Dear Preston, family, and Patti,
Marca Lee's impact on my life has been immeasurable. When I was a freshman and wanted to sing a solo at UIL, she would pick a song for me called Velvet Shoes. I came back to her the following day and asked if I could sing something more challenging, O Lord Most Holy. She allowed me to do this, even though she didn't know whether or not I could pull it off. When I wanted to audition for a main role in Once Upon a Mattress, my dad (who managed the Music Hall at Fair Park for 35 years) tried to dissuade me, saying they would certainly pick an upperclassman over a freshman. Marca Lee picked me for the role of Lady Larkin, a spunky, moody, sweet ingenue part.
When I tried out for All-Region Choir that same year, I sang the audition material just fine, but when I looked at the sight-reading, I freaked out and walked out of the audition room without trying. Marca Lee was really upset with me. She thought I could have read the music well enough to pass the audition. I learned my lesson and never walked out of another audition. As a senior, I was auditioning for All-State Choir. I ran into Marca Lee in the hallway - she was judging another voice part. I had been listening through the door to the sopranos' auditions, and I didn't think I could sing nearly that well. She said "Gina, that is nonsense. You are one of the few real sopranos in this building!" This encouragement propelled me to sing sufficiently to be selected for All-State!
Marca Lee scolded me when I was a JV Cheerleader sophomore year and walked into rehearsal with no voice, completely blown vocal cords from yelling at the football game. She said from now on, I had to mouth the cheers. No more screaming!! Senior year I was set to go to Homecoming Dance with my boyfriend Craig Gervers, but NATS tri-state auditions were the next day in Nacogdoches. She tried so hard to convince me to skip the dance! She thought I had a chance to win the audition. I only placed 3rd, but I only got 3 hours of sleep!
Marca Lee and I exchanged Christmas cards for 50 years. When she found out my father, Gary Surratt, had passed away in 2003, she called me in California and we talked for about an hour. She let me come back to Woodrow and help with musicals auditions prior to my moving to California in 1986. When I was picked for Six Flags Over Texas "America" show, she, Patti and Gayla came out to see me perform! She also came to a couple of the Dallas Summer Musicals productions when I was a chorus member. She was proud of me for singing with the LA Opera, LA Master Chorale and LA Philharmonic for 20 years. She encouraged me when I released my children's album "Allie and Gus" in 2003 and thought it was really good work, which meant the world to me. Marca Lee's support, occasional scolding, and her unconditional love for me and for all of her students will always hold a sacred space in my heart. I love you, Preston, Patti and Marca Lee's family, friends, and former students. God bless and comfort you! Much love, Gina Surratt Howell, WW Class of 1981.
