It was a warm night when the Harrison family of Winchester gathered by their sister, Judy Adams, for a family dinner outing July 1.

July 1 had been their deceased mother’s birthday, and she mentioned it would be nice for them to celebrate her day as a family.

While this was one reason to gather, Judy had a hidden agenda. With her friend Donnie Reed, they had planned a night for them they would never forget.

What the family did not know was that after their meal, Donnie was about to honor the Harrison family with a prestigious American Lifetime Music award.

An ALM is a lifetime award honoring people in music who have done much for their community and to let them know how much their life has mattered to others.

The Harrison family singers came about because of Brother Chambers, a former pastor of Epperson First Church of God. He used to go pick up the kids to come to Sunday school and church since their parents were not going to church at the time.

Their parents soon began attending church and their daughters were blessing others with their singing.

Their family harmony was absolutely beautiful. This congregation would be the first of many who would enjoy hearing the Harrison family sing.

Many throughout Clark County will remember hearing Linda, Brenda, Judy and Diane sing, and later their brother Chuck would join them on stage.

They have sung at schools, churches, hospitals, revival meetings, nursing homes, funerals and anywhere else people were lucky enough to have them.

They have been a blessing throughout our community.

The first time I heard some of them sing was in high school. Linda and Brenda sang for a program for the teachers and student body. I became a lifetime fan from that minute on.

Linda plucked the guitar and their singing kept us all enrapt until they finished.

Linda has now passed on, but the family still sings together. Little did I know the day I first heard them sing I would someday be best friends with their younger sister, Judy.

Judy who would sing at my Mom and Dad’s funeral.

I often think back what a loss it would have been if their singing career had not happened. Thanks to Brother Chambers for being instrumental in getting her parents in church but blessing so many others with their children’s talents.

The ALM Awards came about through the brainstorming of Donnie Reed, also a Clark Countian.

He has loved and played music all his life. He realized Clark County is loaded with great musical talent. It took a dear friend’s illness to put his dream into action.

When Roy Burns, a fellow musician, was barely clinging to life from complications from a heart attack and stage four pancreatic cancer, Donnie knew he wanted to do something to make him smile.

He explained to another music buddy Dewey Pope he wanted to start an awards ceremony to let people know they mattered and so did their talent. Dewey convinced him it sounded like a good idea and the ALM awards began.

Roy Burns was awarded the ALM award. Like all who have received it since it first began it happens in a family-like atmosphere with a meal and up to 20 people with him.

This has been one reason why the award program has become so well-liked. They seem to relax and feel at home and laid back. In Roy Burns’ case, it has given him a reason to live when life seemed so bleak.

Within an 18-month span, the ALM awards has grown to be the largest awards ceremony in Nashville, with over 200 plus already in the Hall of Fame.

Now, members are recommending others whom they feel should be included and are worthy.

Donnie Reed and Judy Adams have been included in a film, “The Waffle House Christmas” that was filmed at a Waffle house in Nashville with Tanya Tucker, Bill Anderson and other noted country music stars.

It makes one wonder how many more people will be made happy because of a dreamer by the name of Donnie Reed who just wanted to recognize other people.

It is also wonderful he put his dreams to actions. How many of us have dreams and never believe in them or ourselves to complete them?

Look how many people may be missing out because we fail to give our dreams action.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.