Shelbyville Women's Club held its monthly luncheon Wednesday at the Riverbend Country Club and introduced their 2021 scholarship recipient, Evie Winfrey, and their "musical" guest, Chase Clanton.

The meeting began with a devotion read by Martha Fisher in which she quoted sayings from her father, Dwight Stubblefield, who passed away at 91 last year after being one of the first in the County to contract COVID-19.

"It is easier to think you're rich, before you balance your check book," was one of the quotes Fisher found in a folded-up piece of paper, titles "It is Easier," tucked in the back of one of her father's journals.

Fisher mentioned an organization her father started after his wife passed, called the Anne C. Stubblefield Cancer Foundation, where hundreds of nutrient rich drinks, like Boost and Ensure, are delivered to oncology clinics and individuals who need it. Fisher said the project is still on-going and asked for help and donations.

Scholarship Recipient

Next, scholarship recipient Evie Winfrey was introduced. She was the winner selected out of 62 applicants. Winfrey will receive $3,000-over $2,000 of which has already been raised by the Woman's Club so far.

"First and foremost, I want to thank God for allowing me to be here. And to all you lovely ladies in carrying me this far in life.... This money helps unbelievably-and I could almost start crying," she said.

Winfrey, a student from Shelbyville Central High, has a 4.0 GPA and received a 28 on her ACT. She is in SCHS Student Council, plays softball, and is a member of the Bell Buckle First Baptist Church. She plans to pursue her bachelor's in business with a concentration in accounting and eventually pursue a CPA.

**Chase Clanton

The other young guest highlighted at the Woman's Club was Chase Clanton, a Middle Tennessee State University student with a guitar and voice talent. He gave credit to SWC member and local music teacher, Billie Crowell, for working with him.

At the age of nine, Clanton began to learn guitar, listening to legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and The Beatles. Some of his family and friends were in attendance to hear his talk at the full house meeting.

The self-ascribed "shy, perfectionist redhead" discovered his talent for music only a year after he won best performance in a talent show.

"I get up on stage to do this talent show, and... I lose my mind," he said as the crowd laughed. "That's where it all started."

Today, the Shelbyville-native plays in a band called Chase Clanton and the Vintage Vibes with four other experienced musicians. They play Classic Rock, Blues, '70s and '80s, and Country Music classics.

In February 2018, a song Clanton co-wrote and played electric guitar in, called "Count on Me," was played on CBS's Young and the Restless.

"Millions of people are hearing me play guitar, and what's going through my head, 'I don't think I made any mistakes on that recording,'" Clanton said.

He's even played at B.B. King's Blues Club on 2nd Avenue in Nashville and has been a guest on WSM AM 650 for his "15 minutes of fame."

"I went home thinking my voice, and my guitar, just went over the same airwaves as Hank Williams, Sr., Vince Gill, Alan Jackson..." he said. "That was the coolest day of my life, two years ago in 2019."

He finished his speech by playing "Pride and Joy" by Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar-one once owned by his grandfather, a fiddle player during the 1940s. He also fought in WWII, Clanton explained.

"So, Grandpa is with me today..." he said, choking back a few tears.

Clanton is majoring in audio production at MTSU and will be completing an internship this summer at Top Track Studios in Nashville-among his many other bookings.

Chase's band, The Vintage Vibes, will be playing at Cruise-in on The Square from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on June 25th.

**Future events

Next month, the Woman's Club will host Mary Alice Shavers from the Shining Stars Club, an organization that helps with special needs students.

Shelbyville Woman's Club members are also considering an offer from the Shelbyville Optimist Club to work the famous doughnut booth at the upcoming Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in August.