Bethel Magnuson Humber

Beth was born in Youngstown, Ohio to parents Rev. George A. and Esther Eliason Magnuson. She was the Organist and Associate Music Director at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica (now Wesley Church at Frederica) on St. Simons Island, and had served there from May of 2003 to the spring of 2014, then as Organist Emeritus from 2014 to the present. Previously, she was Organist and Music Associate in Georgia Baptist churches in the Atlanta area since 1961, including Inman Park Baptist Church, Sylvin Hills Baptist Church, North Peachtree Baptist Church and Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Sandy Springs where she was on staff for 23 years. She was also active in Georgia Baptist church music statewide and was Organist and Handbell Director for the Jubalheirs and Jubal Chorus, and has coached organists and taught organ in G.B.C. Conferences and workshops.

Beth fell in love with organ early on, at the age of eleven, as a Baptist minister’s daughter. After several years of piano lessons, she began her organ study at the age of fifteen with Regina Fryxell, Organ Professor at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois and Organist at St. John Methodist Church in Davenport, Iowa. She continued with her studies through high school (three years), and then went on to study organ and piano while a student at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota. In more recent years, she studied further with Dr. Albert Travis who taught at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was the one who encouraged her to begin to write and arrange for organ. Her first published piano/organ duet followed, co-written with David Carnes, her piano partner at Mt. Vernon Church. It was “Lord, Here Am I” (John Ness Beck) and published by Beckenhorst Press. Soon after, Beth and David were invited to do an organ/piano duet collection for Genevox (S.B.C), and the result was “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”. Beth has also had some individual pieces published by Genevox.

At her church, Beth continued to write and arrange for service music, not only for the organ, but also violin, cello and organ, trumpet obbligatos, handbells and vocal ensembles that she directed at Wesley.

In addition to her parents, two brothers, Norris Magnuson and Linden Magnuson and a sister in law, Pat Magnuson preceded Beth in death.

Beth is survived by her husband of 66 years, Dr. D.D. Humber, Sr. of St. Simons Island; two daughters, Laurel Harrell (John) of Woodstock, GA and Carol McClure (Brian) of Madison, GA; two sons, Dr. Durie D. Humber, Jr. of Flowery Branch, GA and Rev. George Matthew Humber (Michelle) of Rockwall, TX; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a sister in law, Beverly Magnuson and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Wesley Church at Frederica.

The family suggests donations to the Music Ministry at Wesley Church at Frederica, 6520 Frederica Rd., St. Simons Island, GA 31522; Wears Valley Ranch, 100 One Fine Place, Sevierville, TN 37862 or to Bethel College and Seminary, 2 Pine Tree Drive, Arden Hills, MN 55112 or to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home www.edomillerandsons.com