Brag Book
November 2014-2016
Performed at the VA Medical Center Veterans Week’s Gospel Concert
July 2014-2017
Performed in the Philadelphia 4th of July Parade
Posted: 01/09/14, 11:23 AM EST
Daily Local Newspaper Article
http://www.dailylocal.com/lifestyle/20140109/chester-countys-tiller-sisters-spread-the-word-of-god
By KATHRYN BLACKHURST, For 21st-Century Media
Chester County's Tiller Sisters spread the word of God
It all began with the five sisters singing together and clowning around at their kitchen table in Lionville. Betty Walls recalls waiting for her parents to go out bowling together before blasting their 45 RPM records and singing and dancing around the table. “We grew up making music a part of our lives,” Betty said. Although it was a struggle at times to grow up in a family of 10 while sharing one bathroom and plenty of hand-me-down clothes, the Tiller Sisters, who range in age from 48-61, look back fondly on those years
filled with love, laughter, and music. “A family who prays together stays together,” Rosalind Phillips said. “Sometimes we don’t always agree, but we know we have to keep it together.” Although Betty, Rosalind and Janelle Johnson first began singing together as a trio, The tiller Sisters, a gospel music quintet, officially formed when Diane Horsey and Carol Bell joined after their father, Arthur Tiller Sr., passed away in 2001.
“Our mother (Betty Tiller) goes with us to most of our concerts,” Rosalind said. “She’s our biggest supporter, and she’s always
there crying!” Church has always been an important part of the sisters’ lives, and their parents instilled in them from an early age the value of going to church and serving others. “You go to church because you need the body of Christ and because you need to continually grow,” Janelle said. “Growth plays into our ministry when we go to sing to people. We all stay together as a family
and grow individually. What we do is not about what we think, but about what Christ wants us to do.”
The Bible verse that has meant the most to the Tiller Sisters throughout their ministry comes from Psalm 121, which reads, “I
lift up my eyes to the mountains -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Their deep faith and compassionate hearts of service find expression through the gospel music the sisters have written,
arranged and performed at venues ranging from local churches, the West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas Parade, the Civil Rights float in the Philadelphia Day Parade, the Coatesville VA Medical Center, and the 50th Anniversary of the Civil
Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama. “There is so much ugliness in the world, and we need to take the time to bring people to Christ,” Diane said. “Through singing gospel music, we can convey understanding and expression in our voices, showing that there is a God -- someone other than mankind.”
Their faith and love are also demonstrated through the sisters’ individual lives and acts of service within their
communities. Carol joined the military in 1974 and served in Korea, where her oldest daughter was born, as well as Panama, Honduras, and Iraq. After serving in Iraq for one year, Carol retired in 2005. “Iraq changes you,” she said. “It made me
appreciate every second of every day and how precious life is. I am so thankful to God for my sisters. Rosalind always gets me through with her sense of humor. It helps me, and it’s what I need to get me through the tough days.” Diane, who is a retired teacher and coach of 35 years at West Chester East High School, was inducted into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. “But I don’t live for that,” she said. “I want to be able to touch the lives of young people in a positive way and help develop their abilities. Many of my former students are now also coaches, and they still send me cards at the holidays and still contact me.”
Betty’s heart of service and love for children led her to become both a foster parent and an adoptive parent. Three of the
sisters are also employees of the Coatesville VA Medical Center. According to Brenda Reeves, Rosalind’s daughter
and The Tiller Sisters’ management coordinator, “All of them have a special place in my heart. Betty is the quiet one. Diane is the disciplinarian. Janelle is my sweet diva! My mom is my best friend. Carol is the underdog. It’s crazy how different they are! Each one is perfect in one way, and put together they would be the perfect person.” And together as a family, the Tiller Sisters
continue to foster a deep love of music with a sincere compassion for community within their large and close-knit family.
“Betty’s adopted t3-year-old daughter now joins us at the table and sings right along with us,” Diane said. “She picks it up so
quickly, and she naturally sings in the right key, too. When she grows up, she’ll carry along with her that love of music.”
September 2013
Performed in Birmingham, Alabama for the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement along with other well-known artists and celebrities.
July 2013
Performed in the Philadelphia 4th of July Parade, and featured on the Civil Rights float with Mayor Bell of Birmingham, Alabama.
December 2012 -2016
Performed in the pre-show for the West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas Parade which was aired on B-101 radio station.
November 2012
Performed at National Adoption Day Celebration (West Chester, PA).
November 2012
Performed at the VA Medical Center Veterans Week’s Gospel Concert.
April 2010
Sponsored a program at St. Paul’s Baptist Church (West Chester, PA). Proceeds benefited the American Red Cross’s Haiti Relief Fund.
Performed at the VA Medical Center Veterans Week’s Gospel Concert
July 2014-2017
Performed in the Philadelphia 4th of July Parade
Posted: 01/09/14, 11:23 AM EST
Daily Local Newspaper Article
http://www.dailylocal.com/lifestyle/20140109/chester-countys-tiller-sisters-spread-the-word-of-god
By KATHRYN BLACKHURST, For 21st-Century Media
Chester County's Tiller Sisters spread the word of God
It all began with the five sisters singing together and clowning around at their kitchen table in Lionville. Betty Walls recalls waiting for her parents to go out bowling together before blasting their 45 RPM records and singing and dancing around the table. “We grew up making music a part of our lives,” Betty said. Although it was a struggle at times to grow up in a family of 10 while sharing one bathroom and plenty of hand-me-down clothes, the Tiller Sisters, who range in age from 48-61, look back fondly on those years
filled with love, laughter, and music. “A family who prays together stays together,” Rosalind Phillips said. “Sometimes we don’t always agree, but we know we have to keep it together.” Although Betty, Rosalind and Janelle Johnson first began singing together as a trio, The tiller Sisters, a gospel music quintet, officially formed when Diane Horsey and Carol Bell joined after their father, Arthur Tiller Sr., passed away in 2001.
“Our mother (Betty Tiller) goes with us to most of our concerts,” Rosalind said. “She’s our biggest supporter, and she’s always
there crying!” Church has always been an important part of the sisters’ lives, and their parents instilled in them from an early age the value of going to church and serving others. “You go to church because you need the body of Christ and because you need to continually grow,” Janelle said. “Growth plays into our ministry when we go to sing to people. We all stay together as a family
and grow individually. What we do is not about what we think, but about what Christ wants us to do.”
The Bible verse that has meant the most to the Tiller Sisters throughout their ministry comes from Psalm 121, which reads, “I
lift up my eyes to the mountains -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Their deep faith and compassionate hearts of service find expression through the gospel music the sisters have written,
arranged and performed at venues ranging from local churches, the West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas Parade, the Civil Rights float in the Philadelphia Day Parade, the Coatesville VA Medical Center, and the 50th Anniversary of the Civil
Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama. “There is so much ugliness in the world, and we need to take the time to bring people to Christ,” Diane said. “Through singing gospel music, we can convey understanding and expression in our voices, showing that there is a God -- someone other than mankind.”
Their faith and love are also demonstrated through the sisters’ individual lives and acts of service within their
communities. Carol joined the military in 1974 and served in Korea, where her oldest daughter was born, as well as Panama, Honduras, and Iraq. After serving in Iraq for one year, Carol retired in 2005. “Iraq changes you,” she said. “It made me
appreciate every second of every day and how precious life is. I am so thankful to God for my sisters. Rosalind always gets me through with her sense of humor. It helps me, and it’s what I need to get me through the tough days.” Diane, who is a retired teacher and coach of 35 years at West Chester East High School, was inducted into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. “But I don’t live for that,” she said. “I want to be able to touch the lives of young people in a positive way and help develop their abilities. Many of my former students are now also coaches, and they still send me cards at the holidays and still contact me.”
Betty’s heart of service and love for children led her to become both a foster parent and an adoptive parent. Three of the
sisters are also employees of the Coatesville VA Medical Center. According to Brenda Reeves, Rosalind’s daughter
and The Tiller Sisters’ management coordinator, “All of them have a special place in my heart. Betty is the quiet one. Diane is the disciplinarian. Janelle is my sweet diva! My mom is my best friend. Carol is the underdog. It’s crazy how different they are! Each one is perfect in one way, and put together they would be the perfect person.” And together as a family, the Tiller Sisters
continue to foster a deep love of music with a sincere compassion for community within their large and close-knit family.
“Betty’s adopted t3-year-old daughter now joins us at the table and sings right along with us,” Diane said. “She picks it up so
quickly, and she naturally sings in the right key, too. When she grows up, she’ll carry along with her that love of music.”
September 2013
Performed in Birmingham, Alabama for the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement along with other well-known artists and celebrities.
July 2013
Performed in the Philadelphia 4th of July Parade, and featured on the Civil Rights float with Mayor Bell of Birmingham, Alabama.
December 2012 -2016
Performed in the pre-show for the West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas Parade which was aired on B-101 radio station.
November 2012
Performed at National Adoption Day Celebration (West Chester, PA).
November 2012
Performed at the VA Medical Center Veterans Week’s Gospel Concert.
April 2010
Sponsored a program at St. Paul’s Baptist Church (West Chester, PA). Proceeds benefited the American Red Cross’s Haiti Relief Fund.