
now tell our listeners. I know Pastor Hunts that back
(13:41):
in the day you all were over there at Crump
in that area. But where are you all located now?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
We are at thirty one seventy six Kimball Avenue now, Memphis, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Three eight one one one. All right, and you and
what time does service start? Eleven a m oh eat Sunday.
Each Sunday, eat Sunday at eleven a m. Boy, you
all got some good stuff going. Let's see that.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
You recommend leave your church and come on.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Over and come on over there.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
I know.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I don't know about that because Past Hunt, I'm late
every Sunday.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
So we know, but I get there, Pastor Hunt, Amen,
Pastor Hunt.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
So so let me ask Miss Hamilton. Going back for
this weekend, it's the church picnic, and it is, I
want to be clear, open to the public. It is
open to the public. Yes, and so you're a families
can bring their children.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
Yes, we have activities for the children, as it said.
And if you enjoy the bounce house, we've got the
bounce house. Okay, if you want to ride a horse,
we're going to have a horse there.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
And everybody loves good food, so we're going to have
lots of good food to eat. Wow, and and celebrating
one hundred and sixty years. That's gonna be good the church.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Some of them good smoke, sauhs, all that good stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Humph Yes, y'all have a good time. I love that.
If you've just tuned in this morning, we are talking
about the Salem Guilfield Baptist Church. They are celebrating one
hundred and sixty years in the Memphis community. Also, we're
gonna be talking about somebody special who also went there,
(15:32):
and you all may know the name. I'm gonna hold it,
hold it because we have another special guests in the house.
But if you have a question or two for my
guests this day, we do invite you to call nine
zero one five three five nine three four to two
eight hundred five zero three nine three four two eight
(15:55):
three three five three five nine three four two will
get you in to us. You're listening to double d
I A.
Speaker 7 (16:08):
Don't go away. The Bev Johnson Show returns after these messages.
Speaker 8 (16:12):
Bev Jocen Shalem telling you to ask you for.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Show, and we're talking about the celebration of one hundred
and sixty years of Salem Guilfield Missionary Baptist Church. Before
we continue to talk, let me give a big shout out.
It was yesterday, this is my girl to Miss Katherine
(17:40):
Maids was a Miss Mays and a big shout out
wanting to say happy birthday from your godson. Maurice and
Pat said happy birthday to Katherine Maids. That's my girl,
that's my girl. At the Mount pisgut Seeing Meet Church.
Happy birthday again, Miss Mays. I hope you had a
fabulous day. I see you Sunday. I see you Sunday
(18:02):
at Mount Pisco Met Church. I have to get that in,
Pastor Hunt, Yeah, you have to get that in. Let
me say that. One of the reasons we talk about
Salem Guilfield Missionary Baptist Church because they had a special
member there that was there at Salem gilt Field. I
(18:23):
don't know, Pastor Hunt want to talk about it or
Miss Hamlet, Miss Hambley, you were there with him because
my guy.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Well, but one of the reasons I wanted us to
dedicate this year to him, Okay, because he was so
instrumental in helping a lot of the young people at
the church. From what I understand, he got some of
them all into college.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Russ and the other.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Mississippi Valley, Mississippi Valley.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Yes, that's what I knew.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
It was one of them, and so as well as
he was a deacon and trustee at the church, and
of course I knew he was.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
From the Great WDA.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Oh, maybe it would be a good thing to yo
put this in honor of him, Miss Hamilton. He is
going to help us with more and he was ac
Moha Williams.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Talk about it, Miss Hamilton.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Well, I grew up in Salem Guilfield Baptist Church, so
you know at Salem Guilfield Baptist Church. Ac Mooha Williams
was a deacon at Salem Guilfield, a trustee at Salem Guilfield,
and at Salem Guilfield.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Basically he was known as Daddy. Everybody at Salem Guilfield
referred to him as Daddy. He was an encourager and
he was my Sunday school teacher. When I graduated from
high school, I.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
Went to the Advanced Senior Sunday school class and mister A.
Williams was my Sunday school teacher. So a lot of
my training that I received at Salem Gilfield after I
graduated was in mister A. C. Mouha Williams class wow wow,
and all of the things that we were interested in
(20:18):
as young people. Mister Williams was there to support us
and encourage us and let us know you can do it.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah. And you know, Miss Hamilton, I'm thinking back in
the day, you had those folks like, uh, mister Williams,
who who who encouraged young people. He loved young people
and a lot of people don't know. He was also
a school teacher. Yes he was. I think he taught
(20:46):
at yes, because I think I remember talking with him
and he taught there with my great aunt, great great
great aunt, I think, yeah, and he would we would
talk about that. But he he was a school teacher.
And I tell people I was telling somebody, Pastor Hunt,
last week that back in the day when WDA was
(21:09):
on the air, those folks, mister Williams, Nattie Williams, they
were educators, educators, They weren't dummies. They had college degrees
and working on the radio. Yeah. So again at the church,
I know, and as I remember, he loved his church, right,
(21:31):
Miss Hamilton. Mister A. C. Mooh Williams was one of
the faithful members of Salem Guilfhild Baptist Church, encouraging, as
I said, the young people to get an education. And
not only did.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
He work in the Sunday School, he was also the
director of the men's chorus at Salem Guilfhild Baptist Church
for many years and encouraging the young people and the
young men at Salem gil Field Baptist Church, teaching them
the importance of loving the church and being dedicated to
(22:07):
serving in the church.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Wow. Now he directed the men's choir. Hum, yes he did. Yeah. Well,
a lot of folks may remember who's listening?
Speaker 7 (22:17):
Who are w di?
Speaker 2 (22:18):
I a listeners And I understand he founded the Teen
Town Singers. When you talk about so he loved music, yessolutely. Yeah.
And we happened, Just happened, my friend, We happened to
have one of the teen Town singers from back in
the day in the house, my sister friend Ms b
(22:42):
J Worthy BJ.
Speaker 9 (22:44):
Good morning, good morning, and happy Thursday.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Happy Thursday to you. Look here. Since I've been knowing
you all these years, I never knew you were a
teen Town singer.
Speaker 9 (22:55):
Then I wear many hats. However, a teen Town singer
was one of the greatest honors of my life.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
So how did you get involved in that? Bj Well?
Speaker 9 (23:08):
I was always a music lover. I began playing for
my church for the youth choir at twelve years old,
Mount Zion Baptist Church, and from there I always sang
in somebody's choir. So when I started to Booker T. Washington,
I enrolled in nineteen sixty one. We were the last
(23:30):
ninth grade class at Booker T. Washington because it was
a high school. And then after that year they changed
Junior High to seven through nine right and Senior High
became tenth through twelfth. At Booker T. Washington, I met
Catherine Rivers Johnson. She was the music teacher and she
(23:54):
was also an English teacher, and she taught music in English,
and I was a part part of her ninth grade
English class. But I also took music and joined the choir.
And it was through her that I was introduced to
the Teen Town Singers. And she chose members from the
(24:16):
classes that she taught. If she saw any little twit
swither of talent, then she would present it offer you
an opportunity to become a teen Town singer.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Because miss Johnson of people let people know she was
the keeper or the piano player.
Speaker 9 (24:36):
She was the pianist for the Teen Town Singers. They
were church members. I believe Catherine Rivers was a member
of the.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
Musician in Salem Gilfield like mister Williams. Yes, and her aunt,
Missus Elmertha Cole, who taught music all over Memphis, as
it said, was a member of Salem gilfil And that's
where Catherine, as it said, learned how to play through
her aunt, Missus EO.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Cole. Wow.
Speaker 9 (25:08):
Well, Katherine and mister Williams became a team because he
directed the choir, she played. But they coined and founded
the Teen Town Singers, the two of them, And that's
how members were recruited, Black young people from the inner
city schools. Give them some outlet and have an activity
(25:33):
to do. And but it was more than having an activity.
Mister Williams he could not read music, but he wrote songs.
Some of the songs on the radio were written by him.
But they would choose kids from Booker t. Washington. They
(25:55):
came from Nancis of course, and then they there were
also kids It's from Melrose and Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Carver.
Speaker 9 (26:05):
Carver was one of the it was one of the
newer schools at that time, and so we also got
a few members from there.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
But.
Speaker 9 (26:15):
I was I joined the Teen Town Singer.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
So did you have to try out?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Bj?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Not really.
Speaker 9 (26:21):
And here's the really unusual thing about being a teen
Town Singer. You didn't have to be a good singer.
You didn't have to read music, but you had to
be a student who was respectful, and you had to
enjoy music. You had to have a spiritual background, I
(26:45):
would say, because mister Williams was anchored in the Lord.
You heard that song, anchored in the Lord. He was
one of those kind of leaders and mentors and many
things that happened with the Teen Town Singers, the biggest one.
We became family and we were taught to look out
(27:06):
for each other, to help each other, and above all
love each other. And whoever was the last one standing,
you were to represent. And he had high principles, so
everything that we everything we did, had to be the best.
He was never satisfied with just good. He moved good
to better and from better to best, and so we
(27:30):
all walk around with that attitude. So don't don't don't
hate on us. He's the reason for that.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Es.
Speaker 9 (27:39):
Yeah, we we'll probably move out of here to heaven
thinking that we are the best.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
So also, BJ, it's being a teen town singers. You
all were on the radio and I can remember as
a little girl hearing you all. My mother would say, Beth,
don't you remember that.
Speaker 9 (28:04):
Beth, don't hate Okay, don't have.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
I was wondering, hope, but how I got to get
on the radio be a team town singer.
Speaker 9 (28:13):
Well, listen, mister Williams had principles that we had to
adhere to. First of all, you had to be respectful.
You had to be accountable, and then you had to
be whatever you did, you had to take responsibility. He
(28:34):
believed in God, who he said was the head of
our lives. But he had a good work ethic and
he also the one thing, the big thing too, was time.
He didn't he did not tolerate late.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I hear that I heard, but I hear hear that
BJ from Mark Stansbury. He's that's why he learned how
to be on time or be five or ten minutes early,
Because says says, mister Williams, didn't play that bebe.
Speaker 9 (29:08):
I have a story, okay, and it stuck with me.
One of the reasons I could I got involved with
the Teen Town Singers. Mister Williams was a great mentor.
He loved family and he loved children, he loved his community,
and he gave back in every way that he could
(29:30):
think of. But my parents had those same principles and values.
So it was like going from one area of principles
and values to his neighborhood of principles and values. But
one of the days we went to Booker t Washington,
Tina Bryant, Marilyn Jackson, Barbara Johnson and I. We were
(29:53):
chosen by Catherine Johnson and we joined the Teen Town Singers.
But my dad would pick up us up and drop
us off at the wire. Remember the y MTA on Mississippi.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Yes, I do, and four o'clock.
Speaker 9 (30:07):
Four o'clock was the magic hour we began practice. And
that day my dad had a flat and he didn't
get to the school. And after I called home, we
we said we've got to get to practice.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
Huh.
Speaker 9 (30:24):
So we started running.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
We have.
Speaker 9 (30:26):
We ran part of the way and we walked part
of the way and we got to the door at
maybe two minutes to four. Well to him, that was
not on time. On time was in your seat, in
your group, whether you sang soprano, altos, tenor or base
(30:48):
sitting there waiting for four o'clock to get you know,
so he could start the practice. Every time wow, four
pm the practice started, he shut the door in our face.
We were heartbroken. Were heartbroken. We had tried so hard
to get there because the rule was if you didn't
(31:12):
get there on time, you didn't get to sing on Saturday.
And he did not change. I don't care if you
were Carla Thomas, the Sole Children, any of those people
could have been James Brown, didn't matter. The door was
shut and if you were not in your seat ready
(31:35):
to began practice, you didn't sing on Saturday. So those
were the kinds of lessons that he gave us. Family
was important, and you looked out for each other. Many
of the there were several in the group that who
came along with me, had no fathers. I don't know
if they were deceased or divorced or whatever, families like that.
(31:58):
But he was dad, And I thought the daddy was
coined by the teen Town Singers, but I didn't know
he was daddy at church too. But if you needed shoes,
a lunch, money, or bus fair to get to school
or to the practice. I don't know how he did it,
but he always made a way that we looked out
(32:21):
for each other Like that, I would say that mister A. C.
Mouhaw Williams was a man for all seasons. Okay, he
was an ordinary man, but he did extraordinary things. He
introduced us to a part of life we never ever
would have been introduced to. I mean, who was singing
(32:44):
on radio? I know Carla Thomas with her little self.
She was in there at twelve years old. Now how
did she do that?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Right?
Speaker 9 (32:51):
She didn't know she could?
Speaker 2 (32:53):
I ask you some of our listeners would know some
of the famous names now that were that were in
the Teen Town Singers.
Speaker 9 (33:00):
If you can recall J There there, J Blackfoot, you had,
Marvel Thomas, h Carlo Thomas was in there.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
There.
Speaker 9 (33:14):
There's a list, it's so many. Isaac Hayes was never
in the Teen Town but Booker T. Jones, yes, he
was in there. I can't go through. But in the
book that Wiley Henry wrote, it's a list of mostly
(33:38):
all of the people and bell you were in the book.
How did you get in our book?
Speaker 2 (33:45):
You know?
Speaker 9 (33:45):
You know how you do?
Speaker 2 (33:46):
You kind of you kind of push.
Speaker 9 (33:48):
You know the envelope.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
You have a forward. Well, you know, I didn't know
I was in the book.
Speaker 9 (33:56):
You have a forward in Wiley book called Daddy.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
And the Team. I did write the forward. I did.
He asked me to do that.
Speaker 9 (34:05):
You're in there, and I said, not b J word.
His name should have been there at least I was.
I was a legitimate member bear legitimate. I was a
legitimate And I opened this book when I got it.
It was gifted to me by Lamberg.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Yes he has.
Speaker 9 (34:25):
And I opened the book and after mister Williams picture,
the next thing I see is a forward by bab Johnson.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
W D I a.
Speaker 9 (34:37):
Right, I've got to protect my family.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Family.
Speaker 9 (34:45):
Yeah, we had We had a beautiful time. He introduced
us to the the good Will Review and the Starlight
Review we sat on the stage of introduced us to
the arts.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
And we had.
Speaker 9 (35:00):
So many entertainers and those people who performed all over
the country, all over the world. And these are things
you just ordinarily would not even be exposed to. But
we have to thank him for so many things. Our
parents entrusted us to him because he was extended family.
(35:24):
He was another father those of us who had fathers,
his principles. As I was saying, he believed in God, family,
and his community. Yes, and I tell you just gave.
He gave totally from the heart. I mean, his spirit
was always good. He had a beautiful wife and his
(35:47):
children at Miss t As we lovingly called her, but
we call him Daddy. Wasn't know why we didn't call
her mommy, Well mom, we didn't, but we loved her too.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
And he had one daughter, Joan, and a son who
was named after him, Andrew Williams. But it was an
experience that none of us will ever forget. And he
encouraged us to be take that spirit that he carried
so well that we should spread it too.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
And you know what, BJ, I'm gonnat pass the hunt
come in here. But you saying that and listening to
you that those teen town singers that I know that
are still living, they have that on Beyonce, You have BJ,
like I call my big sister Barbara.
Speaker 9 (36:42):
Read Barbara Jackson. Yeah, she's my sister too.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yeah, because she's gonna tell me if I'm looking right,
if I'm not looking right.
Speaker 9 (36:53):
Well, yeah, she she's always on point. Yes, she is
always on point. But I have looked up to her
for life. The other thing about it, mister Williams made
sure that when we graduated, whatever school you attended, you
got a scholarship wow, to whatever college that you had chose,
(37:16):
and one hundred dollars two hundred dollars. That was a
lot of money for us back in the sixties.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
That was a lot of a lot of money.
Speaker 9 (37:27):
But each one of us got that upon graduation and
headed to college. He did encourage us to be all
that we could be, but don't forget your fellow man.
You know, you have to reach back and be your
brother's keeper. And I was taught that at home. It
(37:49):
was eight of us by brothers, three girls.
Speaker 5 (37:53):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (37:54):
But we were taught at through our parents. And as
I said, coming into the Team Town program and being
a part of that and he our leader, it was
one of the greatest experiences that I've ever had in life.
And I will always be giving to somebody and to
(38:14):
some entity pastime.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
You want to say, yes, this is one of the
reasons why I wanted us to honor him, because I've
heard of the minised stories. Now, as I say, I'm
from Orange mounted than know him personally, but I've heard
of the minised stories and how he did help. And
one of our deacons, our chairman, our deacon board at
(38:38):
Saydom guilt Field often tells us how if you miss church,
especially miss Sunday School, he get on the radio and
call your name. He get under it and call your
name the next day and let you let your parents
know that you weren't at church.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
Oh wow wow.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
But he seemed to have had a very loving, giving heart.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Yeah, And that's one of the reasons I really wanted
us to celebrate him. And sometimes the church don't do
enough in acknowledging men that has come along and helped
us along the way.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
Right, And I love that and with mister Williams. And
I had the pleasure when I was hired at WDA
in nineteen eighty three. He was still here but he retired.
I think he retired that year. But I got a
chance to work with him and talk with him and
learn a little history Miss Hamilton about WDA. And I
(39:44):
would talk to him, especially BJ. I would talk to
him asking you about the Teen Town Singers and saying
that when I used to hear them, I was wishing
I wish.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
I could be on the radio and let me just
give a little shout out to Mark Stansbury. Yeah, I
talk with him. He wanted to here to but you
know he's pray with him. Yeah, he's dealing with his
wife right and he's the reason why he wasn't here
this morning. He wanted to be here this morning, but
he couldn't and we're very grateful for him giving us
(40:14):
some more background and knowledge about mister William.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
We are talking with my guests this day. My guest
is the Pastor Stanford Hunt. Miss bj Worthy, a teen
town singer is she said she will always be a
teen town singer. Miss Annetta Hamilton, a member of Salem
Guilfhild Baptist Church as they celebrate one hundred and sixty years,
(40:40):
will break when we come back, we'll wrap things up.
We'll have Miss Hamilton let us know what's going on
over there at the Salem Guilfhild Baptist Church that you
can be a part of. You're listening to the Rev.
Johnson Show on Double you d i A.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
You're listening to Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer Bev Johnson
on w d i A, The Beth.
Speaker 8 (41:10):
Jossial Kevin You did Alan I'm telling him everyone.
Speaker 5 (41:56):
Else can Beth because talking everyone.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
Welcome back. We are talking about the celebration of one
hundred and sixty years of the Salem Guilfield Baptist Church
here in Memphis. My guest is the pastor there, Reverend
Stanford Hunt, Miss bj Worthy who is a teen town singer,
and Miss Annetta Hamilton and once again Miss Hamilton. Tell
(42:34):
our listeners what they can expect as you all celebrate
one hundred and sixty years to our Memphis community.
Speaker 6 (42:43):
As Salem Guilfield Baptist Church celebrates one hundred and sixty
years of God's faithfulness, we are inviting you to be
a part of our celebrations. On Saturday, that's August sixteenth,
we will be having our nick on our church grounds,
thirty one seventy six Kimball Avenue. Everyone is invited, lots
(43:08):
of free food, We've got horseback riding and please bring
the children for the bounce house. And then we will
celebrate our banquet on augusta twenty second. Then our revival
will be held on August twenty sixth, twenty.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Seventh, and twenty eighth.
Speaker 6 (43:28):
That Tuesday evening, we have a young minister, so the
youth parents, please bring your children out to hear this
young minister who is a member of New Salem Parkway
seven pm. And then on Wednesday evening we have Reverend
Walter Raeburn, the pastor a branch of Christ Baptist Church
(43:50):
seven pm. And Thursday evening we have Reverend James Glover
who pastors Liberty Baptist Church in Coldwater, missus Zippy seven pm.
We're looking for each of you, and then we will
culminate on the fifth Sunday, August thirty first, three pm.
(44:10):
Our special guest will be Reverend Roger R. Brown and
the Greater white Stone Baptist Church. We hope to see
you at these special events.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
I know it's gonna be good, especially Miss Hamilton. Ways
you said they we're gonna pack the house. Let me
get over here before we talk to Pastor Hunt bj
Worthy a Teen Town singer as they celebrate at Salem
Gilfield celebrating ac Mouhaw Williams as a Teen Town singer.
Your last words you'd like to say today.
Speaker 9 (44:44):
Thank you so much Bell for this opportunity to promote
and let the public know that the Teen Town Singers
We're still here. Each year we have a celebration together.
We just get together to enjoy each other and sing
our song, starting with It's spring, It's cotton time, I know,
(45:05):
and oh what joy sublime the King and Queen they
crown where down in old Memphis Town. We are still
anchored by members who keep us together, and that is
Mark Stansbury, Percy Wiggins, Glinda Faye Grier, Mitchell, Barbara Griffin Jackson.
(45:29):
Did I say Percy Wiggins?
Speaker 5 (45:30):
Yes?
Speaker 9 (45:31):
And mister Timothy Maguire.
Speaker 2 (45:33):
Okay.
Speaker 9 (45:33):
These are the people who make sure we get together,
show love, and continue to spread love and good will
throughout this community. Thank you for this opportunity, Ben, you
are so welcome.
Speaker 2 (45:47):
My good friend, my friend, Miss bj Worthy. She's bad, y'all,
she's bad. Y'all need a house now and I don't
right she can sell. You could do it. Pastor the
Reverend Stanford Hunt, last words you like to say to
our listeners this.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
Day again, bed will so grateful and thankful that you
open your doors and let us come in to talk
about our celebration. We just want everybody to come on
out and celebrate with us. This is a great milestone
in the life of Salem. Gilfield Baptist Church. And we're
just grateful and thankful for the Lord allowing us to
(46:26):
get this fall.
Speaker 4 (46:28):
And we can't thank you enough for just being here.
Speaker 2 (46:32):
You are so welcome. I have enjoyed having you all
and listening to the stories from Miss Hamilton and BJ
and you passed Hunt. Thank you, and I know you
are going to have a fabulous celebration. And Miss Hamilton,
you tell my brother Roger Brown, I say, hey, you will,
I say, hey, thank you all, and and I'll make
(46:54):
sure I'll mention tomorrow so folks can come out Miss
Hamming for that pigmic I might call and.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
See y'alls on the grill.
Speaker 2 (47:03):
I said one thing, you're an orange mound.
Speaker 3 (47:05):
Guy, Yes, ma'am. Where an orange mound you grew up? Actually,
I grew up.
Speaker 4 (47:08):
In what we call the belt line.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
Yes, I remember the bee. I know the Robinson, Yes, yes, yes,
and you golden wildcat, golden wildcat. Yeah, like my parents,
my sister my one yea.
Speaker 4 (47:26):
She said that was only now when you ain't gonna
wing on wing.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
Book of t Washington High. I know you want to
say that, but see c BJ. My parents were graduates
pastor Hunt of of of Melos, Yes, yes, and I
bj past hunt. I went to Melrose when it was
one to twelve. I went there in the first and
third grade. Really, yes, I did my folk first here
(47:50):
and that we were on Pendleton. Yeah, yeah, okay, so
hey I got a little golden wildcat.
Speaker 4 (47:56):
Yeah, I can tell you got a little.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Thank you all for being here, thank you for allowing
us happening. I hope the celebration is success. Thank you
very much, and thank you for having us. You are
so welcome. You welcome any timesas you can talk, even tie.
I love it. I love it. I love it. When
we come back, put your ears on, veterans, we will
be sharing the good news next right here on doub
(48:23):
d i A.
Speaker 7 (48:25):
Whether you're in Arkansas, Tennessee, or Mississippi on Facebook, Twitter
or Instagram. Thank you for listening to the Bev Johnson
Show on doub d Ia Memphis.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
The bevj Show, it was a finging.
Speaker 5 (49:05):
Between the.
Speaker 1 (49:07):
P of ths singing every thing
Speaker 2 (49:22):
Tver between this
Memphis probably presents the Bev Johnson Show.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Let me say Bath.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
I've got.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Me first, let me you say bath.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
She's gone Emphis, stop gain.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
A no matter of the problem, she can have.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
So just all the phono the normans on your mind.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
She understand to me ad in the hair by chilling
you to just keep the thing when a wrangle. I'm
pegging out the chosing show. Becaues bell got this nothing happen.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
You can hear every day.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
W d I ain't my bell got me a missed talking?
(01:48):
Good morning, good morning, good morning, and welcome into w
D i A the Bev Johnson Show. I'm dabbed. It
is indeed a pleasure I have you with us once
again on this Thursday, August fourteenth, twenty twenty five. Enjoyed
this fabulous day to day. Get ready to put your
(02:12):
ears on as we share the good news today. We'll
start off talking about one of our WDA back in
the day personalities. We'll tell you what's going on with that.
Yeah we will, Yeah we will. And also second half,
you veterans, you stick and stay for that. This Pamela
(02:35):
Pullings will be back in my house to help you
veterans out this day, what it's your turn to talk.
You know you can. All you need to do is
dial these numbers nine zero one, five three five, nine
three four two nine zero one five three five, nine
(02:58):
three four to two eight hundred five zero three nine
three four to two eight hundred five zero three nine
three four to two will get you in to me.
And if this day, this, this this day, Thursday, August fourteenth,
(03:27):
twenty twenty five, is your birthday. Happy birthday to each
and every one of y'all out there who may be
celebrating a birthday on this day, we say, go out, y'all,
go out and celebrate your life. You at you, you better,
(03:47):
you better when we come back, share the good news,
keep your ears on. Next with me Bev Johnson on
The Bear Johnson Show only on Double D. I A
(05:02):
good morning and welcome back to WDIA The Bev Johnson Show.
It is indeed a pleasure that I have you with
us once again on this Thursday, August fourteenth, twenty twenty five.
Enjoyed this fabulous day to day. It is a fabulous
day to day because yeah, I know, Stan made the
(05:22):
big announcement what coming up in November As we celebrate
our seventy six year anniversary. WDIA gonna have an anniversary
concert and I understand that Joel Austin and the Manhattan's
will be headlighting that concert along with my sister friend,
(05:48):
my little sister, I called her. We went to college together.
She was under me miss Ring My Bell, Miss Anita war. Yeah,
and I have to tell you the story that I
was in the studio, went to the Jackson when she
was recording Ring My Bell at Malico Studios, and I
had the opportunity to be in in one of her sessions.
(06:08):
So we are looking forward to that, y'all. In November,
we'll be telling you more and more and more and
more about that as we celebrate w DIA's anniversary is
October twenty fifth. Yeah, well we will turn seventy six
years old. And saying all that, I am so glad
(06:29):
to have my guests in the studio because they will
be celebrating one of doubda's own from back in the day,
one of those staples that was here at w DIAS.
Some of you young folks you probably won't remember when
we'll get a lot of history this morning, and some
(06:49):
of you old folks will remember. So let me welcome in.
First of all, the Reverend Stanford Hunt, the pasta. He
said he was this morning about now you may not
be the pastor of the same of Gilfield Missionary Baptist Church.
How you doing past the hut?
Speaker 4 (07:07):
Doing fine? Bell being fine?
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Thank you for allowing us to be here, So glad
to be here, uh, in celebration and announcing our celebration
one hundred and sixty years of being about lighting a
beacon in the Mexus community. One hundred and six zero, oh,
one hundred and six. I was gonna say, one hundred
and six zero sixty sixty.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Yes, I had it right at first. Yes, yeah, goodness,
gracious y'all been rolling huh.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yes, ma'am, rocket and doing our best we can, doing
our best we can. And of course I must admit
I've only been at Salem Guilfield for fourteen years, okay,
but it has been a light and a beacon for
one hundred and sixty years, and we're just happy to
be able to come today and celebrate talk about our celebration.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Oh good, good, well boy, So tell me Pastor Hunt
and and our listeners were, what what area of Memphis
are you all located?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
In we're located and really what it is.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Called the Cherokee Subdivision, but of course now it is
all lumped into what now is known as Orange Mound,
Orange Mound, Tennessee. And we and we're happy about that
because we we love being a part of the Orange
Mound community and certainly been there since nineteen seventy six
(08:39):
they moved from the old crump and.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
In Florida to this Yeah woword.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Yeah, I used to be a great big church that
used to be there with the big old sparrows that case.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Of course we have miss Annetta Hamilton and she's born
in that church, and so she can tell you more
about it. I can't because she's been there all of
her life.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Well, let me say, welcome to you, miss Hamilton. How
are you? I am wonderful this morning and so happy
to be on WD I ate with you today. I'm
so happy to have you, sister, for so so you
were in that church as a little child all of
my life, all of your life. Yes, wow, So you
(09:27):
know a little history, a lot of histories.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Of our historian good.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I love that. I love that. So you all are
getting ready to have a big celebration. Tell us a
little bit about that. Okay, okay, okay, yeah, yeah, pastor,
be quiet because you don't even know if you're steal
the pastor.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Well, you know how Baptists are. They can vote you
out at any time. It ain't like you seeing me, y'all. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
The Bishop of Points oh in congratulations on your new
by the way.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Well, thank you our pastor Kenneth Thomas. Yeah I heard, yeah,
thank you, thank you so much. Had lunch with your
former pastor Sunday? What past war Yeah, that's the bad
boy from being Hamleton.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Oh. Yes, we let him come into Orange Mound.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
Y y'all, let him come in the Orange Rider. All right, Well,
miss Hamilton, tell us about this beautiful and wonderful celebration. Well,
we have lots going on this month. Last Saturday we
had our prayer breakfast and we had a great time yesterday,
last Saturday, celebrating our anniversary one hundred and sixtieth anniversary
(10:39):
prayer breakfast. And on this Saturday, from one until four
we will be on the church grounds celebrating again. We're
going to have our annual picnic and the community is
invited to our picnic.
Speaker 6 (10:54):
We have lots going on lots of food to eat.
If you like ride a horse, you can ride a horse.
If you like the water slides, we've got the water
slides going on. So everybody's invited to be with us
on Saturday for our picnic. And then next week augusta
(11:16):
twenty second, we're going to have our anniversary banquet seven
pm and it will be at the Fellowship Hall, the
Life Center at Mount Moriah East Baptist Church on Haynes
Reverend Melvin Charles Smith is a pastor.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Then the next week we're going to have our revival,
and our revival will be held on August of twenty sixth,
twenty seventh, and twenty eighth, seven pm nightly. In our revival.
Speaker 6 (11:49):
On that Tuesday evening we have a young man from
New Salem Parkway to be our special guest. And then
on Wednesday evening we will have Reverend Walter Rayburn, the
pastor Branch of Christ to be with us. And then
on Thursday evening we will have Reverend James Glover who
(12:10):
pastors Liberty Baptist Church in Coldwater, Mississippi, and he will
be with us. And then our culminating event will be
on the fifth Sunday, that's August thirty.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
First.
Speaker 6 (12:23):
We will be celebrating all day long, starting with Sunday
school at nine to fifteen am, our worship service at
eleven am, and then at three pm we will culminate everything.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
And Reverend Roger R. Brown, the pastor of Greater white
Stone Baptist Church, is going to be brother. That's my friend. Well,
he's going to be our special preacher.
Speaker 6 (12:47):
He is the new moderator of the West Tennessee Baptist
Missionary and Education Association, and he is also the newly
elected Vice President at Large of the other Region of
the Progressive National Baptist Convention. He's going to bring the
message and his entire church will be there to fellowship
(13:09):
with us, to serve and to sing. So we're looking
for a great time all month at Salem Gilfield Baptist
Church ABD. I.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
You know at past Hunt you could have stayed at
home and Miss Hamilton just come on, because this is bad.
You should have stayed at home. You always have it together, yes,
you always have it together. So Miss Hamilton, you all
just the whole month of authors are doing some special things. Yes, yeah,
now tell our listeners. I know Pastor Hunts that back
(13:41):
in the day you all were over there at Crump
in that area. But where are you all located now?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
We are at thirty one seventy six Kimball Avenue now, Memphis, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Three eight one one one. All right, and you and
what time does service start? Eleven a m oh eat Sunday.
Each Sunday, eat Sunday at eleven a m. Boy, you
all got some good stuff going. Let's see that.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
You recommend leave your church and come on.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Over and come on over there.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
I know.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
I don't know about that because Past Hunt, I'm late
every Sunday.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
So we know, but I get there, Pastor Hunt, Amen,
Pastor Hunt.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
So so let me ask Miss Hamilton. Going back for
this weekend, it's the church picnic, and it is, I
want to be clear, open to the public. It is
open to the public. Yes, and so you're a families
can bring their children.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
Yes, we have activities for the children, as it said.
And if you enjoy the bounce house, we've got the
bounce house. Okay, if you want to ride a horse,
we're going to have a horse there.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
And everybody loves good food, so we're going to have
lots of good food to eat. Wow, and and celebrating
one hundred and sixty years. That's gonna be good the church.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Some of them good smoke, sauhs, all that good stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Humph Yes, y'all have a good time. I love that.
If you've just tuned in this morning, we are talking
about the Salem Guilfield Baptist Church. They are celebrating one
hundred and sixty years in the Memphis community. Also, we're
gonna be talking about somebody special who also went there,
(15:32):
and you all may know the name. I'm gonna hold it,
hold it because we have another special guests in the house.
But if you have a question or two for my
guests this day, we do invite you to call nine
zero one five three five nine three four to two
eight hundred five zero three nine three four two eight
(15:55):
three three five three five nine three four two will
get you in to us. You're listening to double d
I A.
Speaker 7 (16:08):
Don't go away. The Bev Johnson Show returns after these messages.
Speaker 8 (16:12):
Bev Jocen Shalem telling you to ask you for.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Show, and we're talking about the celebration of one hundred
and sixty years of Salem Guilfield Missionary Baptist Church. Before
we continue to talk, let me give a big shout out.
It was yesterday, this is my girl to Miss Katherine
(17:40):
Maids was a Miss Mays and a big shout out
wanting to say happy birthday from your godson. Maurice and
Pat said happy birthday to Katherine Maids. That's my girl,
that's my girl. At the Mount pisgut Seeing Meet Church.
Happy birthday again, Miss Mays. I hope you had a
fabulous day. I see you Sunday. I see you Sunday
(18:02):
at Mount Pisco Met Church. I have to get that in,
Pastor Hunt, Yeah, you have to get that in. Let
me say that. One of the reasons we talk about
Salem Guilfield Missionary Baptist Church because they had a special
member there that was there at Salem gilt Field. I
(18:23):
don't know, Pastor Hunt want to talk about it or
Miss Hamlet, Miss Hambley, you were there with him because
my guy.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Well, but one of the reasons I wanted us to
dedicate this year to him, Okay, because he was so
instrumental in helping a lot of the young people at
the church. From what I understand, he got some of
them all into college.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Russ and the other.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Mississippi Valley, Mississippi Valley.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Yes, that's what I knew.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
It was one of them, and so as well as
he was a deacon and trustee at the church, and
of course I knew he was.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
From the Great WDA.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Oh, maybe it would be a good thing to yo
put this in honor of him, Miss Hamilton. He is
going to help us with more and he was ac
Moha Williams.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Talk about it, Miss Hamilton.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Well, I grew up in Salem Guilfield Baptist Church, so
you know at Salem Guilfield Baptist Church. Ac Mooha Williams
was a deacon at Salem Guilfield, a trustee at Salem Guilfield,
and at Salem Guilfield.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Basically he was known as Daddy. Everybody at Salem Guilfield
referred to him as Daddy. He was an encourager and
he was my Sunday school teacher. When I graduated from
high school, I.
Speaker 6 (19:56):
Went to the Advanced Senior Sunday school class and mister A.
Williams was my Sunday school teacher. So a lot of
my training that I received at Salem Gilfield after I
graduated was in mister A. C. Mouha Williams class wow wow,
and all of the things that we were interested in
(20:18):
as young people. Mister Williams was there to support us
and encourage us and let us know you can do it.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah. And you know, Miss Hamilton, I'm thinking back in
the day, you had those folks like, uh, mister Williams,
who who who encouraged young people. He loved young people
and a lot of people don't know. He was also
a school teacher. Yes he was. I think he taught
(20:46):
at yes, because I think I remember talking with him
and he taught there with my great aunt, great great
great aunt, I think, yeah, and he would we would
talk about that. But he he was a school teacher.
And I tell people I was telling somebody, Pastor Hunt,
last week that back in the day when WDA was
(21:09):
on the air, those folks, mister Williams, Nattie Williams, they
were educators, educators, They weren't dummies. They had college degrees
and working on the radio. Yeah. So again at the church,
I know, and as I remember, he loved his church, right,
(21:31):
Miss Hamilton. Mister A. C. Mooh Williams was one of
the faithful members of Salem Guilfhild Baptist Church, encouraging, as
I said, the young people to get an education. And
not only did.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
He work in the Sunday School, he was also the
director of the men's chorus at Salem Guilfhild Baptist Church
for many years and encouraging the young people and the
young men at Salem gil Field Baptist Church, teaching them
the importance of loving the church and being dedicated to
(22:07):
serving in the church.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Wow. Now he directed the men's choir. Hum, yes he did. Yeah. Well,
a lot of folks may remember who's listening?
Speaker 7 (22:17):
Who are w di?
Speaker 2 (22:18):
I a listeners And I understand he founded the Teen
Town Singers. When you talk about so he loved music, yessolutely. Yeah.
And we happened, Just happened, my friend, We happened to
have one of the teen Town singers from back in
the day in the house, my sister friend Ms b
(22:42):
J Worthy BJ.
Speaker 9 (22:44):
Good morning, good morning, and happy Thursday.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Happy Thursday to you. Look here. Since I've been knowing
you all these years, I never knew you were a
teen Town singer.
Speaker 9 (22:55):
Then I wear many hats. However, a teen Town singer
was one of the greatest honors of my life.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
So how did you get involved in that? Bj Well?
Speaker 9 (23:08):
I was always a music lover. I began playing for
my church for the youth choir at twelve years old,
Mount Zion Baptist Church, and from there I always sang
in somebody's choir. So when I started to Booker T. Washington,
I enrolled in nineteen sixty one. We were the last
(23:30):
ninth grade class at Booker T. Washington because it was
a high school. And then after that year they changed
Junior High to seven through nine right and Senior High
became tenth through twelfth. At Booker T. Washington, I met
Catherine Rivers Johnson. She was the music teacher and she
(23:54):
was also an English teacher, and she taught music in English,
and I was a part part of her ninth grade
English class. But I also took music and joined the choir.
And it was through her that I was introduced to
the Teen Town Singers. And she chose members from the
(24:16):
classes that she taught. If she saw any little twit
swither of talent, then she would present it offer you
an opportunity to become a teen Town singer.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Because miss Johnson of people let people know she was
the keeper or the piano player.
Speaker 9 (24:36):
She was the pianist for the Teen Town Singers. They
were church members. I believe Catherine Rivers was a member
of the.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
Musician in Salem Gilfield like mister Williams. Yes, and her aunt,
Missus Elmertha Cole, who taught music all over Memphis, as
it said, was a member of Salem gilfil And that's
where Catherine, as it said, learned how to play through
her aunt, Missus EO.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Cole. Wow.
Speaker 9 (25:08):
Well, Katherine and mister Williams became a team because he
directed the choir, she played. But they coined and founded
the Teen Town Singers, the two of them, And that's
how members were recruited, Black young people from the inner
city schools. Give them some outlet and have an activity
(25:33):
to do. And but it was more than having an activity.
Mister Williams he could not read music, but he wrote songs.
Some of the songs on the radio were written by him.
But they would choose kids from Booker t. Washington. They
(25:55):
came from Nancis of course, and then they there were
also kids It's from Melrose and Hamilton.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Carver.
Speaker 9 (26:05):
Carver was one of the it was one of the
newer schools at that time, and so we also got
a few members from there.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
But.
Speaker 9 (26:15):
I was I joined the Teen Town Singer.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
So did you have to try out?
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Bj?
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Not really.
Speaker 9 (26:21):
And here's the really unusual thing about being a teen
Town Singer. You didn't have to be a good singer.
You didn't have to read music, but you had to
be a student who was respectful, and you had to
enjoy music. You had to have a spiritual background, I
(26:45):
would say, because mister Williams was anchored in the Lord.
You heard that song, anchored in the Lord. He was
one of those kind of leaders and mentors and many
things that happened with the Teen Town Singers, the biggest one.
We became family and we were taught to look out
(27:06):
for each other, to help each other, and above all
love each other. And whoever was the last one standing,
you were to represent. And he had high principles, so
everything that we everything we did, had to be the best.
He was never satisfied with just good. He moved good
to better and from better to best, and so we
(27:30):
all walk around with that attitude. So don't don't don't
hate on us. He's the reason for that.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Es.
Speaker 9 (27:39):
Yeah, we we'll probably move out of here to heaven
thinking that we are the best.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
So also, BJ, it's being a teen town singers. You
all were on the radio and I can remember as
a little girl hearing you all. My mother would say, Beth,
don't you remember that.
Speaker 9 (28:04):
Beth, don't hate Okay, don't have.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
I was wondering, hope, but how I got to get
on the radio be a team town singer.
Speaker 9 (28:13):
Well, listen, mister Williams had principles that we had to
adhere to. First of all, you had to be respectful.
You had to be accountable, and then you had to
be whatever you did, you had to take responsibility. He
(28:34):
believed in God, who he said was the head of
our lives. But he had a good work ethic and
he also the one thing, the big thing too, was time.
He didn't he did not tolerate late.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
I hear that I heard, but I hear hear that
BJ from Mark Stansbury. He's that's why he learned how
to be on time or be five or ten minutes early,
Because says says, mister Williams, didn't play that bebe.
Speaker 9 (29:08):
I have a story, okay, and it stuck with me.
One of the reasons I could I got involved with
the Teen Town Singers. Mister Williams was a great mentor.
He loved family and he loved children, he loved his community,
and he gave back in every way that he could
(29:30):
think of. But my parents had those same principles and values.
So it was like going from one area of principles
and values to his neighborhood of principles and values. But
one of the days we went to Booker t Washington,
Tina Bryant, Marilyn Jackson, Barbara Johnson and I. We were
(29:53):
chosen by Catherine Johnson and we joined the Teen Town Singers.
But my dad would pick up us up and drop
us off at the wire. Remember the y MTA on Mississippi.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Yes, I do, and four o'clock.
Speaker 9 (30:07):
Four o'clock was the magic hour we began practice. And
that day my dad had a flat and he didn't
get to the school. And after I called home, we
we said we've got to get to practice.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
Huh.
Speaker 9 (30:24):
So we started running.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
We have.
Speaker 9 (30:26):
We ran part of the way and we walked part
of the way and we got to the door at
maybe two minutes to four. Well to him, that was
not on time. On time was in your seat, in
your group, whether you sang soprano, altos, tenor or base
(30:48):
sitting there waiting for four o'clock to get you know,
so he could start the practice. Every time wow, four
pm the practice started, he shut the door in our face.
We were heartbroken. Were heartbroken. We had tried so hard
to get there because the rule was if you didn't
(31:12):
get there on time, you didn't get to sing on Saturday.
And he did not change. I don't care if you
were Carla Thomas, the Sole Children, any of those people
could have been James Brown, didn't matter. The door was
shut and if you were not in your seat ready
(31:35):
to began practice, you didn't sing on Saturday. So those
were the kinds of lessons that he gave us. Family
was important, and you looked out for each other. Many
of the there were several in the group that who
came along with me, had no fathers. I don't know
if they were deceased or divorced or whatever, families like that.
(31:58):
But he was dad, And I thought the daddy was
coined by the teen Town Singers, but I didn't know
he was daddy at church too. But if you needed shoes,
a lunch, money, or bus fair to get to school
or to the practice. I don't know how he did it,
but he always made a way that we looked out
(32:21):
for each other Like that, I would say that mister A. C.
Mouhaw Williams was a man for all seasons. Okay, he
was an ordinary man, but he did extraordinary things. He
introduced us to a part of life we never ever
would have been introduced to. I mean, who was singing
(32:44):
on radio? I know Carla Thomas with her little self.
She was in there at twelve years old. Now how
did she do that?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
Right?
Speaker 9 (32:51):
She didn't know she could?
Speaker 2 (32:53):
I ask you some of our listeners would know some
of the famous names now that were that were in
the Teen Town Singers.
Speaker 9 (33:00):
If you can recall J There there, J Blackfoot, you had,
Marvel Thomas, h Carlo Thomas was in there.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
There.
Speaker 9 (33:14):
There's a list, it's so many. Isaac Hayes was never
in the Teen Town but Booker T. Jones, yes, he
was in there. I can't go through. But in the
book that Wiley Henry wrote, it's a list of mostly
(33:38):
all of the people and bell you were in the book.
How did you get in our book?
Speaker 2 (33:45):
You know?
Speaker 9 (33:45):
You know how you do?
Speaker 2 (33:46):
You kind of you kind of push.
Speaker 9 (33:48):
You know the envelope.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
You have a forward. Well, you know, I didn't know
I was in the book.
Speaker 9 (33:56):
You have a forward in Wiley book called Daddy.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
And the Team. I did write the forward. I did.
He asked me to do that.
Speaker 9 (34:05):
You're in there, and I said, not b J word.
His name should have been there at least I was.
I was a legitimate member bear legitimate. I was a
legitimate And I opened this book when I got it.
It was gifted to me by Lamberg.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
Yes he has.
Speaker 9 (34:25):
And I opened the book and after mister Williams picture,
the next thing I see is a forward by bab Johnson.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
W D I a.
Speaker 9 (34:37):
Right, I've got to protect my family.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Family.
Speaker 9 (34:45):
Yeah, we had We had a beautiful time. He introduced
us to the the good Will Review and the Starlight
Review we sat on the stage of introduced us to
the arts.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
And we had.
Speaker 9 (35:00):
So many entertainers and those people who performed all over
the country, all over the world. And these are things
you just ordinarily would not even be exposed to. But
we have to thank him for so many things. Our
parents entrusted us to him because he was extended family.
(35:24):
He was another father those of us who had fathers,
his principles. As I was saying, he believed in God, family,
and his community. Yes, and I tell you just gave.
He gave totally from the heart. I mean, his spirit
was always good. He had a beautiful wife and his
(35:47):
children at Miss t As we lovingly called her, but
we call him Daddy. Wasn't know why we didn't call
her mommy, Well mom, we didn't, but we loved her too.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 9 (36:00):
And he had one daughter, Joan, and a son who
was named after him, Andrew Williams. But it was an
experience that none of us will ever forget. And he
encouraged us to be take that spirit that he carried
so well that we should spread it too.
Speaker 2 (36:22):
And you know what, BJ, I'm gonnat pass the hunt
come in here. But you saying that and listening to
you that those teen town singers that I know that
are still living, they have that on Beyonce, You have BJ,
like I call my big sister Barbara.
Speaker 9 (36:42):
Read Barbara Jackson. Yeah, she's my sister too.
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Yeah, because she's gonna tell me if I'm looking right,
if I'm not looking right.
Speaker 9 (36:53):
Well, yeah, she she's always on point. Yes, she is
always on point. But I have looked up to her
for life. The other thing about it, mister Williams made
sure that when we graduated, whatever school you attended, you
got a scholarship wow, to whatever college that you had chose,
(37:16):
and one hundred dollars two hundred dollars. That was a
lot of money for us back in the sixties.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
That was a lot of a lot of money.
Speaker 9 (37:27):
But each one of us got that upon graduation and
headed to college. He did encourage us to be all
that we could be, but don't forget your fellow man.
You know, you have to reach back and be your
brother's keeper. And I was taught that at home. It
(37:49):
was eight of us by brothers, three girls.
Speaker 5 (37:53):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (37:54):
But we were taught at through our parents. And as
I said, coming into the Team Town program and being
a part of that and he our leader, it was
one of the greatest experiences that I've ever had in life.
And I will always be giving to somebody and to
(38:14):
some entity pastime.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
You want to say, yes, this is one of the
reasons why I wanted us to honor him, because I've
heard of the minised stories. Now, as I say, I'm
from Orange mounted than know him personally, but I've heard
of the minised stories and how he did help. And
one of our deacons, our chairman, our deacon board at
(38:38):
Saydom guilt Field often tells us how if you miss church,
especially miss Sunday School, he get on the radio and
call your name. He get under it and call your
name the next day and let you let your parents
know that you weren't at church.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
Oh wow wow.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
But he seemed to have had a very loving, giving heart.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
Yeah, And that's one of the reasons I really wanted
us to celebrate him. And sometimes the church don't do
enough in acknowledging men that has come along and helped
us along the way.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
Right, And I love that and with mister Williams. And
I had the pleasure when I was hired at WDA
in nineteen eighty three. He was still here but he retired.
I think he retired that year. But I got a
chance to work with him and talk with him and
learn a little history Miss Hamilton about WDA. And I
(39:44):
would talk to him, especially BJ. I would talk to
him asking you about the Teen Town Singers and saying
that when I used to hear them, I was wishing
I wish.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
I could be on the radio and let me just
give a little shout out to Mark Stansbury. Yeah, I
talk with him. He wanted to here to but you
know he's pray with him. Yeah, he's dealing with his
wife right and he's the reason why he wasn't here
this morning. He wanted to be here this morning, but
he couldn't and we're very grateful for him giving us
(40:14):
some more background and knowledge about mister William.
Speaker 2 (40:18):
We are talking with my guests this day. My guest
is the Pastor Stanford Hunt. Miss bj Worthy, a teen
town singer is she said she will always be a
teen town singer. Miss Annetta Hamilton, a member of Salem
Guilfhild Baptist Church as they celebrate one hundred and sixty years,
(40:40):
will break when we come back, we'll wrap things up.
We'll have Miss Hamilton let us know what's going on
over there at the Salem Guilfhild Baptist Church that you
can be a part of. You're listening to the Rev.
Johnson Show on Double you d i A.
Speaker 7 (41:02):
You're listening to Tennessee Radio Hall of Famer Bev Johnson
on w d i A, The Beth.
Speaker 8 (41:10):
Jossial Kevin You did Alan I'm telling him everyone.
Speaker 5 (41:56):
Else can Beth because talking everyone.
Speaker 2 (42:11):
Welcome back. We are talking about the celebration of one
hundred and sixty years of the Salem Guilfield Baptist Church
here in Memphis. My guest is the pastor there, Reverend
Stanford Hunt, Miss bj Worthy who is a teen town singer,
and Miss Annetta Hamilton and once again Miss Hamilton. Tell
(42:34):
our listeners what they can expect as you all celebrate
one hundred and sixty years to our Memphis community.
Speaker 6 (42:43):
As Salem Guilfield Baptist Church celebrates one hundred and sixty
years of God's faithfulness, we are inviting you to be
a part of our celebrations. On Saturday, that's August sixteenth,
we will be having our nick on our church grounds,
thirty one seventy six Kimball Avenue. Everyone is invited, lots
(43:08):
of free food, We've got horseback riding and please bring
the children for the bounce house. And then we will
celebrate our banquet on augusta twenty second. Then our revival
will be held on August twenty sixth, twenty.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
Seventh, and twenty eighth.
Speaker 6 (43:28):
That Tuesday evening, we have a young minister, so the
youth parents, please bring your children out to hear this
young minister who is a member of New Salem Parkway
seven pm. And then on Wednesday evening we have Reverend
Walter Raeburn, the pastor a branch of Christ Baptist Church
(43:50):
seven pm. And Thursday evening we have Reverend James Glover
who pastors Liberty Baptist Church in Coldwater, missus Zippy seven pm.
We're looking for each of you, and then we will
culminate on the fifth Sunday, August thirty first, three pm.
(44:10):
Our special guest will be Reverend Roger R. Brown and
the Greater white Stone Baptist Church. We hope to see
you at these special events.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
I know it's gonna be good, especially Miss Hamilton. Ways
you said they we're gonna pack the house. Let me
get over here before we talk to Pastor Hunt bj
Worthy a Teen Town singer as they celebrate at Salem
Gilfield celebrating ac Mouhaw Williams as a Teen Town singer.
Your last words you'd like to say today.
Speaker 9 (44:44):
Thank you so much Bell for this opportunity to promote
and let the public know that the Teen Town Singers
We're still here. Each year we have a celebration together.
We just get together to enjoy each other and sing
our song, starting with It's spring, It's cotton time, I know,
(45:05):
and oh what joy sublime the King and Queen they
crown where down in old Memphis Town. We are still
anchored by members who keep us together, and that is
Mark Stansbury, Percy Wiggins, Glinda Faye Grier, Mitchell, Barbara Griffin Jackson.
(45:29):
Did I say Percy Wiggins?
Speaker 5 (45:30):
Yes?
Speaker 9 (45:31):
And mister Timothy Maguire.
Speaker 2 (45:33):
Okay.
Speaker 9 (45:33):
These are the people who make sure we get together,
show love, and continue to spread love and good will
throughout this community. Thank you for this opportunity, Ben, you
are so welcome.
Speaker 2 (45:47):
My good friend, my friend, Miss bj Worthy. She's bad, y'all,
she's bad. Y'all need a house now and I don't
right she can sell. You could do it. Pastor the
Reverend Stanford Hunt, last words you like to say to
our listeners this.
Speaker 3 (46:04):
Day again, bed will so grateful and thankful that you
open your doors and let us come in to talk
about our celebration. We just want everybody to come on
out and celebrate with us. This is a great milestone
in the life of Salem. Gilfield Baptist Church. And we're
just grateful and thankful for the Lord allowing us to
(46:26):
get this fall.
Speaker 4 (46:28):
And we can't thank you enough for just being here.
Speaker 2 (46:32):
You are so welcome. I have enjoyed having you all
and listening to the stories from Miss Hamilton and BJ
and you passed Hunt. Thank you, and I know you
are going to have a fabulous celebration. And Miss Hamilton,
you tell my brother Roger Brown, I say, hey, you will,
I say, hey, thank you all, and and I'll make
(46:54):
sure I'll mention tomorrow so folks can come out Miss
Hamming for that pigmic I might call and.
Speaker 3 (47:00):
See y'alls on the grill.
Speaker 2 (47:03):
I said one thing, you're an orange mound.
Speaker 3 (47:05):
Guy, Yes, ma'am. Where an orange mound you grew up? Actually,
I grew up.
Speaker 4 (47:08):
In what we call the belt line.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
Yes, I remember the bee. I know the Robinson, Yes, yes, yes,
and you golden wildcat, golden wildcat. Yeah, like my parents,
my sister my one yea.
Speaker 4 (47:26):
She said that was only now when you ain't gonna
wing on wing.
Speaker 2 (47:30):
Book of t Washington High. I know you want to
say that, but see c BJ. My parents were graduates
pastor Hunt of of of Melos, Yes, yes, and I
bj past hunt. I went to Melrose when it was
one to twelve. I went there in the first and
third grade. Really, yes, I did my folk first here
(47:50):
and that we were on Pendleton. Yeah, yeah, okay, so
hey I got a little golden wildcat.
Speaker 4 (47:56):
Yeah, I can tell you got a little.
Speaker 2 (48:01):
Thank you all for being here, thank you for allowing
us happening. I hope the celebration is success. Thank you
very much, and thank you for having us. You are
so welcome. You welcome any timesas you can talk, even tie.
I love it. I love it. I love it. When
we come back, put your ears on, veterans, we will
be sharing the good news next right here on doub
(48:23):
d i A.
Speaker 7 (48:25):
Whether you're in Arkansas, Tennessee, or Mississippi on Facebook, Twitter
or Instagram. Thank you for listening to the Bev Johnson
Show on doub d Ia Memphis.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
The bevj Show, it was a finging.
Speaker 5 (49:05):
Between the.
Speaker 1 (49:07):
P of ths singing every thing
Speaker 2 (49:22):
Tver between this
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