Friends, family recall Blues singer Selby Minner's joyful spirit

Yahoo

a day ago

Selby Minner sang the blues, but friends, family and others recalled her warm, loving spirit.
'She's the way we would all like to be,' said filmmaker Shironbutterfly Ray, a close friend. 'She was never angry at anyone. I know she always had disagreements, but she always looked to solve with courtesy. Nothing hateful.'
Minner was found dead Tuesday inside the Blues Club in Rentiesville, according to an affidavit by the McIntosh County District Attorney's office. The affidavit said Minner's brother Lewis Carl Guenther, 68 of Rentiesville, earlier told McIntosh County law enforcement he killed his sister.
According to an Oklahoma Arts Council biography, Minner toured nonstop for 12 years with her husband, blues legend D.C. Minner before settling in his birthplace in Rentiesville. They established the Down Home Blues Club and founded the Dusk 'Til Dawn Blues Festival, which has become a Labor Day weekend draw for 34 years.
Ray said she and Minner had just talked about the 35th annual festival last week. Ray said she has emceed the festival.
'Every Labor Day, there's not even a question,' Ray said. 'She was legendary, we honored her as legend not only through Bare Bones, but as a Legacy Keeper, keeping legends alive like D.C. and Miss Blues.'
Ray said Minner helped her with her Legacy Keepers and Bare Bones Film Festival.
'Selby was my soul sister,' Ray said. 'We were our own support system, because we both did festivals.'
Minner's granddaughter Micaela Minner said the woman was 'absolutely amazing.'
'There would be times we would be talking and she would not want to get off the phone,' Micaela Minner said. 'She did not want to let me go. It's just unbelievable. She was always a supporter. I live in Ohio and she would come to visit.'
Ray said people around the world have shared how they're hurt by Selby Minner's death.
Oklahoma Arts Council gave Selby Minner a Community Service Award in 2024 for her 'significant contributions to the arts in specific Oklahoma communities.'
Minner taught guitar at a variety of venues, including veterans' organizations and libraries.
Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library Branch Manager Kenny Matthews said Minner 'loved spreading music.'
'She felt like it was important they could play a song so they would have that inspiration and see that they can play music right away,' Matthews said. 'It helped them fall in love with it the first day.'
Minner also invited Checotah and Warner high school jazz bands to play at the blues festival.
Blues Society of Tulsa honored Minner on its Facebook page.
'Her lifelong work kept the blues alive, and kept blues in schools as an educational tool,' the post said. 'The Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame exists because of her tireless work. Rentiesville is on the maps because of her and the Dusk Til Dawn Festival. While we will miss her greatly, we know that she and D.C. had a joyous reunion and they are playing together again.'
Three Rivers Museum's Facebook post said Minner's 'warmth, dedication and kind spirit touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with her at the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame and D.C. Minner Museum in Rentiesville and at museum events.'
Ray said Selby Minner wished to be buried with her late husband in the Rentiesville cemetery.