Ellen Driggers:
CLASS OF 1968
Highland Park Elementary SchoolClass of 1968
Richmond, VA
Octorara High SchoolClass of 1974
Atglen, PA
Luther Memorial SchoolClass of 1970
Richmond, VA
Chandler Middle SchoolClass of 1969
Richmond, VA
Ellen's Story
Born and raised in Richmond, VA, I attended 3 schools in Richmond. Graduated as an art major at Octorara Area High School, Atglen, PA and attended Edenton School of Art, Chester County, PA. In Tallahassee, FL, I attended Thomasville Road Academy for Performing Arts learning Orchestral Timpani. Took photography and stained-glass art classes in Tallahassee and Havana, FL. Had a publishing/advertising career in Tallahassee. Won awards; had my name in magazines. Did work for some famous celebrities: Impersonator/Comedian/Actor, George Kirby; Brigadier General, Chuck Yeager who, as an air force flying ace, broke the sound barrier. Also, high-profile political campaigns and billboards, former Governor/Senator Bob Graham and former Governor LeRoy Collins. Had ads in the Tallahassee Democrat, Tampa Tribune, Miami Herald, Wall Street Journal. Also, worked in the Communications Department at Florida Institute of CPAs in downtown Tallahassee and at Homes & Land Publishing creating real estate magazines nationwide as it was founded in Tallahassee. Eventually, I had to make a career change and happily retired as an accountant for the State of Florida in Tallahassee. Have a music career playing: Drums/Percussion instruments, Orchestral Timpani and Cymbal work, Steel Pan Drums (calypso music) for churches and secular music performing in a number of bands, church praise teams, church orchestras, city-wide church concerts, Christmas musicals and secular music gigs locally and regionally in FL and PA. Had some music studio experience in Philadelphia, PA. Opened events performing for: Country Music Star, Charlie McCoy; Contemporary Christian Pop Singer, Jonny Diaz; Gospel Group, The Martins; Contemporary Christian Singer, Kathy Troccolli; FL Gov. First Lady, Mrs. Lawton Chiles; Human Service Lobbyist Advocate for FL Human Rights and Founder of Kids, Inc., Budd Bell; US FL Congressman, Allen Boyd; Author, Gary Chapman for the 5 Love Languages Seminar; Comedian, Dennis Swanberg; Ted Turner's Avalon Plantation as well as many festivals locally and regionally: FSU Downtown Get Down, Springtime Tallahassee Jubilee, Christmas Winter Festival of Lights, Jazz & Blues Festival, Relay for Life, Cinco de...Expand for more
Mayo Event, Shucker's Motorcycle Rally, Beatles Night, Smitty's Outdoor Jam, Project Annie Thanksgiving Event; Marianna Main Street Festival, Marianna Pork and Pull Festival, Havana Music Festival, St. Marks Stone Crab Festival, St. George Island Lighthouse Concert, Perry Pine Forest Festival, Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin' Festival, Greensboro 4th of July Fesitval, Christ Life Festival. Also was invited along with our church to perform for the African-Carribean Concert playing a djembe drum. Our secular rock band was featured and named best local band by the Tallahassee Democrat. Also, I was shown on the local news playing steel pans. I attended a 3-day music conference in Mobile, Alabama at the former Integrity Music Studios for music seminars and praise/worship with the famous, Don Moen, Paul Baloche and John Chisum to name a few. I have performed in 6 states, 45 towns, 31 churches. I had a wonderful opportunity to shake hands with two of my favorite blues performers, B.B. King and Tab Benoit. As a drummer, I was happy to catch - not one but two drum sticks tossed into the audience at the Robin Trower concert in Tallahassee. My husband and I got to meet and have lunch with former FSU Football Coach, Bobby Bowden and his wife. My husband, also a musician plays bass guitar and we make a great rhythm section. We had the most wonderful opportunity to visit his Aunt in Nashville, TN who is the internationally famous songwriter, Dee Gaskin who has a number of awards and had the number one gospel song of the decade, "Come Morning." I have been published with an article along with a photograph that I submitted for a nationwide book, "Life in the Slow Lane: Covered Bridges" - a story I wrote for my mother and honored her by placing it in her name. My story was accepted as one of 200 articles from thousands of entries that were submitted for this book. In regards to that, we were featured in the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper along with our photographs. It was an exciting moment. I'm a member of the Council for Culture and Arts in Tallahassee, FL and the Turner Art Center in Valdosta, GA. I've had art shows in FL, GA and PA. I have 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren. I feel greatly blessed.
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