Good bye, good friend. | |
 | |
AGC Pioneer I first met Tracy Coley in January 1995. I was at Holman Methodist Church for a wedding rehearsal. My memory is normally horrible. So it is unique that I remember that day so well. I walked into the church and heard this wonderful voice singing a cappella … “First time ever I saw your face.” Tracy had attended Morehouse with the groom, Kevin Ross. I saw Tracy again nearly a year later at Amazing Grace Conservatory. He was sitting behind the piano working with a student, Marquise Wilson, in preparation for the AGC production of the Wiz. Lela Ward Oliver needed some publicity stills for the show, so I arrived with camera in hand. That day changed my life. Tracy and Wendy warmly welcomed me into the AGC family. So I kept returning, year after year to see AGC grow and the students grow up. The stage productions just got better and better. The last one, Prodigal Sister, was incredible! I saw Tracy for the last time in July at a birthday party. I thought about Tracy several weeks ago and left a message on his service. I called to say hi and to let him know that I wanted to be on board for the fall AGC production. Tracy never returned the call. His golden voice went silent on November 9, 2002. I will never forget Tracy. |  |
 | |
 | It will be different at Amazing Grace Conservatory. But I will continue to hang around. AGC... his passion, is too important. |
|  |
The reach of the internet is amazing! Since posting this tribute page, I have received correspondence from Tracy's family and friends around the country. I'm glad that I could share these images. "My name is Claire Coley...I am Tracy's cousin. Tracy's father and mine are brothers. I just happen to be at work and thought I would surf the web for a few minutes. What a delight... Thank-you" "Hi, my name is Karen Ellison (BKA Kal), Tracy Coley's sister. I was so excited to find your website featuring Tracy... Thanks for the memories." "Hello, my name is Iola Smith and I'm a friend of Tracy. I think of him often. Just tonight, I was driving and singing in my car, and I stopped and said to Tracy "I know I'm singing off key". Tracy was my friend and my vocal coach. So when I came home tonight, I decided to look him up again on the web and was so happy to see your website. I must say I love him and continue to miss him tremendously. Thanks for your website. Tracy continues to be an inspiration to so many, including myself. I am a playwright and my recent play "Never Give Up' was dedicated to Tracy and I would definitely like for his family to know and give them a program of the play with Tracy's dedication page." | |
