Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1523410
ABOVE At the photoshoot, Sister Cotton modeled her old intro for us. "This is Bernice 'Queen Bee' Cotton, coming to you live from WIBB with your morning gospel. It's the great gettin' up morning, so lift your hands and say hallelujah with me. Now for some original Cotton Brothers with 'Rock Me, Jesus.'" Friends and colleagues say... "When I heard her on the radio, I really enjoyed listening to her. She had a humanitarian heart. Bernice was caring and concerned. She set the standard for the women coming behind her in radio." ~ Newton Collier; professional trumpet player for R&B Legends Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, James Brown, and Sam & Dave "Shirley is the Queen of live radio remotes. She was the go-to person for that locally. She loves entertaining and hosting events. Anything for the good of the city, Shirley is going to be there. She's just a nice, lovely lady that always had a smile." ~ AJ The DJ; former WIBB radio air personality and entertainment DJ "You could feel and see Bernice through the airwaves. She's a very magnetic personality that people are drawn to because of her honesty and sincerity. She had something special that drew people to her." ~ Reverend Walter Glover; Pastor of Greater Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church & Cotton's brother-in-law "Shirley has been wonderful as both an employee and as a friend. She's one of those people whose light shines bright and people just gravitate to her as a result. What you see is what you get with her. Mama Mia is the real deal." ~ Terrence Bibb; Senior Vice President of Programming for iHeart Media Macon, Newnan, & LaGrange "Queen Bee is a nice, God-fearing woman. Her professionalism and knowledge of music is superb. She played what the people wanted to hear and met their demands. She made history doing this. Bernice is a big deal. Mama Mia is very intense about doing her job. She's this way about everything she does. She's a sweet, consummate professional that loves being out and about and connecting with people. That's needed in today's entertainment and radio industry." ~ Phillis Habersham Malone; Owner of Habersham Records – one of the oldest record stores in the country "Word can't express my gratitude to Mama Mia. I owe her forever for helping me. When at Fort Valley State she provided us with all the tools we needed to succeed, including seeing in me what I couldn't see in myself as a future professional. She's the best teacher and friend I've ever had." ~ Justin "Big Hub" Hubbard; former FVSU student and resident DJ at rapper T.I.'s Trap City Café music legend Reverend James Cleveland of Chicago, Illinois, also gave her a Pioneer Award. Further recollections of her friends uncovered a "who's who" in gospel music history, including Mighty Clouds of Joy (California), Albertina Walker (Illinois) and Shirley Caesar (North Carolina). Cotton grew into her queendom alongside some famous faces in Macon media, too, who she refers to as sources of inspiration. She used to do live remote work with WMAZ TV weatherman Bill Powell. One of her friends and admirers is WMAZ icon Angel Irving – local television's first Black female show host and Cotton's mentor. Shirley "Mama Mia" Ellis, who is with WIBB FM today, is another. Ellis says Cotton was greatly influential in helping her to master her craft as a fellow on-air personality. "She allowed me into her professional world. To have been in her company was a blessing," said Ellis when asked about Cotton. G O S P E L W I L L S TA N D So why gospel? Cotton says she chose the genre to play day-to-day because the music lifted people's 78 maconmagazine.com | June/July 2024