Choir History

The year was 1996 and Deacon Odell Bookert from Temple Zion Baptist Church and Deacon Washington Sumter, Jr. from New Hope Baptist Church realized a vision of Jubilee (shape note) singing and fellowshipping. Birthed from this vision was a unified choir from many different churches in Columbia. This choir would be tasked with the responsibility of promoting this assembly and enhancing individual Christian walks through the praise and songs of God’s word.

These two leaders set about launching this plan by teaching shape notes to the choir attendees. As a result of their efforts a dedicated choir was formed and named “The City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union Special.” The choir quickly gained recognition in Columbia. They received an invitation to sing at the Arlington Manor Senior Home where Chief Charles Austin, City of Columbia Police Department, was the guest speaker.

February 1999, the choir was a guest at a Black History Celebration at Haskell Heights Progressive Baptist Church. In October 1999, the choir appeared at the McKissick Museum in the Fall Folklore Festival.

On February 17, 2001, the choir held its first concert at Temple Zion Baptist Church. Zion Chapel Baptist Church #1 Jubilee Choir and Little Zion Jubilee Choir were guest choirs. On February 24, 2001, the choir was invited to a Black History program at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park for the City of Columbia Housing Authority where Pastor Makupson was the speaker. The choir once again visited and performed at the Arlington Manor Senior Home on April 16, 2001.

The choir continued to develop under the guidance of Deacons Bookert and Sumter but on March 23, 2003, the choir mourned the passing of Deacon Washington Sumter, Jr. Deacon Bookert had the skills and knowledge to continue cultivating the choir and elevating it to unsurmountable heights. The choir enjoyed much success appreciation.

On August 11, 2016, the City Baptist Choir Union (CBJCU) was overcome by the news of the ultimate death of our beloved Deacon Odell Bookert. Deacon Bookert was a dedicated, committed, and long-term member claiming more than 30 years of service to the CBJCU. His meticulous service to this unique ministry is unsurpassed by any other choirmaster in this local area and was one of the few remaining Choirmasters of “Shape Note Singing.” He also was one of the originators, director, and leader of the Special Choir.

Deacon Bookert had a passion for “Shape Note Singing” and over the years he taught this style of Jubilee Singing to numerous church choirs throughout the local area. He subscribed to the “Great Commission” and imprinted a litany of spiritual tasks.

The City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union Special is continuing the legacy left to us by Deacon Odell Bookert and Deacon Washington Sumter, Jr. God has been and is faithful to this ministry. We have been blessed that God sent us another dynamic Shape Note teacher, Sis. Claudia Williams, a member of Brookland Baptist Church. In addition, we have two choir leaders, Bro. Robert Richardson, and Sis. Naomi Samuel. There are 30 choir members on our roster representing 16 churches.

Since the beginning of this ministry, we have been a visible presence in the community, and we continue to have an imminent certainty.

During the years 2015-2020 specifically in February, the City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union Special participated in an annual event at Benedict College Black History Jubilee Choirs Sing Out. This activity provides an opportunity for local churches to fellowship (meet & greet), and to highlight their signature Jubilee songs, gospel songs, and hymns which has become one of our annual highlighted events. We did not participate in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic but we wholly expect that God will allow us to participate in this activity in the future.

On Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 9 am-3 pm that was sponsored by the City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union (CBJCU). This clinic was held at Second Nazareth Baptist Church, where Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Noble is the pastor, located at 2300 Elmwood Ave. Columbia, SC 29204. The presenters were Dr. Ronald H. High, Master Teacher of Voice, Sis. Claudia Williams, leader, and director of the Jubilee Choir of Brookland Baptist Church and Sis. Luevera Caesar, former choir leader of Brookland Baptist Jubilee Choir.

In October of 2017, Sis. Williams assumed the position as interim choir director and agreed to work with the City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union Special on an as-needed basis.

The choir had an opportunity in 2017 and 2018 to visit the Springfield Shape Note Singing Convention and a workshop. The Springfield choirs tend to be thought of as an equivalent of the mecca of Shape Note Singing in South Carolina.

In the Spring of 2018 Sis. Williams and Sis. Samuel pursued and received the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative Grant from South Carolina Arts Commission for the 2019 fiscal year covering the period from July 1, 2018, thru June 30, 2019. The focus of this project is African American Jubilee Singing Traditions with Mrs. Williams operating as the Master Artist and Mrs. Samuel as the Apprentice.

This support will allow the recipients the opportunity to promote the tradition of “Shape Note and Jubilee Singing” by facilitating the teaching and training of the notes and related subjects.

City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union Special continue to pursue the task that has been set before them; “keeping the art of Shape Note and Jubilee Singing alive.” We came into our calendar year in October 2018 with a permanent director, Sis. Claudia Williams accepted the position as Director of our choir.

Under the direction of our director, Sis. Claudia Williams, the choir hosted their 1^st Jubilee concert, since 2001, at Second Nazareth Baptist Church on Saturday, October 20, 2018. This was a great opportunity for the choir to come together as a group and “flex our muscles.”

We participated in several events in the year 2019. On Saturday, February 23, 2019, the Special Choir rendered several selections at a Black History Month Program hosted by St. Paul AME Church located at 835 Kennerly Road Irmo, SC 29063.

The Special Choir accepted an invitation to render two selections at the C. A. Johnson High School 70th Year Celebration on September 29, 2019.

As a recipient of the 2018-19 Folk Heritage Award; as well as Folklife & Traditional Arts grants, October brought on a flurry of activity and a busy atmosphere. Sisters Williams and Samuel were tasked with the opportunity to share Shape Note Singing on October 16, 2019, with a diverse group of State Fair attendees at the “FOLKFabulous@theFair.” This event is sponsored annually by the SC Arts Commission at the SC State Fair.

The Lourie Center held its 2019 Fall Festival on Friday, October 4, 2019. This annual festival is a fun and informative senior wellness expo and members of the Special Choir attended.

Once again, the Special Choir is appreciative of an engagement to sing at St. Paul AME Church, on December 15, 2019, at 5 pm during their “multicultural” Christmas program. Sisters Claudia and Naomi accept an invitation from Jemme Stewart and Hilda White members of Trinity Episcopal Church to join them on March 12, 2020, for the service of Compline. Compline is an opportunity to give thanks for the joys and graces experienced; a chance to confess the sins committed throughout the day. It is a service that is only offered during the seasons of Lent and Advent at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

The year 2020 would become a memorable year, a time of extreme political unrest and the invasion of the deadly Coronavirus. We would soon be thrust into a “virtual” world. Social distancing (6ft.), wearing face masks and face shields, and being subjected to extended periods of imposed confinement. The death rate climbed to a preposterous number exceeding half a million worldwide by April 30, 2021.

Our director, Sis. Claudia Williams prayed and brainstormed ways that the choir could stay connected while being separated. In April of 2020, we ventured into the computer-generated world of shape-note study. These sessions are held bi-weekly and open to members of the Special Choir, the Union, and any interested person without affiliation.

Choir rehearsals and all related activities shut down around mid-March 2020, the rapidly spreading, extremely contagious virus had taken hold of this nation. With each passing day, week, and month uncertainty hung in the air as to the resilience of the Union. With many payers and faith, God revealed Hebrews 10: 23-25. So, on March 14, 2021, the City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union hosted our first virtual Union session. Our guest speaker was Rev. Fletcher Tucker, Assoc. Minister at Zion Baptist Church. God’s Grace Jubilee Singers and the Special Choir rendered the music. We had a great participation of approximately 40-50 registrants. We held our second session on April 11, 2021, where Rev. Dr. Cynthia Walters, Assoc. Minister at Zion Baptist Church was our guest speaker. Music was rendered by the same choirs.

As we move forward, we anticipate this same monthly arrangement until God allows us to return to a more physical fellowship.

We thank God for all that He has allowed this ministry to accomplish under His cover, much prayer, and faith. We thank Dr. Benita Allene Esteen for all her technical advice and for facilitating our sessions using the zoom format. We thank Sisters Claudia Williams and Naomi Samuel for their inspiration, motivation, and endless work to encourage the “Shape Note Singing.”

“The City Baptist Jubilee Choir Union Special” is a legacy of Jubilee Shape Note Singing.