Celebration of Life of Gideon Fryer

Laurel Theater
Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee
Saturday, April 4, 2015

Minutes of the singing that opened the Celebration of the Life of Gideon Willis Fryer 1921–2014 at the Laurel Theater, Knoxville TN, April 4th, 2015.

107, Holy Manna - Tina Becker
53b, Dundee
85, Greenland - Claudia Dean
35, Ninety-Fifth - Chaz Barber
20b, Hebron - Bruce Wheeler
117, Coronation - Kathleen Mavournin
94, Devizes - Nancy Fryer
181, Boylston - Nancy Olsen
98, Liberty - Dave Backer
112, Humility - Joe Finucane
115, Northfield - Bob Richmond
143, Wondrous Love - Drew Foster

Gid Fryer was the retired founder of the school of social work at the University of Tennessee, a tireless community activist and organizer, and of course a shape note singer. As part of the dedication ceremony, the intersection of Laurel and 16th Streets (where the Laurel Theater is) was officially designated "Gideon Fryer Square", complete with a caricature of him in his signature black beret. Here's the sign on my Flickr Web site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrichmond/17044568621/ (Does anyone know who the artist was?)

Minutes by Bob Richmond.