WIHLA LAVERNE HUTSON

died on March 24, 2002 at the age of 100; She was a resident of St. Anne s Mead in Southfield. She was an accomplished musician, lyrist and wrote the words for world famous Burt Carols. After the death of Composer Alfred Burt, she continued to write carols and litergical music under her own name. She is mentioned on the internet in more 260 references. Her most popular carol was Caroling Carol sung by Perry Como, Mel Torme and the Fred Waring Chorus. She was born at Lake Station (now East Gary), Indiana, and was the only child of William Edmund Hutson and Olga Kohler. After graduation from Central High School in Detroit in 1918, she became a member of the secretarial staff of the Detroit Board of Education and served in this capacity until 1923 when she became an executive secretary for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. She retired from the Diocese in 1967 after 44 years of service. Ms. Hutson served as Organist and Choir Director at four local Episcopal Churches: St. Joseph s in Detroit, St. Paul's Cathedral, All Saints in Pontiac, and Church of the Redeemer in Southfield. She was a member Mu Phi Epsilon, a national music fraternity and the American Guild of Organists. Miss Hutson s often remarked that at her death she wished to be remembered as a composer and a lyricist. She wrote more than 200 hymns and anthems and delighted in penning bits of poetry related to music and the fun of growing "more mature" each year. She also wrote a "bible" for organists entitled "Play Something Quick". Wihla Hutson is survived by scores of friends and thousands of choiristers around the world who continue to sing her many anthems and Christmas Carols. Services for Wihla L. Hutson will be at St. David s Episcopal Church, 16200 W. Twelve Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan, on April 13, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Miss Hutson has requested memorials to St. David s Episcopal Church or to St. Anne s Mead Retirement Home, 16106 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan 48076.Arrangements by Haley Funeral Directors, 24525 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, Michigan 48075.