About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 2025)
Community Thursday July 24, 2025 The Eatonton Messenger The Sisters of Faith, out of Griffin, opened the second half of Saturday night's Mothers Against Crime Gospel and Praise Concert at Putnam County Middle School's Little Theater in Eatonton. $8 1 Annual gospel concert entertains and inspires Story & photos by Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com The spirit was strong Saturday evening at Putnam County Middle School’s Little Theater, where six talented, local gospel groups gathered for the annual Mothers Against Crime (MAC) Gospel and Praise Concert. Mothers Against Crime cofounder and concert organizer Georgia Smith couldn’t recall exactly when the inaugural event was held at Eatonton’s historic Butler-Baker School but said it probably was the mid-1990s. She said the gospel show remained at Butler-Baker for “several years” before moving to The Plaza Arts Center in the mid-2000s, where it initially packed the main theater for another couple of years. Among its performers in The Plaza years was the Swanee Quintet, a tradi tional, Augusta-based gospel group formed in 1939 that enjoyed signif icant national fame and recording success. Eventually, however, the show’s popularity waned, and it was moved to The Plaza’s “Green Room,” a smaller, more intimate meeting space, before finding its now-10- year-old home at the 300-seat PCMS Little Theater. “This is perfect now,” Smith declares between distractions to greet and praise various performers and attendees, each of whom seems thrilled to engage with her. “It’s a beautiful place.” Opening the show at 7 p.m. was Eatonton’s own God of Peace Praise Team, followed by the Putnam County Gospel Ensemble, and then a trio out of Eatonton and Monti cello, the Chosen Voices of Praise, a last-minute Georgia Smith addition performing in public together for the first time after only a couple of rehearsals together. They were spot on. “I love those ladies,” Smith says. “They did an absolutely wonderful job. I’m so proud of them.” The second half of the show featured the Sisters of Faith and then the Sons of Zion, both out of Griffin. Closing out the show was the Dixieaires, from Thomaston, featuring a full band backing up their energetic, inspired lead singer. Smith told each band of performers they are already invited back for next year’s event. She admitted, however, that she starts to seriously secure performance assurances shortly after each new year begins, giving performers plenty of notice to arrive in Eatonton each July. This year, though, she can’t help but feel distracted, Smith admits, worrying about her husband, seriously ill in a hospital bed in Macon. He’s usually at her side for these gospel shows, showing his support even after 66 years of marriage. “I want to give thanks to the Man above and I want to thank Him for what He's doing,” she said. “And I want everyone here to keep my husband in their prayers. I just want God to bring him home to me now. -‘11 #16 The Putnam County Gospel Ensemble performed two songs for an intimate but engaged audience. The Dixieaires arrived from Thomaston to close out the annual Mothers Against Crime Gospel and Praise Concert. Each vocalist for the show opening God of Mercy Praise Team took turns as lead singer on Saturday night. Members from all groups performing on Saturday at the PCMS Little Theater gathered on stage for a final bow as the emcee for the evening, Johnny Milner, thanked each individually for attending.
