West Liberty worship: 'We may have lost our church, but we haven't lost our heart'

WEST LIBERTY For decades, Rose W. May has been the musical heart and soul of the West Liberty United Methodist Church.

A retired Morgan County English teacher, she has played graduations, baptisms, weddings and funerals. The March 2 tornado that ripped through town took her church, her house and her grand piano. It even took her sheet music.

But it couldn't take her songs.

Sunday, as members of several churches destroyed by the tornado gathered in an auditorium at Morehead State University's West Liberty campus, Rose May was there, pouring out the old hymns like balm on wounded souls.

"This is the first time she's played since it happened," said Terri Walters, her daughter, of Pikeville. "She is at home, isn't she? At her keyboard."

Sparing a wink over the top or a wave to well-wishers, May swept through a medley ofchurch classics, with a few other emotional favorites mixed in.

She tried to keep it upbeat, and almost threw in the school fight song but decided that might not be proper.

As members of the congregations of the Methodist, First Baptist, Broadway First Church of God, Church of Christ, and Christian churches all destroyed hugged and wiped away tears, Rose May's "My Old Kentucky Home" was the soundtrack of their emotional reunion.

Nine days earlier, May had been on the phone with Walters as the tornado approached and when her daughter said "It's coming," May calmly said good-bye, picked up her purse and headed for the basement.

On the way down the stairs, she heard a terrible sound and the roof lifted off her house. She made it to cover in a corner. Once it got quiet again, the basement wall had fallen away and May just walked right out, unharmed and unafraid. She's staying with Walters in Pikeville but knew she had to come to Sunday's service.

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West Liberty worship: 'We may have lost our church, but we haven't lost our heart'