Honor Rev. John A. Ross with a Memorial Plaque

This request for help is from two women, Madeline and Mary, who sang in Rev. John Ross's choir at First Parish UU in Brookline, MA for many years. John was revered and loved in his role as Minister of Music at First Parish for 10 years. He gloried in being a gracious and exuberant participant and musician in countless events at the church. Events that supported the church’s immediate and surrounding community. John was a widely known musician who was generous with his musical talents and vast knowledge of African American musical traditions, jazz, gospel, classical, and folk music throughout metropolitan Boston and the NE region. He was well known as the musical director of the gospel play "Black Nativity" 1970 - 1995, originally imagined by Langston Hughes. John taught and was chairman of the music department at the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts. Rev. Ross also served as director of the Music Division at the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA). He formed the choral ensembles Children of Black Persuasion and its adult equivalent, Voices of Black Persuasion, in which he was an active member. Many local musicians benefitted from Rev. Ross's highlighting them in performances over the years. His passing in 2006 left a hole in the heart of the community. We pray we can honor him with a plaque at his resting site. We'd love to have the support of the communities he touched and influenced through his inspirational love of music and his fellow man.

The costs:

Mt. Auburn Cemetery requires $300 to open the niche,

$80 for the brass nameplate/plaque,

and the $20 is to defray processing fees from GFM

Thank you for your help in honoring John.