THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410050144
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
SMITHFIELD SEVERAL YEARS AGO, Hilda Musick's husband, Harold, awoke in the middle of the night, saw she wasn't there and began searching for her.
At 2 a.m., he found her transplanting a bush in the back yard by the beam of a flashlight.
``I had a lot of nervous energy, and when I couldn't sleep, I used to get out of bed in the middle of the night to dust, vacuum and wash windows,'' Musick says.
At 70, Musick says she doesn't have as much energy now, but her friends and neigbors wouldn't know it.
Now a widow, she spends much of her time cooking and organizing dinners at Smithfield Baptist Church, working with Christian Outreach and the Isle of Wight Auxiliary, and visiting shut-ins in nursing homes.
``Anything I can do is a blessing to me,'' Musick says. ``I'm not a person to sit and hold my hands.''
On Saturday, Musick will be working at the annual ``Souper Saturday,'' a fund-raiser sponsored by the Isle of Wight Christian Outreach program. Proceeds will be donated to Social Services and used to help pay fuel bills for needy senior citizens in the county.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Trinity United Methodist Church, at Mason and Cedar streets.
Members of 25 local churches will provide 240 gallons of homemade soups, chili and chowder. Accompanying the main dish will be homemade rolls, biscuits, cornbread and loaf bread. And those who save room for dessert may choose from several kinds of cookies and cakes, all homemade.
Musick, who has organized entertainment for the day, plans to introduce the Christian groups, who will provide a variety of musical programs.
The first Souper Saturday, sponsored by the Christ Episcopal and the Good Shepherd Episcopal churches, was held in February 1991, and netted $1,400.
``I was asked to join them in their work and I've enjoyed every minute of it,'' Musick says. ``I'm the `phone person,' and I call anybody I can think of. I have worked in the kitchen, served and helped clean up.''
Since the first successful event, the number of churches involved in Souper Saturday has increased. In October 1992, the number increased from eight to 13. By 1993, five more churches had joined the effort.
A coloring book featuring drawings of Smithfield landmarks and several local citizens by Smithfield artist and sculptor David Narvaez will be for sale Saturday. Fred Glanville, a former chairman of Souper Saturday, has organized the sale, and proceeds will be used for senior citizens who own their homes and cannot afford to make repairs, Musick says.
Last May, Musick was chairwoman for a bake sale during the Olden Days celebration in Smithfield. Proceeds were used to buy materials for the repairs. ``We also have a cookbook again this year that we are selling for $1, and there are new recipes,'' Musick says.
A native of Orbit, Musick grew up in Windsor. She lived and worked in Hampton for several years before moving to Carrollton in 1968. She has two sons, Glen Musick of Smithfield, and Don Musick of Carrollton. There are also four grandchildren.
In the 1950s, Musick worked as an inspector for the Miker Co. in Newport News and was also a branch manager for Empress Jewelry in Hampton.
``I was the first lady to sell cars in Virginia,'' she says, for Renault Motor Co. on Mercury Boulevard in the late '50s.
``A man wanted to buy a car, but he couldn't drive. I taught him to drive, he got his license - and bought a new car.''
After working at General Electric for 1 1/2 years, Musick retired in 1974 to be a full-time homemaker.
At last count, she had sold all but 42 of the 200 tickets she had agreed to sell for Souper Saturday.
``I get such a joy and blessing out of helping people. I'm a `hugger,' and I read that a hug is a handshake from the Lord.'' MEMO: Tickets for ``Souper Saturday'' are $5 for adults; $3 for children of
school age and no charge for children under school age. They may be
bought at the door. Anyone interested in joining the Christian Outreach
program may call Hilda S. Musick, 357-3789. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Hilda Musick gives a sales pitch for the Smithfield Coloring Book,
which will be on sale during ``Souper Saturday.''
by CNB