Andalusia woman portrays Tutwiler to keep “Alabama” song

Published 1:31 pm Thursday, March 4, 2010

MONTGOMERY (AP) — A history buff has portrayed Julia Tutwiler in urging the Alabama House not to replace Tutwiler’s “Alabama” as the official state song.

Sue Bass Wilson of Andalusia dressed in attire from the 1860s to give the House what amounted to a one-woman show Thursday. She descrbied how Tutwiler penned the lyrics during Reconstruction to inspire pride in Alabamians.

Democratic Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow of Red Bay has introduced a bill to change “Alabama” to the state anthem and make “Stars Fell on Alabama” the state song. Morrow said Alabama needs a more familiar state song for tourism promotions.

Wilson said “Alabama” might be more familiar if the Legislature used it to open each session. Wilson is president of the Covington Historical Society. She is friends with House Speaker Seth Hammett, who arranged her appearance.