An old Christmas song that is sung in about all churches in the area includes the lyrics "There is a song in the air.” Surely that is what will be happening here in this area on Saturday, June 26, at 10 a.m.
This is when the Webster County Singing Convention will be held once again after being canceled the previous two years, the last because of COVID.
The singing this time will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 960 VFW Road, where Brother Shorty Carden is pastor. The host of the convention is no stranger to gospel singers in the area, and really in many areas, Lisa Dodd Threet.
Lisa happens to be the great-granddaughter of the man who began the Webster County Singing Convention many years ago. Her Dodd family was all familiar people at singings in the area many years ago, and even sang on WCPC radio station in Houston on Sunday mornings.
In addition to her family, this area has been blessed with many gospel singers such as the Prewitts in Webster and Choctaw counties, the Blantons and Blackwoods in Choctaw County, and Doyle Smith, who was born in Choctaw County and finished school in Mathiston. Smith married a Stidham and for many years before his death lived in Oklahoma.
It is hoped and expected the convention this year will be a repeat of several here in that many pianists and many songwriters will be present, in addition to many presidents several state singing conventions and even some past presidents of the National Singing Convention.
The convention will take a break for covered-dish lunch and visiting around noon and continue after lunch.
Lisa Dodd Threet is to be commended for bringing back the Webster County Singing Convention after an absence of two years, and for her assisting with area singing schools in this area and other places by Marty Phillips of Crossett, Ark.
