Jackie, I guess we were part of the Augusta Stake Choir for as long as you have been the director. We always felt uplifted and that we grew with each performance. You have a talent for bringing out the best in us and all in the choirs felt it and loved you for it. We also appreciated the quality of music you selected for us. We enjoy the Tab Choir music all the more because we have sung so many of their repertoire hymns. We had a fun experience out of this when we were at the LDS week at Philmont. They called for a volunteer choir to sing for July 4th, and we had a choir of about fifty people. One of the numbers the director wanted us to sing was "Battle Hymn of the Republic". All we had was the hymnbook. It didn't feel BIG enough. People spontaneously started singing the Tab Choir arrangement and it seems that at least three-quarters of this choir made up of random choir members from all over the country knew it. The performance was memorable.

You were doing your "Jackie exactness" at the regional choir rehearsal in Columbia and someone from another stake turned to her friend and commented, "Who does she think she is?" Sitting next to her, I was stunned, as were others who heard her. In our experience you are the finest conductor we have sung with, that's why you were asked to conduct the regional choir, and weren't we all there to do our best? Augusta Stake choir people around her bristled and set her straight.

You saw potential in people that they probably did not know they had. We particularly appreciated the way you discovered people throughout the stake and gave them the opportunity to develop and perform. I was amazed when Sean, Cody, and Nathan sang and how great they sounded. Singing with you was worth every sacrifice it took to manage it. We were always excited to prepare for a performance. We realized that in preparation for a performance the details you worked on between rehearsals must have consumed you -- and your family. Thank you for your selfless service.

JaNice and Dennis Taylor