Features Editor

It’s not over until the fat lady sings and the fat lady’s not singing until Saturday night.

So, the unbelievable total of $206,135.77 for the Pike County Relay for Life 2002 will climb even higher.

Williams Chapel United Methodist Church in Brundidge is sponsoring

a gospel concert at Lake Simmie at 7 p.m Saturday and all profits from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society.

"We know how important it is to win the fight against cancer and we want to be a part of the victory," said Judy Carter, chairperson of the event.

The Lake Simmie Gospel Concert will be feature the popular gospel groups – the Lighthouse String Ensemble, New Life and the Trinity Singers and soloists Shelly

Motes and Beck Cohen.

"If you like gospel music, you’re going to love the Lake Simmie Gospel Concert," Carter said. "We have some of the best gospel groups and some of the best gospel soloists anywhere around. This is a must-see concert."

Cater said Lake Simmie will be a beautiful setting for the concert, especially at sundown.

"We want to invite everyone to bring a lawn chair or a blanket and sit back and relax and enjoy a great evening of gospel music," she said. "And, on top of that, you’ll be supporting a very worthy cause – helping to find a cure for cancer."

But, those who wait until 7 p.m to make their way to Lake Simmie will miss a rare treat.

Early Saturday morning, Steve Carter and other members of Williams Chapel will fire up a fleet of grills and throw on nearly 200 slabs of ribs. Those who are fortunate enough to get on the rib-list will be anxious to hear the dinner bell ring.

"The first ribs should be ready around 11 o’clock and they’ll cook until they cook out," Carter said, laughing. "The profits from the ribs will also go to Relay for Life. So, we hope to sale 200 slabs – I hope. I don’t know what the cooks hope."

The ribs will just be appetizers for the fun that to come when the concert gets under way.

"We thought a gospel concert would be something different and something very special," Carter said. "If this goes over big, we’ll probably do it again. So, we hope everyone will come out and make it big."

Admission to the concert is $5 and children under 12 are admitted free.

For ribs, call 735-3998.

Lake Simmie is located four miles south of Brundidge off U.S. Highway 231 on County Road 2.