Verna Holley
Retired choral music teacher Verna Dorsey Holley was born on April 29, 1936 in Detroit, Michigan to Pearl Richardson Dorsey and Henry Dorsey. Holley attended Dwyer Elementary School in 1948 before graduating from Northern High School in 1952. Holley completed her B.A. degree in music education at Wayne State University in 1956 and went on to earn her M.A. degree in music at Michigan State University.
Holley was hired as the fine arts director at J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing, Michigan and worked in the Lansing Public School System until she retired. She then continued to give piano lessons in her home. Holley became the pianist and music director of the Earl Nelson Singers. Founded in 1963, by Earl Nelson, The Earl Nelson Singers Company is an integrated ensemble of singers from the Lansing, Michigan area. As the company’s musical director, Holley selects the sacred songs of slaves for them to perform. The group’s repertoire included songs reflective of the early “gospel” style. Holley’s work has also been associated with the Okemos String Program.
Holley is a member of the Religious Conference Planning Association, United Conference for Women and the Capital Area Music Teachers Association. She lives in Lansing, Michigan with her husband, Melvin Holley. They have three adult children: Mark, Timothy and Millicent.
Holley was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on February 29, 2008.
A2008.039
Female
2/29/2008
Holley
Married
Northern High School
Dwyer Elementary School
Trowbridge Elementary School
Wayne State University
Verna
Detroit
HOL10
Spring
Michigan
Midwest
Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart And Lean Not On Your Own Understanding; In All Your Ways Submit To Him, And He Will Make Your Paths Straight.

Michigan
4/29/1936
Lansing
United States
Fried Chicken
High school music teacher and choral director Verna Holley (1936 - ) served as the fine arts director at J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing, Michigan and worked in the Lansing Public School System until she retired. She was also the pianist and music director of the Earl Nelson Singers.
C.W. Otto Junior High School
J.W. Sexton High School
Dwyer Elementary School
Sampson Elementary School
Balch School
A.L. Holmes Elementary School
Cedar Street School
Oak Park School
Purple
Tape: 1 Story: 1 - Slating of Verna Holley's interview
Tape: 1 Story: 2 - Verna Holley lists her favorites
Tape: 1 Story: 3 - Verna Holley describes her mother's family background
Tape: 1 Story: 4 - Verna Holley describes her mother's personality
Tape: 1 Story: 5 - Verna Holley talks about her father's activities as a young man
Tape: 1 Story: 6 - Verna Holley describes her father's family background
Tape: 1 Story: 7 - Verna Holley recalls how her parents met
Tape: 1 Story: 8 - Verna Holley talks about her family's migration to Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 1 Story: 9 - Verna Holley describes her parents' personalities and her likeness to them
Tape: 1 Story: 10 - Verna Holley lists her siblings
Tape: 1 Story: 11 - Verna Holley describes her earliest childhood memory
Tape: 1 Story: 12 - Verna Holley remembers the neighborhoods of her youth
Tape: 2 Story: 1 - Verna Holley describes the sights, sounds and smells of her childhood
Tape: 2 Story: 2 - Verna Holley remembers her early education at Trowbridge School
Tape: 2 Story: 3 - Verna Holley describes Paradise Valley in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 2 Story: 4 - Verna Holley talks about Black Bottom in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 2 Story: 5 - Verna Holley remembers the riots of 1943
Tape: 2 Story: 6 - Verna Holley describes herself as an elementary school student
Tape: 2 Story: 7 - Verna Holley talks about her childhood activities
Tape: 2 Story: 8 - Verna Holley recalls attending Bethany Tabernacle church in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 2 Story: 9 - Verna Holley remembers her neighbors in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 2 Story: 10 - Verna Holley recalls attending Northern High School
Tape: 2 Story: 11 - Verna Holley remembers notable African American musicians from her youth
Tape: 2 Story: 12 - Verna Holley recalls African American publications from her childhood
Tape: 2 Story: 13 - Verna Holley recalls attending concerts as a child
Tape: 2 Story: 14 - Verna Holley describes her decision to attend Wayne University in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 3 Story: 1 - Verna Holley lists her music teachers
Tape: 3 Story: 2 - Verna Holley describes her musical influences
Tape: 3 Story: 3 - Verna Holley recalls teaching music at Dwyer Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 3 Story: 4 - Verna Holley reflects upon her strict religious upbringing
Tape: 3 Story: 5 - Verna Holley remembers the Civil Rights Movement
Tape: 3 Story: 6 - Verna Holley recalls teaching at William T. Sampson Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 3 Story: 7 - Verna Holley describes how she met and married her husband
Tape: 3 Story: 8 - Verna Holley recalls teaching at A.L. Holmes Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan
Tape: 3 Story: 9 - Verna Holley remembers the 1967 Detroit Riots
Tape: 3 Story: 10 - Verna Holley recalls Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination
Tape: 3 Story: 11 - Verna Holley talks about relocating to Lansing, Michigan
Tape: 3 Story: 12 - Verna Holley recalls her early teaching assignments in Lansing, Michigan
Tape: 3 Story: 13 - Verna Holley talks about serving as director of fine arts at J.W. Sexton High School
Tape: 4 Story: 1 - Verna Holley describes her involvement in the Earl Nelson Singers
Tape: 4 Story: 2 - Verna Holley recalls guest vocalists for the Earl Nelson Singers
Tape: 4 Story: 3 - Verna Holley reflects upon her life
Tape: 4 Story: 4 - Verna Holley talks about her taste in music
Tape: 4 Story: 5 - Verna Holley describes her hopes and concerns for the African American community
Tape: 4 Story: 6 - Verna Holley reflects upon her legacy
Tape: 4 Story: 7 - Verna Holley describes her family
Tape: 4 Story: 8 - Verna Holley talks about her religious faith
Tape: 4 Story: 9 - Verna Holley describes how she would like to be remembered
Tape: 4 Story: 10 - Verna Holley narrates her photographs
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