The End of An Era

Written By: Stell Huie, Highlands First Presbyterian Church | Issue: August 2024

Angie Jenkins

If you’ve attended services there at any time during the past 58 years, then you have been blessed by Angie Jenkins’ sensitive and skillful piano and organ playing. After serving her church for so many years as organist and pianist, seventh-generation Highlander Angie Jenkins played her final service at the church this past Sunday.

A fourth-generation member of the church, Angie is the longest tenured Organist and Pianist in the history of Highlands area churches and probably in all of Western North Carolina.

Angie 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’s been such a joy to serve the Lord in this way,” she 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.”

Angie’s teachers were: first, her paternal grandmother, Mrs. Lizette B. Lewis of Raleigh, who was a church organist; and the former organists of First Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Edwina Summer and Mrs. Mary Dupree, were her teachers through high school graduation.

Angie 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. Dedicated on Feb. 4, 2004, the organ’s “Cymbelstern” stop was dedicated in honor of Angie.

In addition to serving as Organist and Pianist, Angie also serves as “Director of Music Ministry” at the church. In this position, she oversees every aspect of the church’s extensive music ministry.

Angie 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.

(Editor’s Note: I’d like to mention Angie’s effect upon my son Alex and generations of Highlands-Cashiers kids. Miss Angie brought her music and her boundless enthusiasm to the children of HCCDC, Wilma Gordon’s Preschool, and the Great Beginnings Program at Highlands School. Those early lessons had a profound effect upon Alex and kindled within him a lifelong passion for piano, stringed instruments, and brass.)