Let the Music Tell the Story

Cheri Powers-Page, born Chauntelle C. Page is a singer, musician, music director, music teacher, recording artist, community leader, and bank executive. But above all these titles, she is a Christian, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. “Cheri” as she is so affectionately called, was born with a gift of music, a gift of song, and a gift of compassion. She is a very anointed singer and composer endowed with many gifts. Being blessed with these many gifts from God has bestowed upon her the title of Vice-President at Unity Bank of Mississippi, Holly Springs, MS as Compliance/BSA Officer where she has been employed for 25 years. She is also known by her stage name, Cheri Powers Page, with the 30-year-old hit gospel song “Somebody Here (It Must Be Jesus)”.

 

Born December 18, 1971, in Holly Springs, MS, she is the firstborn and only daughter of Marvin & Patricia L. Powers. She has two brothers, Marvin Jr. and Martin Luther Powers. She grew up in the rural area of Chulahoma, MS where music was a very instrumental part of her life. Her family’s passion for music inspired her to play the piano and sing.

 

Cheri started playing the piano at the age of nine and became the pianist of her church choirs at the age of thirteen. Her teen years were filled with attending musical events and music workshops around the community. Most of the music she learned to play as a child was self-taught, inspired by her Uncle Marvin Lucas, and through the aid of the Holy Spirit. At the age of 14, she was encouraged by an elderly lady at her church to enroll in piano lessons to learn to read music. Her mother enrolled her in private lessons from Canangela Boyd, a teen peer who taught her for four years until they both graduated from High School. Cheri was also a member of the Byhalia High School Choir from the year 1987-to 1990 where she sang lead solos and played piano. She received the very first “Student of the Year” Award given by choral director Armastine Gipson.

 

Throughout her teen years, Cheri played piano for several churches: Harris Chapel C.M.E. Church (membership), Bell Grove M.B. Church, New Hope M.B. Church, and Mt. Moriah M.B. Church. While in college at Delta State University (1990-1992), she played piano and became music director of the Delta State Gospel Choir for two years. She also became the pianist and music director for St. Mark U.M. Church in Cleveland, MS while in college.

 

In 1992, Cheri founded the Voices in Praise Youth Workshop Choir. This choir was a community youth choir with members from various community churches. The choir was formed after she was asked to work with the youth choir at Mt. Peel M.B. Church to help develop and train the young voices there. The VIP Choir was very successful and lasted a tenure of four years, from 1992-to 1996. In 1997, Cheri became the minister of music at Macedonia M.B. Church in Memphis, TN. Her tenure of service there was eleven years. Currently, she is the Minister of Music at Shiloh M.B. Church, Byhalia, MS where she has served since 2007.

 

“To whom much is given, of much shall be required.” Luke 12:48. God has given Cheri many gifts and many responsibilities, yet she has always been up to the challenge. Among the many other gifts God has given her, she cherishes most the gift of family—a loving husband, Rev. Gregory Page, and three beautiful children, Zsa’Xhani Marquette, Micah Zacchaeus, and Malachi Zacharias. Committed to a life in Christ through faith and by Grace, Cheri believes that “she can do all things through Christ who strengthens her.” Philippians 4:13