One woman found herself looking for something to fill a void inher life 12 years ago.

A doctor told another woman that undergoing throat surgery toremove a tumor would also take away her ability to talk. Sheparticipates as a way of celebrating the fact that outcome did nothappen.

Whatever the reasons, members of the Lincoln Chorale, a seniorchoir, find themselves doing more than putting together a fewharmonies in rhythm with the other 70 members of the group.

“My husband had just died and I didn’t know what to do,” saidDoris Wahl, who has been involved in the choir since it began 12years ago. “This has just meant the world to be to be involved inthis.”

Wahl brought her friend, Lucky Sellers. With every melody andtune she sings, she defies the doctor who told her she would loseher voice.

“I said the Lord’s not through with me yet. I’ve been singingever since,” said Sellers. “I might not hit the right note, but I’mthere.”

It was Thomas Moak’s passion for music ministering, which heretired from after 60 years, and his wife, Willa, on piano thatstarted the group more than a decade ago.

However, it would be the collection of friends similar to thatof Wahl and Sellers that helped expand the choir to encompassmembers of roughly 30 churches from Lincoln, Pike, Lawrence, Copiahand other surrounding counties.

“We have some real strict requirements to be in this group. Youhave to be breathing,” jokes Thomas Moak.

Practicing every other Thursday at the Lincoln BaptistAssociation worship center on Halbert Heights Road, the choir ismade of various denominations and all levels of talent.

“I don’t know one note from another,” said Sellers. “I just domy best to make a joyful noise.”

While members may share a common love of music and the Lord,most enjoy the fellowship and family-like bonds that grow frombelonging to the choir.

“When I am on a bad day and kind of stumbling, I know I havesomeone close by to pick me up,” said Wahl.

The choir, however, does not cage their melodies to theconfinements of the worship center. The choir has performed in 12concerts in the last year and has traveled to Louisiana and Alabamato share their songs.

One of their most recent trips was to the Camellia Estates inMcComb, in which choir members said their visit brought smiles tothose residing in the assisted living facility.

“I look at this as a gift of giving back to God for what He hasdone for me,” said Thomas Moak.

The group was also named superior choir two years ago in acompetition among 40 other senior choirs at the State Senior AdultsChorale Festival in Clinton.

The Lincoln Chorale will be competing in the contest again inMay. This year, the festival will be held in Madison.

While the musical group and tunes may mean something differentto each member, every defying breath and every heart-filling noteis a reminder that things are never really that bad.

“If you still got your song, you’re doing all right,” saidPastor Dr. Joe McKeever, of New Orleans, who visited the choirwhile in town on Thursday.