Angie Jenkins
Angie Jenkins was honored by Highlands First Presbyterian Church on Sunday June 30. If you have attended services there at any time during the past 58 years, then you have been blessed by Jenkins’ skillful piano and organ playing. After serving her church for so many years as Organist and Pianist, seventh generation Highlander, Jenkins played her final service at the church this past Sunday.
A fourth-generation member of the church, Jenkins is the longest tenured organist and pianist in the history of Highlands area churches and possibly in all of Western North Carolina.
Jenkins began her musical involvement at the church by joining the adult choir at age eight. That same year, she began playing the piano for Sunday School each week.
“It has been such a joy to serve the Lord in this way,” Jenkins said. “I have had the opportunity to work with 16 wonderful ministers and 13 choir directors during my 58-year tenure, all of whom have become lifelong friends. I have had the opportunity to play our beautiful Wicks pipe organ for two decades. I am so grateful to the ministers, as well as to the members of the congregation for their love and support through the years. I have been so blessed.”
Jenkins teachers were, first, her paternal grandmother, Mrs. Lizette B. Lewis of Raleigh, who was a church organist. Former organists of First Presbyterian Church, Edwina Summer and Mary Dupree were her teachers through high school graduation.
Jenkins became the official church pianist at age 12. When she became assistant organist at age 14, she first played the Hammond electric organ. In 1981, the Hammond was replaced by an Allen organ. Then in 2004, a two manual 16 rank pipe organ took the Allen organ’s place. The pipe organ was built by the Wicks Organ Company in Highland, Illinois. Angie had the opportunity to visit the organ factory on two occasions while the organ was being built. Dedicated on Feb. 4, 2004, the organ’s “Cymbelstern” stop was dedicated in honor of Angie.
In addition to serving as organist and pianist, Jenkins also serves as “Director of Music Ministry” at the church. In this position, she oversees every aspect of the church’s extensive music ministry. She plans to continue in her role as “Director of Music Ministry” at the church and will be very visible as she continues directing the church’s extensive music ministry.
“As Chairman of the Music Committee at First Presbyterian Church, I want to express my extreme gratitude to Angie for faithfully dedicating her extraordinary talents to the First Presbyterian Church of Highlands for so many years,” music committee chair Stell Huie said.