Clarice "Ma" Howard Baxter (October 1, 1897 - May 20, 1972)

Biography

Clarice Baxter was one of the pioneers of Southern Gospel Music, and the wife of the legendary J R Baxter of Stamps-Baxter fame. She was born in DeKalb County, Georgia in 1898. Clarice spent more than four decades helping to build and nurture one of Southern Gospel's most famous companies.

Clarice developed her life-long love of sacred music while attending singing schools in Georgia and became a teacher. After she married J. R. Baxter in 1918, she gave up teaching and joined her husband at the A. J. Showalter Company.

In 1926, the Baxters became part owners of the Stamps Baxter Music And Printing Company. Clarice would remain there for the rest of her life, contributing greatly to both the printing operation and to the Stamps Baxter School Of Music. She also performed with the Baxter Quartet.

After J.R. died in 1960, Clarice became the President and General Manager of the company, the first woman to run such a business in Southern Gospel Music. Clarice died in 1972. She was a member of the inaugural class of inductees in the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall Of Fame in 1997.

Awards

GMA Hall Of Fame (1981)
SGMA Hall Of Fame (1997)

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