
Though the death certificate, and obituary, for James Paul Stalls, Sr says he was born in Obion, Tennessee, no proof has yet been found confirming that. In fact, Obion County Historical Society has no record at all of his parents, James Franklin Stalls (1857-1889) and Mary J “Annie” Bondurant (1867-1950), or him ever being in Obion or Obion County (though according to his father’s marriage bond and obituary, that’s where James Franklin Stalls was “from”). And census records report that he was born in Kentucky. What we do know for certain about the birth of J. Paul is that it occurred on June 12, 1889. Six months and 7 days after his birth his father passed away due to pneumonia.
When J. Paul was 3 years old he moved to Memphis, Tennessee with his mother and his grandmother, Elizabeth Francis “Betty” “Fannie” Brewer (1845-1922) (widow of James M Bondurant (1842-1886)). On the 1900 census he is living with his mother, who ran a boarding house. By 1910 his mother had remarried to Frank A Curtius and they were living with Annie’s mother, who was running a boarding house. J. Paul’s occupation was Professor of Music.
He married Minnie Virginia Richards July 27, 1914. It was a large affair, including a write up in the Commercial Appeal concerning the musical playlist, performed by Enoch Walton (organist), Mrs. CW Parke (soprano) and Mrs. SH Lambert (violinist). In 1917 his son, James Paul Stalls, Jr (1917-1987), was born.
In the 1920 the census J. Paul is living with his bride, her parents, two of her brothers, a sister-in-law and Nan, the nannie. Oddly enough, though, his son isn’t listed on that census.
J. Paul’s WWI Draft Registration Card says that he is of medium height, medium build, blond hair, blue eyes, is not bald and has all of his appendages.

In 1921 he opened the J. Paul Stalls Studio at Third and Jefferson in Memphis, Tennessee. He later moved his school into his home and continued teaching for many years, even after he was bedridden. His students would be in the other room and he would know which one made a mistake and call out to them.
J. Paul and Minnie divorced August 10, 1926. He married Evelyn Mozelle Fitzgerald (1905-1994), a music teacher, in 1928. They appear on the 1930 census together living with his mother and stepfather.

James Paul Stalls, Sr died on January 21, 1951 in Memphis, Tennessee from broncho pneumonia due to Parkinson’s Disease. He had a Masonic funeral and was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. In his will he left all but one dollar to his wife, Evelyn.

J. Paul had quite an impressive list of accomplishments under his belt. He was an organist and pianist and he taught organ, piano and violin. He was associated with all music events that occurred in Memphis. He was the organist and choir director for McLemore Avenue Christian Church, Idlewild Presbyterian Church and Christian Science Church, all in Memphis. He studied piano under Mrs. ET Tobey of Memphis and was a pupil of R Jefferson Hall of Memphis, studying organ and harmony. He completed his formal education over the course of six summers in Chautauqua, New York under Mr. William H Sherwood.
J. Paul had also been a member, registrar and examiner of Tri-State Musical Examining Board. He was a member and former president of the Memphis Federation of Musicians and former dean of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and he was also a member of the Beethoven Club.
A Scottish Rite Mason, he was a member of the Leila Scott Lodge and he was a Shriner.
In hopes of alleviating the symptoms from his Parkinson’s Disease, J. Paul joined the Christian Science Church. He was, at one time, at a Christian Science asylum for treatment of the disease and one of the treatments was to eat peels from the fruits and vegetables. From my mother: “Presumably at the Christian Science Church he would sit in the organ loft in his wheel chair, perhaps to oversee the organist. The organist was particularly concerned about one particular piece to be played, so JPS was wheeled up to the organ where he stretched his hands out over the keys. He was so focused that there wasn't any tremor visible as he flawlessly played the piece. At the conclusion of it he pretty much collapsed and resumed the tremors.”
I hope to tell more stories of James Paul Stalls, Sr in the future!
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