A Special Tribute to Alma

A True Source of Inspiration

A Celebration of Dr. Alma Montgomery Blackmon

I generally don’t like to go to funerals. Ever since I lost both my mother and my father while I was still in my 20’s, I have not liked the feeling that I get when I go to funerals. I really do feel the grief and it hurts. But I knew there was something different about the service of celebration that I planned to attend to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Alma Montgomery Blackmon. “Alma” as she was called by close to her,  is the mother of a former colleague and current friend, Brenda Wood, who is a fellow television journalist. I met Alma when Brenda and I worked at the same station. So, I only met Alma face-to-face on a few social occasions or sometimes when she would drop by the station to see Brenda or better yet to take care of some business involving Brenda.

I knew Alma’s reputation as an internationally acclaimed musician and choir director. I even had the privilege to hear her sing or play the piano on some brief occasions. I saw Alma in action at some choral workshops. Our common bond was Brenda, who was empowered by this great woman to reach for her highest goals and she reached them with Alma’s ever-present support. Brenda didn’t have to worry about balancing life between her career and her two beautiful daughters. Alma was always there for all of them….including husband psychologist Keith Wood. I always knew that Alma’s strength, beauty, grace and determination was beyond reproach. I always knew that she demanded the best from all her students and set a standard of excellence that was frequently hard to reach. In the short time that I spent in her presence, I knew that “you don’t mess with Alma.”

That became the underlying theme of the celebration of life that I witnessed on June 13^th, 2009 at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Decatur, Georgia. Make no mistake about it, Alma Blackmon was in charge, even down to the planning and execution of the whole program. Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the almost 88 years that Alma graced the Earth. God called her home after she valiantly fought a lengthy illness, after successfully conquering two bouts with cancer earlier in her life. Alma willed herself to live until it was perfect timing for her transition. Dozens of her students and colleagues were already coming to Atlanta that weekend for the national reunion of the famed Aeolian Choir that Alma directed for many years at Oakwood University (which was Oakwood College at the time).  Alma’s musical genius started to blossom as she grew up as a child in Washington, D.C. becoming her church’s organist at the age of ten. She went on to have an outstanding 42-year teaching career in the D.C. school system. She went to Oakwood to revive the Aeolians who had been dormant for many years. She built the choir into an international powerhouse. Now her former students from all over the country were gathering for their reunion. Alma held on to make sure that the Aeolians were arriving and preparing for their reunion concert before she decided to let go. She departed this Earth the day before the reunion began. So it only made sense for those who loved Alma so much to celebrate her life with a celebration of music. And what a send-off she received.

The more than 100 voice choir sounded like a celestial body as they flawlessly performed a pre-musical tribute prior to the actual service. Then throughout the service were the performances of some of the most amazing musicians that I have ever witnessed. My heart jumped during the stirring piano performances by Luther Washington II and Shelton Kilby, who told me that he was Alma’s second piano student. Nothing could surpass the renditions of “I Want To See Jesus, Don’t You?” performed by Lori Bryan, “It Is Well With My Soul” performed by nationally known recording artist Wintley Phipps and others. Margie Richardson brought down the house with “We Shall Behold Him” which she performed barefoot. Even the presence of Alma’s most famous student, the legendary Roberta Flack, was felt throughout the service. We were all attending a concert with Alma and we all felt at home. It was arguably one of the best concert presentations in the Metro Atlanta area in years.

Granddaughters Kristen Brooke and Kandis Brittany showed the same kind of strength as their grandmother when they got up to address the audience. Kristen and Kandis managed to share their stories about their “best friend” and the one whom they love so much.  They are all part of the legacy of Alma Blackmon. The program included this message, “In many ways, Alma’s life was like a song itself-melodious and sweet, yet powerful and strong. “ That’s the Alma that I know and love. She instantly made you a part of her family. She is one of those strong Black women who doesn’t attract a lot of headlines, but she is one of the most powerful movers and shakers in our community. She touched so many lives and we will never forget her and her song.