THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504280197
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Today is ``Mother Uzzle Day'' at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.
At 3 p.m. the Norfolk church is paying tribute to one of its most loved individuals, Ianthia Virginia Uzzle of South Norfolk, known throughout the community as ``the Mother of Music.''
``She is definitely the `Mother of Music' at the church,'' said James E. Handy Jr., the congregation's minister of music. ``I think this is her 60th year at our church. She was there when I joined in 1956.''
The church's pastor, Dr. I. Joseph Williams, echoes Handy's thoughts.
``She is that and more,'' Williams said. ``She is one of the most wonderful and outstanding persons you could know. And most of the choirs at our church started under her.''
Uzzle will be recognized by the church's congregation and by hundreds of her former students.
Uzzle - who is over 80 but has ``frozen'' her age at 75 - still plays the organ at her church's weekly 7 a.m. Sunday services, still attends music conferences all over the country and still teaches piano, now to the children of former students.
``Oh, gracious, yes,'' Uzzle said about her teaching. ``I taught their mommas and daddies. They all come back to me.''
``I took piano lessons from Mother Uzzle when I was 10 or 11 until I went to college,'' said Michael Sumler, organist at the Antioch Church. ``She also taught my daughter, who's now 17. When I wanted her to take music lessons I didn't consider anyone else but Mother Uzzle.''
Uzzle will be serenaded by members of the congregation and choir, by former students and area music teachers and by the entire Chesapeake Civic Chorus under the direction of Geraldine T. Boone, a longtime friend and colleague.
At the 3 p.m. service, the octogenarian will be recognized by members of the Tidewater Music Teachers, the Order of the Eastern Star, Tidewater Area Musicians, the Hampton University Choir and Organists Guild, Daughters of the Norfolk Civic and Beneficial Association, the Hampton Guild and Tidewater Music Parents.
In addition, Chesapeake Mayor William E. Ward and State Del. Lionel Spruill are scheduled to offer their own expressions of love to Uzzle.
Uzzle will also be honored by pastors from other area churches, including Elbert T. Knight, pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Portsmouth; John Ashby, pastor of First Baptist Church, West Munden; and Elder Queenie Barton, pastor of the New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ.
The tribute was organized by Nathaniel Brown of Chesapeake, church deacon. He said the event has been in the planning stages by his 13-person committee since January. Literally hundreds of invitations to parishioners, musical colleagues, family, friends, neighbors and former students have been sent out, he said.
``I've known her for over 35 years,'' Brown said. ``And you've not seen or heard anyone like her.''
Brown said Uzzle herself chose him to organize her tribute day.
``She said to me, `Deacon Brown, if I ever get my day at church, I want you to be in charge,' and you know I jumped at the chance,'' Brown said. ``There's no more deserving person than Mother Uzzle.''
``She is something to the community, that's for sure,'' said Vivian D. Cartwright of the Music Parents Club, a coalition of concerned parents founded in 1936 to help children in music education. ``Mrs. Uzzle's music and vitality will continue on in her children, who are now respected teachers and performers throughout the country.''
``She's a very deserving person and the epitome of friendliness,'' Brown added. ``She is definitely a woman to be admired.''
``She's just wonderful to work with,'' Handy said. ``She is a teacher of the first magnitude. She's very encouraging, she motivates both children and older people. She believes in sharing her education and musical gifts.''
Despite occasional ill health, Uzzle continues to teach piano to youngsters and senior citizens.
``I fuss with retired teachers who just sit home and watch `The Young and the Restless,' '' Uzzle said. ``You can't be too young or restless. I tell them to get out and teach somebody.'' by CNB