Dr. Florence Marie Madison Stith

Dr. Florence Stith, 92, of Covert, went to be with her Lord on Monday, June 10, 2013. Dr. Florence Marie Madison Stith, organist, pianist, cellist, conductor, composer, arranger and teacher of organ, piano, harmony and theory was the only daughter of the late Roger and Beatrice Madison. Florence was born and reared in Anderson, Indiana. She was the oldest child of a musically gifted father and mother...beginning her musical training from them. By her early teens, she possessed a wealth of versatility which opened many doors for her as an excellent instrumentalist and accompanist. At the Anderson College of God Theological Seminary and Musical College, which is now known as Anderson University, she began her professional studies with the eminent Professor Cecil Hartselle, who “spotlighted” her into many featured concerts where no other African-American Student would be considered in those times.

Leaving Indiana and settling in Chicago, Illinois, she traveled a short time with the Edward Lango Jubilee Singers, gaining a wealth of evangelistic and spiritual experience.

After leaving the Jubilee Singers, she enrolled in the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University to complete her education, with pipe organ and church music being her primary majors. The eminent Dr. Robert Reuter was her mentor. She also began to work with several churches in Chicago as an organist and with her extraordinary skills, techniques, dependability, and musical sensitivity, she subsequently was hired at the Greater Bethesda Baptist Church...first, as organist and later as choir master, playing the pipe organ and directing the renowned sanctuary choir.

As director and organist, Florence was able to provide quality leadership in the tradition of their former choirmasters. Under her baton, the sanctuary choir performed many choral works, such as Haydn’s “The Creation”; Michael Tippett’s “AChild of Our Time”; Mendelssohn’s “Saint Paul”; Schubert’s “Mass in G”; Bach’s “Motet Mount of Olives”; Gaither’s “Alleluia A Gathering of Praise”; and annually, Handel’s “Messiah” with professional soloists and orchestra. The sanctuary choir was also known for their “Outstanding and Exciting” renditions and interpretations of their singing of Negro spirituals under her direction, especially receiving plaudits at the national Baptist congress when it met in Detroit in 1991.

Florence also shared her talents with other choral and chamber groups. She was the director of the distinguished chorus – The Choral Silhouettes. She was always in demand to accompany singers – concert and operatic. In addition to all of these accomplishments, she operated the Flo-Mar Piano and Organ Studio where she taught all age groups, focusing on the broadening of their musicianship in piano, organ, harmony, and theory.

She received many honors, a myriad of newspaper reviews and feature stories. She held several offices with both regional and national music organizations. Two of her distinguished honors were an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from the McKinley Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi and a Doctorate of Church Music from the Gospel Theological Institute in Houston, Texas.

Florence was affiliated with many organizations, including the National Association of Negro Musicians, INC.; the Chicago MJSIC Association; The American Guild of Organists; the Chicago Club of Women Organists; The American Choral Director’s Association; The Illinois and National Music Teachers Association; MU Phi Epsilon Sorority; The Lakeview Musical Society; the Monday Music Club, Inc. of St. Joseph, Michigan, and a life member of the American Federation of Musicians-Local 10-208.

Florence was the wife of the late Marshall F. Stith, Former chairperson of the building fund committee and usher at the Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church of Covert, Michigan. They were the parents of the late Marshall W. Stith who was the assistant conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogota, Colombia, and grandparents of one grandson – Marshall A Campo de Stith, also deceased.

Dr. Florence Madison Stith was a dedicated Christian, sharing her talents with dedication, humility, and love. She was a phenomenal woman as written by the Testimonial Presentation Committee at the “Dr. Florence Madison Stith Day” celebration in 1995 in Chicago, Illinois.

She leaves to mourn her passing, three sisters in law, three brothers in law, several nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends.