Comments on: About Shannon Childress

By: Marcy & SongMasters

Marcy & SongMasters — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:02:16 +0000

My dear long time friends,
Just learned of Shannon’s passing. This note sends our love and prayers for you during these coming days. The last time we saw Shannon was at Madisonville Baptist Temple when he was still small, but we kept tabs on him from Gospel News Magazines. He will be missed, but his talent and love for the Lord will never fade. God Bless you and all the family at this time.

By: phillip davenport

phillip davenport — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:11:40 +0000

it has been said of past christian brethren of whom had also great musical talent that our Father needed them up there to teach the angels how to sing amazing grace. Shannon is now among those that has blessed many .thank you for giving to the Lord I’m a life thats been changed forever by a servant. phillip

By: Butch Wright

Butch Wright — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:36:24 +0000

Rest In Peace Shannon - We will miss you!

By: Robert Griffith

Robert Griffith — Fri, 13 May 2011 06:39:56 +0000

My Buddy Shannon,

Is near seeing the Father face to face. Absent from the body. I’m sitting at a desk in a hotel in Secaucus, NJ thinking about my friend. On the way here, I was driving along, listening to some of the songs that Shannon and I have been inspired of The Almighty to write over the years. I’ve only just listened to the song written by our dear friend, George Lewis, “When He Comes Down” and wept. Crying because I love Shannon. Crying because I already miss him and he’s not gone quite yet. Crying because George just wrote me last night to ask me to give him a report on how Shannon is doing and we both know it’s not good. Crying because of all of the wonderful memories that were and all of those that I miss that cannot be in this life.

Thank you for the wonderful tribute to our friend. You have nailed it. I only wish Shannon were well enough to read and understand how his life has been an encouragement to you, me, my family and so many others.

I saw him at his house last week. We laughed about so many things. He was moving a little slowly. He couldn’t get up and his speech was slurred… but, we laughed. We remembered… The Hoppers have just recorded a song that he and I wrote several years ago… “Mighty Is The Word”. I wish I had time to tell everyone how that song came to be… he came to the studio in Nashville the other day while they were putting the finishing touches on the song, leaning on a cane, just to say hello to The Hoppers and let them know he loved them and appreciated them recording the song. I arrived into town and got to the studio a few hours after he was there. I wouldn’t have wanted to share his time with them anyway. I know it was perfect.

I just don’t know how to deal with this. I love The Creator. I love Shannon. The Father does all things well. I trust Him.

It’s so interesting that, really, Shannon and I and my family have shared nearly everything together and yet, he has not mentioned his mortality to me. He called me and my family on Thanksgiving 2009… he was crying, he told me that he had cancer… he and Patti and I prayed together and cried together… he has kept me up to date with all of his treatments… but he’s never spoken of anything that included his mortality. I can talk to Shannon about anything… everything… but, there’s no way I could bring that up. I wanted to know how he felt… I mean, we could talk about how we felt about everything… we put all our feelings into verse and The Father allowed us to write them into song to encourage others… but, I couldn’t talk to him about dying. I knew he wasn’t willing to confess to that and that is ok… my dad always said, “dying, is a one man job… ” I don’t know how I would act or react should I find that my time was near. I certainly won’t legislate how my buddy goes about it. I will say though that, I love him… I hurt for his family… I hurt for my family because Shannon Childress is a part of my family. I pray that The Father allows me to be at his memorial service… for me, for my family… for his mother Marlene, his sisters, Theresa and Carla and his father… just to say, thank you. I love you, my family loves you and we will always love Shannon… and look forward to seeing him again.

Thanks for listening and praying with The Griffiths for strength for our buddy Shannon and his family during these days…

Blessings,
Robert

By: Sonda Leonard

Sonda Leonard — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:55:13 +0000

Thank you, Doug, for writing such a strikingly accurate portrait of a man who is, for all intents and purposes, a musical genius. Most people don’t know this about Shannon. They might have heard him play solid, supportive piano and sing the sweetest bass line I’ve ever heard during his tenure with The Hoppers. They may even have seen his name beneath a song title that won multiple awards, but they probably didn’t realize what incredible talent Shannon possesses. I was a young teenager during Shannon’s time with The Hoppers and I too observed his stoicism broken only by a smile now and then. Over the past few years I’ve had the privilege to study piano with Shannon, to watch his incredible arranging prowess in a studio while his family was recording a new project, and to worship with him as he leads an early Sunday morning service at the church we attend. And I must say that “genius” is what comes to mind over and over again. However, the quality that has most impressed me about Shannon is what I think you capture here with your blog, the idea that a man with such incredible abilities prefers sustenance to showmanship. He simply exercises that genius and leaves us all stunned in his wake. That is part of his gift. I am not only one of the many praying daily for the man I so admire and am so fortunate to call friend but also just a plain old fan of one of the greatest talents ever to grace a Southern Gospel stage.

By: Shannon Childress

Shannon Childress — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:33:56 +0000

Hello:

This is Shannon. I don’t even know where to begin. My sister, Teresa (along with my family - The Childress Family) is at NQC this week and my plan is to be there on Friday and Saturday if all goes as planned. I’ll see how things go with my oncology appointment Friday morning.

I’m doing well overall and will give everyone an update that can be posted if it is appropriate and allowed by averyfineline.

I will be at The Childresss Family Booth and hope to talk more with all of you.

Shannon

By: Extra Ink

Extra Ink — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:03:11 +0000

Doug, this is the kind of writing that makes me keep coming back to your site. Exceptional.

Regarding Shannon, I loved a lesser-known song he did with the Hoppers. The chorus said, “If what you talk on Sunday ain’t what you walk on Monday, you better start to practice what you preach…” That was a fantastic song.

Shannon’s family’s group, the Childress Family, is stunningly good vocally..

By: Tjeerd

Tjeerd — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:14:05 +0000

Well said.

By: Brett

Brett — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:00:05 +0000

Above is the clip of “Anchor to the power of the Cross” written by Shannon

By: Janet B

Janet B — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:35:42 +0000

Beautiful, Doug. You made me cry.

On the recent Best of The Hoppers dvd, I’m assuming that Shannon is playing piano on When He Comes Down…? The more I listen to that song, the more I love it.

Adding my prayers…God bless him.

By: Irishlad

Irishlad — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:18:31 +0000

#4 On a certain recommendation i’ll substitute “eulogy” for “tribute” which may be marginally more appropriate.

By: Wade

Wade — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:11:35 +0000

It was often said he was the only bass singer the Hoppers ever had!!

By: MOUNTAIN MAN

MOUNTAIN MAN — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:37:31 +0000

This is the finest piece of writing you’ve done, in my view. Makes me want to hear Shannon, whom I’ve never heard. And add to prayers for God’s touch on him.

By: observor

observor — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:35:23 +0000

well said… bravo

By: Stan Wikle

Stan Wikle — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:27:58 +0000

What a fitting tribute to an humble servant of the Lord. As a promoter, I remember well, working with the Hoppers when Shannon was there. A remarkable talent, a remarkable human being. I pray many good things for him during this chapter of his life. Thanks for including Shannon in your blog.

Stan Wikle