One of my former teachers died recently and I would like to remind people in Bristol about her.
Her name is Virginia Bianchi Duff. I was a student of hers from 1961 to 1965 at the old Slater High School on McDowell Street. When I heard about her passing, it brought sadness to my heart because she was one of the greatest music teachers in the world. I am now 61 years old and have been in the music business all my life. She gave me this world when I was a teenager. I even gained a scholarship to Tennessee State University through her leadership and guidance.
To this day, I can’t forget all of the performances and solos I had to do for her in different venues in and around Bristol, Tenn., and Bristol, Va. I was just a shy kid who didn’t want to get up in front of people and sing for them. Now I sing in front of thousands. It was her training that got me started in this direction.
I think everyone has forgotten the talent that came out of Slater High School, a black high school in the days before integration. Our class, in 1965, was the last class to graduate from the school and a lot of history has been forgotten.
Under Mrs. Duff’s guidance, we had one of the best choirs in the East Tennessee area and we won numerous awards. It was through her hard work and dedication to a bunch of hard-headed kids that made us so good.
She lived in our neighborhood and I remember times during the winter when snow was on the ground. We would get out of school and she would be out on McDowell Street with us, sleigh riding. That was just the kind of close-knit community we had in those days.
She was just an all-around great person.
I know she went on and did great things in Bristol at Tennessee High School, but I wanted to let people know how she affected my life and so many others from Slater High School. She was a great person and we will all miss her very much.
Arthur Henderson Jr.
Nashville, Tenn.
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