Organist of Westminster Presbyterian Church Dies Suddenly

W. Carlisle Hemphill, organist of the Westminster Presbyterian church and for the past eight years an employee of the trust department of the Equitable Trust Company, died suddenly at 11:35 o’clock, Saturday night, at the home of his mother, 2304 Market street.

Mr. Hemphill was 29 years old on August 24 last and had a host of friends throughout Wilmington. He was the only son of Mrs. Elizabeth Walker Hemphill, widow of William J. Hemphill, retired grocer, who died sixteen months ago.

Deceased was born and raised in Wilmington. He was a graduate of the Wilmington High School and attended Delaware College, now the University of Delaware. Musical by nature, he began the study of the pipe organ at the age of 14, under William Bradford, then organist of St. John’s Protestant Episcopal church. Continuing his studies, he became a pupil of Ralph Kinder, organist of the Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopal church, Philadelphia.

Mr. Hemphill was made assistant organist at Grace Methodist Episcopal, finally going to Westminster Presbyterian, where, in the past few years, he won a name as one of the leading artists of the city. Until the present season he also was the accompanist of the Orpheus Club, Wilmington’s most prominent choral organization, of which Mayor Harvey is an active member.

During the wars Mr. Hemphill enlisted in the navy as a yeoman and pass examination as an ensign, the only one in a class of 54. Then came the armistice and he was given an honorable discharge.

Two weeks ago Mr. Hemphill was taken ill with hemorrhages. He rallied and on Saturday morning was thought to be on the road to recovery. At 10 o’clock Saturday night, he suffered a relapse and died before midnight.

Funeral services will be held from his late residence at 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon.

(The Morning News, Wilmington, DE, 4 Jul 1921 (Monday), Page 2)

Organist of Westminster Presbyterian Church Dies Suddenly

W. Carlisle Hemphill, organist of the Westminster Presbyterian church and for the past eight years an employee of the trust department of the Equitable Trust Company, died suddenly at 11:35 o’clock, Saturday night, at the home of his mother, 2304 Market street.

Mr. Hemphill was 29 years old on August 24 last and had a host of friends throughout Wilmington. He was the only son of Mrs. Elizabeth Walker Hemphill, widow of William J. Hemphill, retired grocer, who died sixteen months ago.

Deceased was born and raised in Wilmington. He was a graduate of the Wilmington High School and attended Delaware College, now the University of Delaware. Musical by nature, he began the study of the pipe organ at the age of 14, under William Bradford, then organist of St. John’s Protestant Episcopal church. Continuing his studies, he became a pupil of Ralph Kinder, organist of the Holy Trinity Protestant Episcopal church, Philadelphia.

Mr. Hemphill was made assistant organist at Grace Methodist Episcopal, finally going to Westminster Presbyterian, where, in the past few years, he won a name as one of the leading artists of the city. Until the present season he also was the accompanist of the Orpheus Club, Wilmington’s most prominent choral organization, of which Mayor Harvey is an active member.

During the wars Mr. Hemphill enlisted in the navy as a yeoman and pass examination as an ensign, the only one in a class of 54. Then came the armistice and he was given an honorable discharge.

Two weeks ago Mr. Hemphill was taken ill with hemorrhages. He rallied and on Saturday morning was thought to be on the road to recovery. At 10 o’clock Saturday night, he suffered a relapse and died before midnight.

Funeral services will be held from his late residence at 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon.

(The Morning News, Wilmington, DE, 4 Jul 1921 (Monday), Page 2)