John Greene Dyer, Jr.

John Greene Dyer, Jr., died Thursday, September 20, 2018. He was born August 20, 1932, in Chickamauga, GA, to parents, John Greene Dyer, Sr., and Ruth Goodson Dyer, both deceased.

John was predeceased by brothers, Edgar Roland Dyer (Anne) and Benjamin Franklin Dyer (Jean); sisters, Augusta Dyer Ambercrombie (Frank), Josephine Dyer Bryan (William F.), and Georgia Mae Dyer Baker; and nephew, Dr. Calvin P. Bryan (Margaret).

He is survived by niece, Patricia L. Bryan Siler, Chattanooga; great nephew, Christian Siler (Brandi) and their two daughters; Michael Lee Dyer (Lundie), Louisville, KY; John Greene Dyer III (Linda), Evansville, IN; Kenneth Baker (Sue), Rio Verde, AZ; Daniel Baker, San Diego, CA; Carlos Cazador (Socorio), Madera, CA; Dr. James Bradshaw (Susan), Rome, GA; Brink Bradshaw (Patty), Thompson, GA; Drs. Sara and Stephen Kuhn, Signal Mountain, TN; and numerous great and great-great nephews and nieces.  Also, surviving and continuing his legacy are hundreds of “his girls” of the Chattanooga Girls Choir, and numerous friends.

Mr. Dyer was a graduate of Gordon Lee High School, Chickamauga, GA; Furman University, Greenville, SC; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music, Louisville, KY; and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He did further study at Ohio State University, Columbus, where he was also on the Music faculty, and Georgia State University, Atlanta. He served as Minister of Music for many years in churches in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, and Georgia. He also served in Chattanooga churches as organist-choir master and organist only at others.

John was on the faculty of Cadek Conservatory of Music, teaching voice and piano. In 1986 he founded the Chattanooga Girls Choir and served as artistic director for ten years. He also founded the Rome (GA) Symphony Chorus and was conductor there for three years.

In his quiet way, John touched many lives and several generations. He was a man of great dignity and integrity, generous to a fault, and beloved by family and friends. He had a wonderfully understated sense of humor.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at First Baptist Church, 401 Gateway Ave., Chattanooga, Monday, October 1, 2018, at 7:00 pm. Following John’s instructions, there will be no visitation.  In lieu of flowers, if one wishes, a donation to the John Dyer Memorial Fund at the Chattanooga Girls Choir (chattanoogagirlschoir.org) would be appreciated to continue his legacy.

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