Gratitude and Remembrance

Last Friday evening, October 21, the recital hall in the Scott Fine Arts Center at Point University in West Point, Georgia was named in honor of Vicki Kindt Huxford!

When Vicki was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the doctors made it clear what a serious diagnosis that was. She fought that battle with great faith and integrity for two years and nearly eight months. I remember a doctor’s visit around nine months into the journey where the oncologist said, in response to a question about not having lots of energy, “Well, you’ve already outlived your diagnosis.” Despite the long and, especially near the end, extraordinarily difficult journey, our family has celebrated that time with her as a gift from God.

My initial reaction was a very direct, to God, question: “What do you mean allowing Vicki to get this disease? I’m the one who should die first.” That didn’t keep me from praying in faith and hope that she would be cured, but then I don’t think faith is supposed to provide escapism move from reality, either. I still think it should have been me, but I’m not in charge of stuff like that.

What I knew early on in this process was that, should I actually outlive Vicki, I was determined to do something significant in her honor. Of all the people I know, I could think of no one more deserving of some kind of honor. Also, throughout our life together, I often was out front and recognized, while she was in the background supporting me. While I was the preacher at First Christian, standing up front, leading meetings, and all the accompanying things preachers do, she quietly served in the background. Even as organist, among the best around, she never once did any self-promoting.

Here’s a prime example of what I mean. For many years, Vicki led the children’s choirs program at First Christian. She recruited choir workers, purchased curriculum, and led dozens of outstanding children’s choir programs where children actually sang beautifully and didn’t scream their songs. A few weeks ago, I was looking through some of the programs from those presentations. Every choir leader and every volunteer was listed in the program. I got listed in the program for welcoming people. Any other staff person who participated got listed. The lights, sound, and stage people got listed. Seldom would you see Vicki listed as director of children’s choirs. That was her doing – and honestly, I don’t remember noticing it. But that little story tells you something vitally important about this wonderful woman who was my wife and partner in ministry for 48 years and 2 weeks!

There was more than a time or two when people who were upset with me would take it out on Vicki. They saw her as an easier target than I would be. I’m not suggesting that Vicki was perfect – she would quickly set me straight on that – but First Christian got way more out of her than any church deserved. And she tolerated a lot more nonsense than I would have!

After Vicki died, I told Sarah and Bethany I wanted to do something at Point in her memory. They were on board. I spoke with Dr. Stacy Bartlett, at the time vice president for advancement and now chief of staff at Point, about this. I suggested perhaps raising money to name one of the piano labs after her, but those were already named. Stacy suggested I consider the recital hall in the Scott Fine Arts Center. I was a little surprised by that suggestion, but I agreed to it. Through my gifts, Sarah’s gifts, Chad and Bethany’s gifts, and the gifts of lots of other people who loved Vicki, we were able to raise the necessary funds to have that beautiful auditorium named in her honor. At every entrance, you can see Vicki Kindt Huxford Recital Hall. 

Vicki not only loved music, but she was a fine musician. She taught part-time at ACC for around ten years, teaching piano, organ, theory, and related courses. When she left ACC for a full-time and better-paying job (our kids were growing up and college was down the road, but coming our way), she continued to be involved in the music program. For years, she took off work to play the organ for convocation in the fall and graduation in the spring. She occasionally accompanied the Concert Choir when organ accompaniment was needed. She played often for the ACC Alumni Rally, as Homecoming was called back then, and the old Georgia Christian Missionary Rally. I have no idea how many weddings and funerals she played for, plus the 20 or so years she was organist at First Christian and volunteered as director of children’s choirs. She sang in several community choirs, most recently the Masterworks Chorale in Newnan, where she served several terms as president of the group.

There is simply no telling how many junior and senior recitals Vicki attended – often of students she barely knew. Even when chemotherapy, radiation, and COVID made it impossible for her to be in crowds, she nearly always watched the streaming videos of recitals – even when she really didn’t feel like it. She deeply loved students who were disciplined enough to excel in any area of music. Other than Point faculty members who are in the recital hall regularly, I’m guessing no one attended more events in that space than Vicki.

No doubt the room could have been named for other people – perhaps people who could have helped Point raise significantly more money. That reality makes me so grateful to Point for the opportunity to have the room named in her honor.

Vicki would be embarrassed by this attention, but I think she would want me to say this as I close this reflection on this wonderful moment in my life. Vicki and I both were educated at Atlanta Christian College and are proud to be in its group of alumni. We have faithfully supported ACC, and now Point, since we graduated. I have no idea how much money we have given, but I don’t regret one penny of it. We have received far more than we have given.

I think that is called gratitude. As my old friend and mentor, Roy McKinney, often said, “Huxford, the most desperately missing virtue in our culture right now is gratitude.” I think Paul – based on his love for Greek words that have to do with thanksgiving – would give McKinney a hearty “Amen!” We have never thought ACC/Point was perfect. After all, I have worked here since 1976, so that alone eliminates perfection! But I do think that the good far outweighs the bad, and in view of how ACC and its administrators and professors blessed my life, giving back seems the only right thing to do.

Again, I’m confident Vicki would want me to encourage you – if you are a graduate of ACC/Point – to offer a gift in gratitude for the impact our beloved alma mater has had on you.

I hope you will come to a concert or recital hall soon and look at the name over the entrances – you will be reminded of one outstanding Christian woman who deeply loved Point, and especially its fine arts programs.

Photos courtesy of Point University; taken by Amber Bowman.