The Appreciation Gospel Extravaganza will be held at 4pm on Sunday, Nov. 13 , at Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro. The event's theme is built around "Give me my flowers while I yet live" and will give the community an opportunity to come together and appreciate longtime resident, Robbie Porter, on this day. This event is the first of many and will be one to remember for Porter and her family.
Jac Johnson, the honoree's grandson and one of the concert's promoter, planned this event with his grandmother's music history in mind.
More about Robbie Porter
Mrs. Robbie Porter is a native of Statesboro and the wife of Mr. Corlise Porter. She is the mother of five daughters and one son. Mrs. Porter is an active member of Whitesville Full Gospel Worship Center under the leadership of Larry and Gwendolyn Jones. She has sung for more than 60 years in the Statesboro community and surrounding areas. She retired from singing due to her health.
She is well-known in the Statesboro area for being the past manager of a gospel singing group, The Calverrette Gospel Singers. This quartet group traveled and sang together for over 40 years. After that group dissolved, she formed a new group named Jac and the Almighty, which she managed for 15 years.
During her singing career, she has sung on stage with national recording artist, the late Willie Neal Johnson & Gospel Keynotes of Tyler, Texas. One of her favorite songs is "He Brought Me Joy," which was written by this group. At a local concert, he called Mrs. Porter to sing with him and the quartet group.
Other than singing, she was a lead cook at Franklin’s Restaurant.
“Everyone knows her as the dressing woman,” Johnson said. “People from different churches knew she could cook the best dressing in Statesboro.”
More details on the Gospel Extravaganza
Johnson said the theme of the event will be fitting for the honoree.
“We wanted to give her flowers while she is living,” Johnson said. “We’re honoring her, because you can be here today, gone tomorrow. We want people that know her to come out and appreciate her.”
This event will feature some gospel quartet groups such as The Chosen Vessels from Glennville, Tyrone and the Starlights from Sylvania, New Life Gospel Singers from Sylvania and more out of town gospel groups.
The headliner singing group of the night is recording artist Pastor Monte Maddox & Highly Favored from Montgomery, Alabama.
Admission is $12.00 and free for children eight and under. If you would like to purchase tickets prior to the event, please contact On-Time Fashions at 912-489-6823 or James R. Barnes Mortuary or 912-764-9742. For concert and ticket information, contact 678-926-4500.
