More than 1,000 pack church for funeral of gospel-great Jake Hess

<p>More than 1,000 people, representing generations of gospel singers, packed Morningside Baptist Church Wednesday for the funeral of four-time Grammy winner and gospel singer Jake Hess.</p><p>People who attended the service knew Hess as a friend and singer whose musical career covered 60 years. Hess sang with some of the premier quartets in gospel music and influenced the career of Elvis Presley.</p><p>He died Sunday at age 76 and had been a Columbus resident since 1993.</p><p>Hess is best known to contemporary audiences as a regular member of Bill Gaithers Homecoming Friends, on various Christian and country music cable channels, including TBN and TNN.</p><p>He joined The John Daniel Quartet in 1943 and reached stardom with The Statesmen Quartet, of which Presley as a teen was a regular at the bands concerts. Hess sang at Presleys 1977 funeral.</p><p>At the service, singers sang gospel songs first sung when quartet music was played on AM radio and recorded on 78 rpm records.</p><p>Emily Braswell Trotter, who eight weeks ago gave birth to Hess first great-grandchild, shared another side of the man who 10 years ago moved to Columbus to retire.</p><p>She talked about a grandfather who enjoyed practical jokes, loud suits and the Atlanta Braves and a man who slept best on a bus. Trotter put his death in the context of a traveling singer.</p><p>Hes only on a trip singing, she said.</p><p>With Jeff Easter soulfully playing his harmonica, the choir sang about Amazing Grace. Country recording artist Sonya Isaacs also performed. Gaither talked about the boyhood idol who became his buddy.</p><p>In a way, Ive lost my best friend, but I have lots of memories, he said. Most people live in the past or future; Jake lived in the present.</p><p>Late Wednesday at sunset, Hess was buried in Juniper, Ga. as a lone guitarist softly played one more song.</p>

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