Dr. Dorsey died January 23, 1993. Mr. Evan Wilson contacted Shirley Marchman and expressed his desire to do something in remembrance of him in Villa Rica. Seeing that he was about music, Shirley suggested a Choir and it was brought to fruition with the help of the late Rev. Verlyn Styles and Charlie Styles Jr., letters were sent out, we began rehearsals and in May 1995 the first Thomas Dorsey Day was held. Our National President, Bishop Kenneth H. Moales, the band for the Marines and other distinguished guest were in attendance. We have traveled from North Carolina, to Florida, New York, Chicago, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Washington D.C., Ohio, and Texas, and sang two consecutive years at the New England Conservatory of Music, we were inducted into the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, which was founded by Dr. Dorsey. Sang at the University of West Georgia with the Men’s choir from England, and sang back up for Dorothy Norwood. We have an Annual Dorsey Day, the last Friday and Saturday in June, with a Jazz concert on Friday and a Gospel and Blues concert on Saturday, Good Friday Concert, sang at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King was Pastor, and received the Dorsey Award from the Gospel Awards program held at Morehouse.

 

  We have 42 members on roll and are looking for more. We meet every Saturday before the 2^nd Sunday at 5 p.m. at Mt. Prospect. Some of our goals are to start a Youth Choir, have a museum, but our main goal is to keep gospel music alive. We (not all members) attend the Southeast Regional Conference every third weekend in January; the Board Meeting for the National Convention is always the third weekend in April, and the National convention, the first full week in August. This year the Regional was held in Charleston, South Carolina, the Board Meeting this year is in Toledo, Ohio and the National convention is in Orlando Florida. We love diversity, so if you would like to be a part of the choir, the only joining fee is to come and sing Praises to the Lord; we are not professionals, just love to give God our best in song. The officers are: Shirley Marchman President, Pearl Dobbs VicePresident, Betty Ayers Secretary, Frances Bailey Asst Secretary, Joseph Boykin treasurer, Eric Ayers Minister of Music, Brenda Williams director. We also have a Thomas A. Dorsey Birthplace and Gospel Heritage Festival, Inc. Executive Board and we are 501c3 board certified.