Ms. Claiborne, the sculpture was inspired by my memory of Mrs. Augustine Claiborne as she sang for the birthday of one of my mother’s friends. The gentleman was ninety years old and his family and friends gathered in the Fellowship Hall of their church to pay tribute to him. Though Ms. Claiborne’s voice showed signs of her sixty or more years, she sang with such majesty and love for her friend. Her sincerity and regal bearing moved me to sketch her on the only paper available–the back of the program. It was only a line drawing, but it was enough to evoke a rich memory of that evening. From that memory came the inspiration for this sculpture.