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Priscilla McGruder

Remembering Priscilla McGruder

I was deeply saddened to learn that Priscilla McGruder had won her courageous fight with cancer. It was long, and brave battle, but in the end, Priscilla was able to find her rest that she sang about for so many years.

There is no one in the gospel music industry that I have more respect for than Priscilla McGruder. No, she wasn’t the most technically sound singer to ever grace a stage, but she had more presence than any singer I know of. When she sang, you couldn’t help but believe in what she was singing about. Simply put, she was anointed. (I don’t use that word a lot, as I try to be careful who I call anointed) She sang not to the fans, but she sang to her Lord and Savior; the one she relentlessly pursued with her whole heart and soul. She could deliver a song like very few performers can and she could reach inside you and pull on every single one of your heartstrings and touch you, if you allow her to. She literally preached a sermon every time she stepped up to the microphone to sing. Though she sang with the authority of a lion, she had the gentle, quiet spirit of a lamb. She lived her life not to impress anyone, but only to bring joy and praise her Savior. She used every opportunity she was afforded to labor for Him.

When the McGruders burst on the scene back in the late 1980’s, a lot of people didn’t quite know how to take them. The best and only way to truly experience the McGruders was to experience them live and in concert. Other groups didn’t want to follow them on stage, because the McGruders were such an exciting group and the audiences experienced everything from total exhilaration and praise to unadulterated worship, that by the time the McGruders were done, the audience was done as well. Their live recordings were their best pieces of work, as you truly were able to hear and experience them in raw, unadulterated action. While Carroll’s songs where the backbone of their music, it was Priscilla (affectionately called “Lady” by Carroll), that was the heart and soul of the group.

No one could interpret a song quite like Priscilla McGruder. When watching or hearing her sing, you couldn’t help but become enthralled with the excitement of such songs as “I’m Going Home with Jesus”, “Way too Close to Turn and Go Back Now”, “I Forgive You”, “Stand on the Word” and “It’s Not Over ‘til it’s Over”. Also, when you hear her sing from her heart such songs as “Special”, “The Dearest Friend”, “Since He Gave my Life a New Start”, “I Go to the Master”, “A Vessel of Honor”, “Most of All” and “From Heaven’s Point of View”, I believe you were peeking into the very heart and soul of the Master. I know she was not a perfect person and I am not putting her up on some high pedestal, but I do believe with everything that is within me, that she walked so close to the Master that He used her to show us a glimpse of Who He is.

Her voice will be missed, but her song and her testimony live on. Only eternity will tell the impact she has made for the Kingdom.

Written by James Hales

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A special tribute to the Lady: Priscilla McGruder

What a journey! Priscilla was one of my most treasured friends! She had a positive impact on every person her life came in contact with!

There are the obvious things about her that everyone noticed…her ministry, her integrity, her love, her passion, her anointing, her ability to connect with people and her ability to make a person feel like they are the only person that matters in her world at that moment. Those are amazing traits that gave her a special insight into people’s lives, hearts and worlds. I learned from her every time we were together. I learned from her relationship with God. It was rich! She spent countless hours in prayer! Her ministry was not an accident! Her anointing was sought after, pleaded for, and bought with a price! I learned from her love for others! She genuinely cared about people, their pain, their triumph, their confusion, and their victory! Her care and concern showed! People recognized it and were drawn to it!

Those were the obvious things that made her special to me and others around the world!

But in our friendship what made her special was her laughter, her zest for life, her concern and her thoughtfulness! My husband and I have enjoyed traveling with Carroll and Priscilla to cities across the nation! We have eaten at incredible restaurants, enjoyed fabulous food, laughed until we couldn’t and shopped until we dropped in more cities than I could possibly list. She loved to shop as much as I did. She also loved a bargain as much as I do. We would race through our shopping spree and spend hours bragging to our husbands about how much money we saved them!

I want to share a story that Shawnee McGruder Trowbridge (Priscilla’s daughter) told to a small gathering for Priscilla’s private memorial service the week of her death. She said that during one of Priscilla’s chemotherapy treatments, Priscilla was alone in the treatment room. One of the nurses ran to get a colleague and asked her to come with her to Priscilla’s treatment room. Both health professionals entered Priscilla’s treatment room where they exchanged cordial remarks making sure she was comfortable. Upon exiting the room one of the nurses said “ Wow! What happened in that room? The hair on the back of my neck is standing up!” The other girl replied, “I have no idea! But it happens to me every time Priscilla is here! I just wanted to see if she had that affect on anyone else!” That is anointing! Even in the most mundane and somber moments of her life, her life touched others in a way they will never forget!

I am so thankful for the impact of Priscilla McGruder on my life and for her impact around the world! She was an incredible lady, a caring friend, had an amazing anointing, a compelling minister, a loving mother and a devoted wife!

I miss you Priscilla! Save me at seat near the throne!

Beverly McManus
Zion Music Group

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Reader Comments

   Anita ~ 07/09/2010

Thank you both for the wonderful words expressed regarding Priscilla. She was one of the sweetest individuals I ever met. Her influence on my life was powerful and I miss her terribly. I'm thankful I still have the gift of her voice that I can hear every day.

Also, I am in the process of attempting an ongoing tribute to Priscilla online. If you'd like to check out the start of that project, check out http://www.theladytribute.blogspot.com

I'd love to have more to post. If anyone would like to add their input, I'd love to post it.



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