Bellevue Baptist Church
Memphis, Tennessee
Featuring My Family Pictures from the Musical Productions, of
"The Singing Christmas Tree" & The Passion Play"
Our family has been blessed to be a part of a wonderful church,
Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
It is impossible to speak of the Music Ministry at Bellevue without mentioning
Bellevue's glorious leadership though out the years.
I have had four very special Pastors during my life time,
Dr. Robert G. Lee, Dr. Ramsey Pollard, Dr. Adrian Rogers, and Dr. Steve Gaines.
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Dr. Robert G. Lee December 11, 1927 -- April 10, 1960 |
Dr. Ramsey Pollard April 24, 1960 -- April 16, 1972 |
Dr. Adrian Rogers Sept 10, 1972 -- March 6, 2005 |
Dr. Steve Gaines Sept 11, 2005 -- present |
We were very active in the Music Program of my church in my growing up years.
As a child, teenager, and young adults, our Minister of Music was Dr. Tommy Lane.
Diana and Charlene Chiles around 1956.
My sister and I grew up in the Bellevue's Choirs.
Diana around 1973.
"Home Grown" in Bellevue's Choirs.
(The term Bellevue uses for those who grow up in Bellevue's Music Program.)
My sister and I moved away from Memphis after our college years.
Because my sister and I returned home often to visit Mom,
through out the years our hearts continued to be a part of this church,
even while we lived far away.
Dr. Jim Whitmire
Minister of Music, 1975 -- 2005
(click on picture to enlarge)
Dr. James Whitmire came to Bellevue as a Minister of Youth Music
in 1975, shortly after Dr. Rogers came as pastor in 1972.
They had worked together at their church in Florida,
and they were quite a team together.
When Dr. Tommy Lane retired on April 6, 1986, Dr. Whitmire
became Bellevue's Minister of Music.
Dr. Whitmire began several yearly musical productions:
the "Singing Christmas Tree", the "Passion Play", and "Celebrate America".
My Mother and my Uncle Bill never missed a production,
often attending every dress rehearsal and performance.
Although I had moved away from Memphis when the productions began,
I also got to see each of the productions due to my frequent visits home.
After my sister and her family moved back to Memphis in 1990,
I myself moved back to Memphis in 1991.
Now we finally had the opportunity to participate in these productions!
On this page I am including several pictures of my family
in the various productions through out the years.
Each member of my family has participated
in Bellevue's musical productions one way or another.
There are many talented people at my church.
Bellevue is known for its amazing musicians and performers.
And many are outstanding soloists who will simply make your toes curl!
Confession: No one in my family rates in that category.
We are everyday normal ordinary people.
Thank God, everyday people are welcomed at my church!
And it takes many "ordinary" people to pull off these productions!
From those who work with props, costumes, make-up, stage-crew, etc. etc.
To those who have the special solos and major roles ...
We all have a marvelous time bringing these special performances to life!
Here are some pictures of my family members participating in
Bellevue's "Passion Play" and the "Singing Christmas Tree."
"The Littlest Angel"
My niece, Annaliese, Age 5,
in Bellevue's Singing Christmas Tree, 1990
(Dr. Rogers' granddaughter is the angel in red. Annaliese is in blue.)
Annaliese, Bellevue Baptist's "Singing Christmas Tree", 1993
Diana (red shirt) and Annaliese (blue shirt),
Cast Members in Bellevue Baptist's "Singing Christmas Tree", 1998
Haley in the Singing Christmas Tree around 1996.
My beautiful niece Haley with her Dad in the Passion Play.
My niece, Robin, in Bellevue's Adult Choir
September, 2005
Robin with our new pastor, Dr. Steve Gaines and his wife, Donna.
December 18, 2005
This picture was taken during the Retirement Reception
for our Minister of Music, Dr. James Whitmire.
Diana and Robin sang in Dr. Whitmire's final presentation of
"MAJESTY", December 18. 2005.
Cast Members Diana Chiles and Scott Benjamin as Angelina and Luigi Cortini
in Bellevue's 2007 Production of the Singing Christmas Tree.
(The drawing of our costumes was done by Bellevue's very talented Mark Alexander, Bellevue's Director of Design Services.
Mark designs the sets for Bellevue's Productions.)
Ruedi as Nicodemus in Bellevue Baptist Church's Passion Play.
(Ruedi, my brother-in-law, is on your left.)
Ruedi as a Pharisee in Bellevue Baptist Church's Passion Play.
(Ruedi is on the left)
(picture taken by Diana M. Chiles)
"For God so loved the world,
that He gave his only begotten Son,
That whosoever believeth in Him
Should not perish,
But have Everlasting Life."
John 3:16
I have been blessed with a wonderful Church Home,
which has helped to guide my way through my time on this earth.
Rev. Jamie Parker, and his wife, Dana
Minister of Music, Worship: January 15, 2006 -- Present
(click on picture to enlarge)
The Minister of Music baton has been passed on
to one of Bellevue's bright shining stars.
Jamie was the Minister of Youth Music at Bellevue for ten years,
and all three of my nieces were in his choirs!
Jamie left Bellevue in 2003 to become Minister of Music
at the First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Alabama,
where Dr. Steve Gaines was pastor before coming to Bellevue.
Jamie has a God-Given talent, and it is a joy to hear him sing!
He sang for my mother's funeral.
Needless to say, everyone in our family loves him!
It is GREAT to welcome Jamie back to Bellevue!
Rev. Mark Blair
Minister of Music, Productions: August 20, 2007 -- Present
Mark, in the newly created post of minister of music, special productions,
will oversee the church's productions through the year,
including the Singing Christmas Tree, the Passion Play at Easter,
and the Starlight Spectacle for Independence Day.
Because I had a part in this year's Singing Christmas Play,
I was given the first hand gift of getting to know Mark personally.
He is hilarious, very professional, a marvelous director,
and a wonderful addition to our Music Ministry.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee.
Before coming to Bellevue, Mark served as Minister of Music at churches in
Chattanooga, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Knoxville,
and he has served as an orchestra director and college minister.
Mark's wife, Mardi, is part of Bellevue’s Children’s Ministry staff.
Their daughter, Kristen, is a freshman at the University of Tennessee,
and their son, Hunter, is a freshman in high school.
Music has always played an important part in the lives of my family.
One of the blessings of being a part of Bellevue is indeed the music!
And a major contribution to that gift of music is Rev. Carter Threlkeld,
Bellevue's Minister of Instrumental Music.
Rev. Carter Threlkeld
Minister of Instrumental Music
Carter and his wife, Paula, are very special to our family.
Carter is known nation-wide for his marvelous ability to play the trumpet,
and for his outstanding leadership in Instrumental Music.
Our Orchestra at Bellevue would rival the Boston Pops!
Carter and Paula's youngest child, Brian, was a patient at
Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center where I work.
Brian was in a life/death crisis on Christmas Eve, 1996.
He was a "heart baby", and his life was extremely fragile.
Our Heart Surgeons operated on this tiny baby that Christmas Eve,
and by the morning, they were calling Brian their "Christmas Miracle".
(Brian was featured as one of Le Bonheur's "Miracle Stories".)
I had the wonderful pleasure of getting to know this amazing family
during this delicate time. Brian is now nine years old.
Because my uncle taught piano in Bellevue's Performing Arts Center,
Carter knew my uncle well, and he spoke at my uncle's funeral.
It was a freezing day, with the ground covered in snow and ice.
Because of the dangerous driving conditions,
Sonny Tucker, our Minister for the Funeral,
and Bill and my Mother's Sunday School Teacher,
announced that only the family would go to the grave-site,
dismissing even the pallbearers from having to drive across town.
Memorial Park was simply beautiful, all covered in snow.
When we arrived in our one car, Carter was there, trumpet in hand.
He played "Amazing Grace".
All of Heaven and the Angels must have smiled in the beauty of the moment.
Paula Threlkeld with her son Brian
at Bernard's Birthday Party in 1997.
There are so many people at Bellevue
who have touched the hearts of my family.
Four Generations of my family have been blessed by this mighty church.
My parents, Jim and Dorothy Chiles,
on the steps of Bellevue Baptist Church,
Dr. Robert G. Lee, Pastor, 1945
(You can read our family's history with this church by clicking on the above picture.)
