An endowment fund at the Scott County Community Foundation honors the legacy of longtime musician Mary Ellen Graham.
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15: 5-6
For over 56 years, Mary Ellen Kimmick Graham played the piano for preludes, offertories, cantatas, benedictions, and doxologies at the Scottsburg United Methodist Church (SUMC) along with an unnumbered number of funerals, weddings, and special occasion services.
She was an icon in the music field, with the church moving the First and Kerton Street location to the Honeyrun Parkway facility, which was built in 1976. She was also the accompanist for the Scottsburg High School Show Choir for 30 years and has taught private piano lessons to many students during her career. Her expertise and talent have provided a tremendous benefit to the church and to the Scott County community.
Mary Ellen played clarinet in the high school band, and it was her clarinet playing that got her a full ride scholarship to Butler University. She was also the head majorette for the band and graduated from Scottsburg High School with the Class of 1959. She could really do spectacular things twirling her batons high up in the air. After college, she worked for the mobile home sales at GM Mobile Manor while attending to the needs of her young family.
“She could drive anything from a Lincoln Continental to a Volkswagen bug and even a GMC panel van,” said her son, Billy Chris Graham. “She was not afraid of driving a car with a manual transmission either. This was probably because she was raised by Chris Kimmick on a farm which had at least two tractors,” he added.
Upon her recent retirement at SUMC, she was honored for her years of service as the pianist. It was with great pleasure that she accepted the offer and opportunity to keep her musical journey alive for many years to come by renaming an endowment fund at the Scott County Community Foundation to include her name.
“She ministered more to me than I did for her,” said former pastor Doug Wallace. “She was always on time, showing up early every Sunday before the regular service began, which was a token of appreciation to those who entered the doors early.”
“She was always giving our congregation members a fresh perspective on the satisfying musical abilities of her liking which helped maintain a flowing worship spirit in our church program,” he continued.
The endowment contributions from many, given in her honor, and the support from the Community Foundation, will be able to offer the church and community advancements in the spirit of musical support for many years. Annual grants from the endowment, named SUMC Music Fund – Kathy Nicholson/Mary Ellen Graham, will be managed and directed by the SUMC Worship Committee. With this support of her kindness and generosity, the church will be able to fulfill their motto, “Sharing Christ’s love through acts of service.”
Donations to this endowment fund are currently being matched fifty cents for every dollar contributed, up to $5,000. Contributions may be made online at www.scottcountyfoundation.org, or by mailing to Scott County Community Foundation, PO Box 25; Scottsburg, IN 47170. You may also stop in the office at 60 N. Main St., Scottsburg.
