William Warfield
1920-2002

This message from George Shirley, leading baritone and music educator, was read at the Labor Day 2002 Schiller Institute Conference.

"It is written we should all rejoice, when one of our brothers or sisters returns home, since we are all prodigals wandering this earth, in search of salvation. Leaving the world, and its pain and injustice behind, in order to return to our Father's house, should be cause for rejoicing. This is especially true, when the earthly journey has been as productive and notable a triumph, as has that of William Warfield.

Rest assured, that, although silent to our mortal ears, save for those moments frozen in time by the miracles of audio-visual technology, the great voice of William Warfield now rings forth robustly in Heaven, in chorus with those of Hayes, Anderson, and Robeson, and will ever resound in mortal memory. Mors janua vitae: `Death is the gate of life.'

"Thank you, Bill, for so richly blessing us, along your journey back to the Promised Land. We look forward to hear in your glorious voice again, when we, in turn, re-enter the portal of Life Eternal.

"With lasting admiration, George Shirley."

Amelia Boynton Robinson, Schiller Institute Vice Chairwoman and civil rights heroine,made these remaks at the Labor Day 2002 Conference Keynote Panel:

A tribute to William Warfield: God needed a songbird in Heaven, and God took William Warfield away. He only loaned him to us. And we know, wherever he is, he is really giving a beautiful, beautiful recital to the angels in Heaven.