A TRIBUTE TO MY SISTER

A TRIBUTE TO MY SISTER, SUSAN ELIZABETH BLAIR HOLLISTER,

07.03.1948 – 09.05.2024

May she rest in eternal peace and may light perpetual shine upon her. Amen.

By Margot Blair Payne, 10.09.2024

Where do you turn, after you lose a loved one and you seek comfort? I turn to Sacred Choral Music, which has connected the Blair Family generations, down through the decades:

In the 1940’s, our Blair parents met in the Guilford College Choir, where they sang Sacred Choral Music, including The Messiah Oratorio. For the next 45 years, they sang Sacred Choral Music, in various AFB Chapel Choirs: The Oratorio was the annual Advent highlight.

In the early 1960’s, Susan and I attended the Oratorio, whenever our parents sang in the Chorus. Susan and I often shared our memories of those evenings: Imagine the scene, if you will, as we stepped out of the dark, cold, winter night air and entered the warm and light-filled interior of the Sacred Space of the Sanctuary. Imagine the ambiance: the fragrance of the evergreen wreaths, garlands, and Christmas tree; the accent colors: wide, burgundy velvet ribbons and bows; white twinkling lights; and the radiant glow of candlelight, illuminating the translucent jewel colors of the stained-glass windows. Against that background, imagine the conductor, soloists, musicians, and members of the chorus: each decked out in dressy evening wear.

When the music and lyrics of the Oratorio began, earth and heaven seemed to intersect, in a glorious harmony of voices and instruments. Susan, always sensitive to beauty, agreed that those evenings had been sublime and transcendent.

In the early 1960’s, Susan and I both sang alto, in the Choir. Here are her own words, from a saved email:

“Yes! We both sang in the Chapel Youth Choir. I remember sitting in the Choir section, at the front of the Chapel. I remember the outdoor Easter Sunday Sunrise Service. It was glorious and reminded me of sunrise over the Grand Canyon.”

Alan & Susan met in the Guilford College Choir, in the late 1960’s, where they both sang in the Chorus of the Oratorio. The director recorded one of those performances onto LP records. Susan gave a copy to me, and I repeatedly listened to it, trying to pick out the alto line, just like Mom and Susan.

I wrote Susan a letter and asked her: “From what source do the words come?” She wrote me a reply letter, in which she included a list of the 53 selection titles, paired with each corresponding Scripture reference.

Thus, Susan introduced me to a life-long study of the both the text and the music of the Oratorio.

I was not able to attend Guilford College and join the Choir. I had to teach myself the Oratorio: I purchased a music score, a recording of The Complete Oratorio, and an alto-predominant recording of the Choruses.

Every Advent, for decades, I participated in the Annual Messiah Sing-Along. I walked up the steps of the Church, in the dark, cold winter air, and entered the warm, light-filled interior Sacred Space of the Sanctuary. [Sound familiar?]

Yes; the elements of those past evenings, with Susan, were present: the aromas, sounds, and sights. Add in the console of a pipe organ, connected to the pipes of various shiny, bright metallic colors, on display front and center, behind and above the Altar.

I saw the evening, through Susan’s eyes: she would have been enchanted and delighted, as I was, at the sense of going back in time.

Every Choral Singer at the Sing-Along, regardless of religious affiliation [or none] was thrilled to gather and sing highlights from the Oratorio, in glorious four-part harmony. When we heard the first bars of the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus, we each rose to our feet and, in one accord, launched into the Chorus. By the time our voices had soared through the majestic Worthy Is the Lamb, and the final Amen, a state of euphoria had descended upon us.

This is the power of the Oratorio: it transcends all differences and creates a community of souls, united in one purpose.

As I studied the text, I was able to follow the arc of the story and to recognize the flow of The Grand Narrative of Redemption. The Complete Oratorio, 2.5 hours from beginning to end, is a “great cosmic drama, which transcends both time and space.” [www.handelmessiahsydney.org]

People ask me why, after 50 years in FL, did we move to TN? I always keep my answer short and simple: “Heat, Humidity, and Hurricanes.” But the truth is that, after Susan’s diagnosis, I yearned to live closer to each of my sisters: Susan, in NC, and Amy, in SC. We moved to TN, in 2020, during the pandemic. My sister, Amy, and I had to wait until June 2021, before we could visit Susan. How joyous was that reunion! Thereafter, Amy and I visited Susan every four months: [10 visits, in four years.] We grieved, as FTD insidiously crept in and stole away her abilities. There came the inevitable day, when there were no more words from Susan.

I yearned to, once again, hear her voice, so I searched for and found the emails that I had saved. Here, again, are her own words:

Dear Margot,

This morning, I woke up thinking of you and your surgery tomorrow. At the same time, the words to a hymn came into my mind. I realized it was the Universal Blessing that we sang every Sunday morning, in the Chapels: Our parents’ voices floated in, Mom with the altos, Dad coming in with the tenors. And I knew those were the words I wanted to send to you:

 “The Lord bless you and keep you,

The Lord make His face to shine upon you,

And be gracious unto you,

The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.

Amen.”

 With love and blessings,

Susan

I received those words, as a Benediction from Susan, which I now bestow upon you.

I will always miss the physical presence of my sister, Susan. I miss her voice, words, and soul. Yet, when I turn again to Sacred Choral Music, especially the Messiah Oratorio, I find comfort and a connection to my sister that transcends both time and space.

In closing, I offer this prayer, from the Book of Common Prayer:

You only are immortal, the creator and maker of humankind;

and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return.

For so did you ordain, when you created us, saying,

“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave, we make our song:

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.” Amen.