First Baptist Church, Easley, observed “Carolyn Hamlin Weekend” on July 6 and 7, honoring their organist for 50 years of service to her church, community, state and nation.

Hamlin has become known not only as an outstanding organist, but also as a composer. She believes her success comes from a deep, abiding faith in the Lord and her willingness to allow him to lead her.

Her first step toward national recognition came with her anthem, “Grace,” which has sold more than 100,000 copies. She says that as she sat by her mother’s bedside during the last hours of her life, grieving her loss, the text simply flowed from her heart to hand to paper. Later she wrote the music. The whole process took about three hours.

Few can understand how seriously Hamlin takes the task of composing and arranging music. She approaches her work reverently and prayerfully, and it is imperative that she maintains the integrity of both the biblical text and the timeless classics. “In hymns we learn theology,” she said. “God’s power inspires me through these great hymns.”

In her work with Case Brothers Pianos and Organs of Spartanburg, Hamlin does concerts and church organ seminars for Allen organ dealers as well as appearing at Baptist conventions and churches from coast to coast.

In an interview almost 30 years ago, she said, “I try to maintain a proper balance of love and care for my family and the fulfillment of my talent. My family comes first, my church second, and work has to take third place. My talent has provided me with a way to make a living, the joy of sharing with others, and personal fulfillment.” Through the years, her goal has not changed.

Hamlin’s story has become legendary. She traces her love of the organ back to age 4. After church, her brothers rolled up the organ stool so she could reach the keyboard. She couldn’t reach the pedals, so each pumped a pedal while she played hymns she had heard that morning.

“When I was 6, I’d sit on the arm of a chair and play, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy,’ looking out the window, pretending the trees were a church full of people,” Hamlin said. “Even then I felt God calling me to be a church organist.”

As a first-grader, after being lifted to the piano bench, young Carolyn played for chapel services at Ruhamah Elementary School. At 11 she played piano at Flat Rock Baptist Church, and was elected pianist at 13 and full-time organist at 15. That year she played for her sister’s wedding. She played by ear; several attempts at taking piano lessons were unsuccessful.

A turning point in her life came when she studied with Tincy Nalley during her last two years of high school. “At my first lesson, in just a few minutes, Tincy taught me to read music. When I understood how simple reading music is, and realized how many years I’d wasted, I began to cry. I had always known what to do, but not how or why. I cried so much she had to get a box of Kleenex.”

During her 30-minute lessons, they played simple pieces at the piano, then moved to the organ with more difficult pieces. “She’d invite neighbors in to hear me. I believe the Lord had her picked out for me. No one else understood how to teach a gifted child, but because of a similar experience she could relate to me.”

Because of her lack of formal training, Hamlin was denied admission to North Greenville Junior College as a piano major, but was accepted as a voice major. Today, the Hamlin Recital Hall in the performing arts building at North Greenville University is named after her. At the upcoming December graduation exercises, where she’s been asked to speak, she’ll receive an honorary doctorate.

Probably the only time Hamlin has not had access to a musical instrument was the short time she spent in Kansas with soldier-husband Talmadge. “We’d pretend we were shopping and go to the music stores so I could play.”

She was “discovered” by Gilbert McCall, who attended a funeral at Flat Rock. On July 6, 1958, she was hired as both secretary and organist at First Baptist, Easley. Two and a half years later, when her first child, Tammy, was born, she quit her secretarial job. She continued staying home after daughters Tracy and Terri were born; today she dotes on her nine grandchildren.

In 1983, when Hamlin was honored at First Baptist for 25 years of service, Fran Freeman said, “Please accept this gift – with the hope that you’ll be our organist at least another 25 years.”

During the recent weekend celebration, state Sen. Larry Martin presented Hamlin with the Order of the Silver Crescent, the state’s highest civilian honor. He noted her outstanding achievements in serving her church, community and state.

Three musical pieces – written by Dan Forrest, Scott Ayers and David Schwoebel – had been commissioned for the weekend. Hamlin had written almost all of the other music used during morning worship and in the concert. A longtime friend, Scott Ayers, took Hamlin’s place at the organ, with Rick Roe at the piano. Her nephew, Greg Fuller, led the choir.

World-class organists have been commissioned to write music for a new publication, “Worship Hymns for Organ: Golden Jubilee Collection,” in honor of Hamlin. John Adams, pastor of Easley First Baptist, presented her with “the first installment of a love offering.” A scholarship for deserving students has been established. Two scrapbooks filled with memorabilia were presented to her.

From humble beginnings, with limited training, Hamlin -through her willingness to work and use her talent, combined with her faith and trust in God – has created musical arrangements that bring joy and pleasure to multitudes while leading them to higher planes of worship. And she continues to bless the congregation at First Baptist; she has no plans to retire.

Daughter Tracy Redmon sums up her mother’s life: “Many people are surprised to hear Mother’s latest compositions and the miracle that takes place in her little office at home. Not only has God blessed her heart, hands and mind with an indescribable gift, he has bestowed upon her a deep Christian love for others and a need to share her talent with everyone.”