Pixie to sing the blues at ECCC’s Friday concert
A hometown girl made good will highlight a Friday evening, Aug. 4 concert at the Holy Family Senior Center as part of a benefit for the Elder Care Community Council of Franklin County.
The 6 p.m. concert, known as “Pixie Sings the Blues and Pop,” will feature Mary Mathis, born in Apalachicola as the youngest of six siblings.
Raised in a lively household full of entertainers, Mathis’s mother, Dorothy Simmons, was a classical singer, and her older siblings natural born singers, musicians, and comedians, filling their home with music and laughter.
One of the Simmons’ favorite pastimes were family talent shows hosted by their mother, shows that enabled Mary the opportunity to develop her signature moves as a dancer.
The night Mary decided to test her ability by entering the school talent show, those years of practice paid off and she walked away with a first place prize and bragging rights. From then on, she won every talent show and dance contest she entered, as the town took notice of her raw talent as she would effortlessly glide across the stage and shimmy.
In the early 1970s, at the age of 14, Mary joined The Stone Creepers, a local blues and pop band led by her youngest brother. This affiliation gave her a taste of the spotlight as she showcased her dancing, and soon her singing ability, to their growing fan base. It was then Mary realized her passion and potential as an entertainer.
In the 40-plus years since she began, Mary has performed at a host of venues along the Gulf Coast, but none quite compare to those in her beloved hometown. A lot has changed since her days of singing with her former bandmates, but Mary’s love and dedication to her craft has never wavered.
Tickets are available on EventBrite by searching for “Pixie Sings the Blues and Pop.” It’s a $20 donation with tables of eight available for $500. All proceeds from the concert will purchase food for the daily lunches at Holy Family, which include delivery to almost 70 homebound elders in our community.
If you would like to volunteer with ECCC, call 850-370-0116. Lunch is served at the Center Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. and if you are over age 60, we invite you to join us.
Yoga is Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. by donation and open to all. Call Betsy at 614-425-4548 for more information:
ECCC is a 501(C)(3) community organization whose mission is to bridge the gaps in services to elders in Franklin County.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.