Neil Shorthouse introduced Ms. Judith Fuller, formerly a 15-year case manager with the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services and a former AWER member. In one of the club’s most unusual and moving programs, Judith and four members of A Threshold Choir demonstrated and explained the choir’s work.
The Threshold Choir is a volunteer organization that provides comfort through song to individuals at the end of life. It is a network of approximately 200 choirs worldwide that sing at bedsides in hospices, hospitals, nursing homes, and private residences. The Atlanta chapter, known as Voices of Love – A Threshold Choir, was established in March 2010 and currently has 15 to 18 active members. The presentation included a live demonstration of their gentle, harmonious singing, explanations of their mission and methodology, and personal stories from choir members about what drew them to this meaningful service. The first Threshold Choir was founded in March 2000 in El Cerrito, California, by Kate Munger.
Neil shared a memorable story that reflected Judith’s characteristic determination. After retiring from DFCS, she enrolled in law school. In her senior year, her roommate was invited to tour and interview with a top Atlanta law firm, while Judith was not, as her class ranking did not qualify her. Refusing to be excluded, she attended anyway—“crashing” the tour—and ultimately became the only person hired by the firm, despite being technically ineligible for consideration.
The Threshold Choir provides free, non-religious bedside singing to dying individuals and their families throughout metro Atlanta. Key aspects of their service include:
- Regular visits to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Hospice and Harbor Grace Hospice.
- Singing softly in harmony without accompaniment, using hand signals for silent coordination and real-time adjustment to each situation.
- Serving three groups simultaneously — the dying person, their family and friends, and the choir members themselves.
- Rehearsing twice monthly on the first and third Thursdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Emory Presbyterian Church.
- Supporting related end-of-life services, with several members also working as doulas or conscious dying coaches.
- Singing that is fully improvised and responsive to the atmosphere in the room, guided by the needs of those present.
- Sessions typically lasting about 20 minutes.
- No religious affiliation, with songs that are original and copyrighted, focusing on universal themes of peace, spirit, and journey.
Judith shared that her own inspiration for joining the Threshold Choir came from a deeply personal experience in 2005 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where her stepfather was dying. She arrived at his bedside wishing she had music for him. A harpist unexpectedly appeared, played for about 30 minutes, and left just as a priest arrived to perform last rites. Her stepfather took his final breath immediately after the priest said “Amen.” When Judith later thanked the nurses for sending the harpist, none knew who the musician was. She described it as a miraculous moment that inspired her eventual leadership with Voices of Love – The Threshold Choir in Atlanta.
For those interested in learning more or requesting services, bedside singing can be arranged by emailing Rose Watkins and Judith Fuller at RequestVOL@thresholdchoir.org or Susan Patterson at VoicesOfLove@thresholdchoir.org . Additional information about the international Threshold Choir network, including recordings and choir locations, can be found at thresholdchoir.org. Judith’s related end-of-life doula work is featured at bluesparrowdoula.com.
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Jared Evans and Neil Shorthouse, KeyWay Speaker Reporters
We’re thrilled to spotlight one of our very own this week in our Member Showcase series! Join us as Leo Chancey, a dedicated Rotarian and committed public servant, shares his classification talk at our upcoming Friday meeting.