Delmar Loop in University City in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Willie Mae Ford Smith

Born June 23, 1904

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 7, 2018

1. Willie Mae Ford Smith Marker

Inscription. The music we now call Gospel was thought too worldly in 1917 when Willie Mae Ford moved to St. Louis, but she was to change that. Rather than deny the power of the Blues, she enfolded it in her religious convictions to form a joyous new message of praise. Having helped found the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses. She organized its Soloists' Bureau in 1939. Profoundly influencing almost every Gospel singer to follow, she was featured in the 1983 film "Say Amen, Somebody." Willie Mae Ford Smith received the Heritage Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1988.

Erected 1990 by St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion • Women. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, St. Louis Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 38° 39.35′ N, 90° 18.267′ W. Marker is in University City, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in Delmar Loop. Marker is on Delmar Boulevard east of Westgate Avenue, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6392 Delmar Boulevard, Saint Louis MO 63130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ulysses S. Grant (a few steps from this marker); Josephine Baker

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(a few steps from this marker); Marlin Perkins (a few steps from this marker); Howard Nemerov (within shouting distance of this marker); Masters & Johnson (within shouting distance of this marker); Maya Angelou (within shouting distance of this marker); Tennessee Williams (within shouting distance of this marker); Vincent Price (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in University City.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on October 15, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photo 1. submitted on October 12, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.