Churches and religious music groups are uniting under the auspices of the Friends of Gospel Music at Trinity Baptist Church on Saturday, Nov. 16, to pay tribute to a pianist, composer and preacher, the Rev. Cora Harvey Armstrong.

For those organizing the afternoon of song and celebration, the free event is a vehicle to honor her many years of dedication and service to churches, organizations and the community.

For the 63-year-old Rev. Armstrong, it’s an honor that even now leaves her feeling a wealth of emotions.

“Every time I think about it, I cry,” Rev. Armstrong says. “I am amazed that people see me the way they do.”

Looking over her history, it’s pretty easy to see why those organizing the event chose the Richmond-born resident of Newtown in King and Queen County to be honored.

For more than 40 years, Rev. Armstrong, a licensed and ordained minister, has been a favorite gospel performer at celebrations and festivals across the country. For many years, she and her sisters, Clara Jackson and the Rev. Virginia Young, sang with their mother, the late Eva Elizabeth Harvey as The Harvey Family.

After her parents’ deaths, she and her sister and two nieces continued singing. Rev. Armstrong plays the piano, clarinet and oboe. Her abilities have placed her in many roles locally and around the globe. This includes portraying “Queen of Gospel” Mahalia Jackson in a performance at Swift Creek ill Theatre in Chesterfield, to touring and teaching music in Japan, to performing in cities throughout Europe and up and down America’s East Coast.

Her talent was recognized early. She earned a music degree from Virginia State University, where she was director of the VSU Gospel Choir.

“People have known me as Cora Harvey from my days at VSU,” Rev. Armstrong says. “And after marrying, folks started calling me Cora Harvey Armstrong, and it caught on.”

Rev. Armstrong doesn’t see her lifetime with music as a career, but as an intrinsic part of who she is — one that helps spread and maintain a force of good in the world.

“A world without music would be a world without feeling,” Rev. Armstrong says.

She is recovering now from surgery; doctors recently installed a pacemaker.

She says she is looking foward to walking without assistance.

For now, though, she has a day of community and fellowship to look forward to on Saturday.

“I feel so honored and loved,” Rev. Armstrong says, “but I’m just doing what the Lord gives me to do.”

Meet this week’s Personality and a musician wtih a ministry, Rev. Cora Harvey Armstrong:

Occupation: I am full time in music and spoken word ministry.

Date and place of birth: Jan. 21 at the old St. Philip Hospital in Richmond.

Current residence: I have lived in Newtown, a community in King and Queen County, most of my life. I’m now living with my youngest sister and her family in Newtown.

Education: King and Queen County Public Schools; music degree, Virginia State University; and working on master’s of divinity at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.

Family: No children; three unsuccessful marriages; and two sisters, Clara Jackson and the Rev. Virginia Young.

No. 1 honor: “A Musical Tribute and Appreciation Service” will be held Saturday, Nov. 16, in Richmond by a coalition of churches and musical groups to honor the Rev. Cora Harvey Armstrong.

What this honor means to me: I feel so honored and loved, but I’m just doing what the Lord gives me to do. I like to help when I can. I’m excited but a bit nervous at the same time. I know of many who, I would think, deserve something like this more than me. But if God has allowed it to be, I’m grateful.

How I was introduced to the piano: When I was 5, my parents enrolled me in class with Elsie Holmes Ranier from Tappahannock. Then later, with Rev. Robert Brown, who is still alive.

Time I devoted to practicing:

Practice was 30 minutes a day and I hated it!

When I knew a music career was for me: Not sure if I’ve ever looked at music as a career. It was so much a part of who I am, I didn’t see it as a career.

Most memorable performance: Portraying Mahalia Jackson at Swift Creek Mill Theatre! So many new things that I didn’t know about myself were revealed.

How I prepare for a performance: Prayer and yielding myself to the will of God and His Holy Spirit.

Places I have performed: Kobe and Toyko, Japan; many cities in Italy; at the Library of Congress in Washington; churches and other venues all over the East Coast; Port Townsend, Wash.; and Ban- gor, Maine. I can’t remember them all.

Favorite pieces of music:

I have soooo many favorite songs, including my own. LOL!

Favorite composers: Aretha Franklin, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, myself and a few others.

Other instruments I play: Clarinet and oboe.

Music is important in education because: It teaches discipline, it helps with concentration and it gives a sense of being bonded with others to create something beautiful.

A world without music would be: A world without feeling.

Age I started singing: I started singing at age 5 with my sisters as we gave a talent show for our grandfather.

Favorite song sung by The Harvey Family: Many by others but written by me, “Just For Me” is my favorite. “The Promise” by the late Andraé Crouch holds my heart right now.

Why people love gospel music:

There are many reasons these days why people love gospel, not all of them good, in my opinion. But the main reason why I love it is that it shares the good news about Jesus.

What role church and faith have in my life: Church has played a major role in my life as our parents insisted that we all go to church, no matter what. My faith didn’t really develop until later in my life after I had to endure some “challenges.”

Outlook at start of day: Every day starts on different levels with me. I don’t always wake up with a positive attitude. Some days are a challenge to even get up.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Have a great pizza and a cold beer! Yep, beer! LOL!

At the top of my “to-do” list is: Live healthy in my own home.

Best late-night snack: Cereal and skim milk with mandarin oranges.

My friends say that: I’m a bit crazy.

My next goal: Is to walk without assistance.