Consider that Patsy Caison, organist, and Susan Nettles, pianist, have played together for more than 30 years at Pine Grove Baptist Church No. 1 in Walterboro.
Caison (left) and Nettles.Counting Wednesday night choir rehearsals and two Sunday services, that’s more than 4,500 opportunities for the duo to find themselves not playing from the same sheet of music. It hasn’t happened very often, but when it does, “we laugh and just keep on going,” said Nettles.
“It happens,” echoed Caison. “You just chuckle and go on.”
Caison and Nettles were recognized by the church in October on the 30th anniversary of their ministry together at Pine Grove.
The two are more than partners in music. They are close friends.
“We get along really well,” said Caison. “She’s my best friend, my prayer partner and my confidante. It’s like having another sister.” Even if the two aren’t practicing a duet on a Saturday, they sometimes “hang out” together, Caison said.
Nettles says she and Caison are “absolutely in sync with each other,” not just when they are playing, but all the time. “We’re absolutely very best friends and sisters in Christ. We can feel each other’s spirit as we play.”
When Caison’s husband died, she asked her friend to play for his funeral. Nettles said she was touched to be asked. “That was one thing I could do to give back to her,” she said. “It was one of the most moving things.”
Nettles grew up in the Upstate, but moved to Walterboro when she married her husband, who is Caison’s cousin. Within a year of her arrival, Nettles was asked to play piano for the church. Caison had already been playing organ at Pine Grove for several years. “The Lord blessed me when Susan married my cousin,” said Caison.
Nettles and Caison said they find it hard to believe they’ve been playing together at their church for 30 years, and both say they have no plans to stop now.
“We play for the glory of God,” said Caison. “We plan to continue for as long as the Lord allows us to play.”