George Beverly Shea Gives His 100th Birthday Gift to Angola Prison

by Teresa Neumann : Nov 12, 2009 : Marilyn Stewart - Baptist News

"The familiar voice of George Beverly Shea, still rich at 100 years of age, filled the prison chapel with the old redemption story that radically changes lives. Every eye in the 800-seat room at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola was on him."

(Angola, Louisiana)—In October, 100-year-old George Beverly Shea traveled to the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola where he delivered a special gift; a Rodgers 3 manual draw knob organ he had received in honor of his 100th birthday on Feb. 1.

As reported in Baptist Press, when Franklin Graham presented the organ to Shea at his 100th birthday party, he told him the organ one day would be given to the prison. (Photo: BPNews)

"Franklin said the organ would be mine as long as I'm alive," Shea told the crowd at the prison. "But every night, on my pillow, I would think about it."

Shea was also quoted as telling the crowd he decided to go ahead and give the organ to the prison chapel because he didn't want to miss out on the joy of giving it away.

According to the report, inmates who are trained musicians will play the instrument during worship services at Tudy Chapel, the largest of five chapels in the different units making up the penitentiary.

"It is an honor to sit behind the Rodgers organ," inmate Gary Landry said. "It is like sitting in the seat of a Mercedes car. It is the top of the line."

"The fact that the organ was given by the legendary George Beverly Shea whom I loved and followed as a youth is very surreal," inmate Wayne Guidry said. "It is an honor to play an instrument that is one of the most well-made and most expensive instruments that I will ever lay my hands on."

   

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