DAILY MAIL STAFF
The first hymn Ruth Anna Perry ever played in front of a churchcongregation was "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
And what a friend Perry has been for the past 50 years.
She started playing the piano for churches as an 11 year old, andshe's never stopped. By now, the faithful pianist has played themall: "How Great Thou Art," "The Old Rugged Cross" and hundreds more.
The years of musical service have been her way of paying herparents back for the sacrifices they made so she could learn toplay. Her playing has also been a way to honor the memory of hersinging father.
Along the way, Perry has played at many an area church - theSoutheast Church of the Nazarene, Capital View Church of theNazarene, Valley Grove Church of the Nazarene, Elk River Church ofthe Nazarene, Dunbar Church of the Nazarene, and, most recently,South Hills Church of the Nazarene.
"It's about time to take a back seat, don't you think?" Perry, aCharleston resident, said this week. "Let someone else do it."
But chances are, Perry will keep on playing. It's in her blood.
Her father, Harry C. Shock, was a tenor who sang at area churchesand revivals. If someone requested a song, Shock's family recalled,he would drop whatever he was doing to oblige.
"He loved to sing better than he loved to eat," said Edna Poole,Perry's sister. "If anyone called him, he was there. He'd say, 'I'mawfully tired, but let me get my clothes changed.'"
As a young boy, the family stories say, Shock would stop onstreet corners to sing just because he loved to. People passing bywould give him nickels. But the young boy faced punishment.
"He said his dad would whip him all the way home," Poole said.
When Perry showed an interest in the piano around age 6, herparents encouraged her. With six children in their Kanawha Cityhome, her parents had to sacrifice to let her take lessons.
"I felt like they were taking their money they could have usedfor something else to help me," she said.
But Perry paid her parents back, in a way.
When her father would sing in churches, Perry would play thepiano to accompany him. On the way home, she recalled fondly, theywould often stop for a milkshake.
"My dad wanted me to take the lessons," she said. "He wantedsomeone to play with him."
She started playing at her family's church when she was 11. Itwas a long time ago, but Perry believed the church's regular pianoplayer must have either moved or been gone during the occasion.
Perry is sure she played "What a Friend We Have in Jesus,"though. She chose that hymn because it is relatively simple.
"I'm sure I was real nervous the first time I had to play," shesaid. "I still get nervous certain times if it's something big."
Perry, 61, has played not only the piano and the organ at churchservices, but also at countless weddings and funerals. She receivespraise for her skill and knowledge.
"They don't come any better," said Minnie Turley, who worked withPerry when Turley was the choir director at Dunbar Church of theNazarene. "If she hears it, she can play it. She's just a natural."
Turley often filled in as the church choir director during timeswhen there was no regular director. She said Perry helped her withreading music and getting the timing right.
"Ruth Anna really helped me or I never would have gotten throughit," said Turley, who has been a member of Dunbar Church of theNazarene for 67 years.
Perry, who works for the Public Employees Insurance Agency, isthinking of retiring soon and spending more time traveling. But onSundays, she'll probably be perched at the church keyboard.
After all, why waste 50 years of lessons?
"You learn by practicing," she said. "I've had lots of practice."
Writer Brad McElhinny can be reached at 348-1244.
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