Jackie Myers, a musician who lives in Nashville and sings gospel with The Voices of Clarksville, often stands before audiences in modern church sanctuaries and big civic halls.
Saturday was different. Her group drove up to Hopkinsville and stepped into the Original Church of God, a small wood-frame building on Younglove Street surrounded by old houses.
When the church filled up and the music started, Myers experienced something genuine and moving. Something she doesn’t always feel in the same way at larger or more polished settings.
“I could feel the spirit in here tonight,” she said.
Members of The Voices of Clarksville, along with the Bronaugh Brothers and the Garland Family, were among a dozen or so singers, keyboard players, drummers and guitarists who played for the service that kicked off a fundraiser to honor the memory of another musician.
Kenneth Bates, who died at age 71 in February 2023 at his Hopkinsville home, was a deacon and organist for Original Church of God.
“He was an icon. He was Hopkinsville all over,” Bates’ cousin Willie Canty said shortly after his death.
Bates, a former county magistrate and president of the local NAACP chapter, is buried at Cave Springs Cemetery. He does not have a grave marker. One son who survives is disabled and lives out of state, so friends are raising money to buy a headstone for Bates.
A highly regarded musician, Bates produced and hosted gospel music radio programs for more than 40 years. His programs ran on WHOP and WNKJ in Hopkinsville and WEKT in Elkton.
“I was totally honored to do this for Kenneth,” the church pastor, Bonnie Wisdom, said.
A collection taken during the service brought the fund up to roughly $1,400.
“That’s a good start,” said Canty, who oversees the effort.
Canty said the church will need at least $2,000 for a headstone. A nicer one would cost around $5,000.
The fundraising group will continue to accept donations until June 15. At that time, they will make a decision on a marker, and if they have any money left over it will be donated to a cause Bates would have appreciated, said Canty. This could include the Missionary Radio station based in Hopkinsville or the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation.
Donors who want to support the effort may send donations to Original Church of God, P.O. Box 794, Hopkinsville, KY 42241. Additional information is available by contacting Canty at 270-985-8559.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
