“Sweet Beulah Land” is one of the top Southern Gospel requested songs of all time. Squire Parsons, the man who wrote and recorded the song in 1979, died Monday following a cardiac arrest that had left him on a ventilator. The West Virginia native was 77 years old.
“Sweet Beulah Land” won the Singing News fan awards for Song of the year in 1981. Southern Gospel Music’s Jack Clark from Cleveland, Tn. was working for Kingsmen Music at the time. Clark wrote the original arrangement and sheet music for Parsons. The 91-year-old Clark said, “I was just his hired help, in the right place at the right time and very proud to have known him.”
Jack Clark said, “Everything Squire wrote was good; one of my favorites was “He Came to Me”.
Cleveland, Tn. Mayor Emeritus Tom Rowland remembered that Parsons was good friends with the late Anthony Burger who played piano for the Kingsmen Quartet. Rowland said both men were his friends and two of Southern Gospel Music’s best. Parsons sang with the Kingsmen in the mid 70’s before going solo.
Dr. David Bouler served as pastor of the Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga for over 20 years. Dr. Bouler said, “We brought Squire Parsons to Highland Park several times and he’d fill the auditorium. Many lives were touched by his ministry and he’s now singing in Heaven, the place he sang about for decades.”
Retired minister of music Jerry Mattheiss of Chattanooga said, “I had him twice in our church in Denver, N.C. during my 10 years there, and the church was packed both times. He was such a tremendous Christian and talent and will be missed.”
Retired newspaper writer Kenny Sloan said, “I remember seeing him in Chattanooga at a local church where the Rev. Jerry Falwell was speaking. “Sweet Beulah Land” is one of my favorites.”
Many Chattanoogans are remembering the famous Gospel singer. Bill Owens said, “So sorry to hear the news. What a great voice God blessed him with.” Brenda Lathan said, “He was awesome and had such a beautiful voice” and Greta Tolbert Pierce said, “Loved hearing him sing.” Marty Von Schaff said, “Squire Parsons absolutely left his mark on the Southern Gospel Music world and will be missed.”
Doug Daugherty said when he worked in Christian radio; Parsons Songs were played just about every day.
Former Hamilton County Commission Chairman Curtis Adams was a friend of Mr. Parsons and was responsible for his singing at the Temple Baptist Church on Rossville Boulevard. The late Mr. Adams said, “When Squire would come, the auditorium would be full. He was the real deal and we all loved him.”
The late Calvin Newton said he attended a Squire Parsons concert at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in 1994. Newton, a member of the Gaither Homecoming family, said, “Squire had to sing Sweet Beulah Land several times that evening during his hour plus concert.”
Gospel Singer Marlon Pendergrass of Powell, Ala., said his group sang with Squire Parsons several times. Pendergrass said, “Squire told me, I sing because of the call of God on my life.”
Pendergrass said, “Squire will be remembered as one of the greatest singer–songwriters of my lifetime. Squire was God’s servant - at one time he did as many as 20 dates a month and wrote hundreds of songs; Squire was all about loving people.”
Rev. Curtis Henderson attended the Calvary Baptist Church in Red Bank and said the singer would often stop on Sunday night and sing before going home to Ashville, N.C. Rev. Henderson said, “One Sunday afternoon the church was having a covered dish supper; Parsons and his group stopped to eat and sing. Parsons joked after eating fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans and apple pie that he was ready to sing and work for his food.” Rev. Henderson said their congregation loved Squire.
SG Artist Karen Peck Gooch said, “Squire is a legend of this generation. What an amazing person. He will be greatly missed.
Four years ago this month, the Tribute Quartet had a number one song, “I call it Home” that was written by Parsons.
Although Parsons' signature song was “Sweet Beulah Land,” he wrote hundreds of other pieces including “Oh what a Morning” recorded by the Premieres Quartet from Fort Payne Ala.
Parsons sang at Billy Graham Crusades and appeared on several Gaither Homecoming videos. Bill Gaither said, “If anyone ever deserves the name gentleman in the field of Gospel Music, it would be Squire Parsons. Squire was one of the kindest, most considerate men and an incredible singer. So talented so gifted, so humble. We will miss him big time.”
Parsons received an honorary doctorate in 1999 from his alma mater, West Virginia Institute of Technology. He was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
Parsons was ordained as a minister in 1979 at his home church, Trinity Baptist Church in Asheville, N.C.
Because of his health concerns, after singing for half a century, Parsons retired from traveling in 2019 but continued to make appearances around his home in Asheville.
The Singing News Magazine summed it up, “Your voice may be silent, but your songs will never fade.”
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.