Notes of Gratitude
Fall 2022 - A love for Baylor University has flowed through Judy Langford Mellenbruch's life like a sweet melody, uniting different time periods and growing stronger over the years.
She began her relationship with Baylor in 1960, as a sophomore transfer student. She soon met other students who would become friends for life, and after three years she graduated with a B.M.E. degree in music education. "My time at Baylor was transformational and has continued to be an influence throughout my life," Judy said.
"The campus culture and Christian environment strengthened my faith and gave me opportunities in participation and leadership, which have contributed so much to my career."
Judy's career has, in turn, allowed her to touch the lives of many people and to share the Christian faith and love for music that Baylor cultivated in her. A longtime resident of Corpus Christi with her husband, Charlie Mellenbruch - whom she met in Houston during her first job after graduation and married in 1965 - she taught public school music for 25 years and also has taught piano both privately and at Del Mar College. While in Corpus, Judy went on to earn an M.S. in music from Texas A&I (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville).
A FAMILY TRADITION
Even though Charlie studied at the University of Houston, Judy's love for Baylor has pulled him into the Baylor Family.
Their support for Baylor and the School of Music influenced their son, Eric, to follow in Judy's footsteps as a Baylor student. He received a B.M. in church music and an M.M. in organ performance and was the graduate assistant for Dr. Joyce Jones, who served as the Joyce Oliver Bowden Professor of Organ and organist-in-residence at Baylor for more than 40 years. Eric now is an organist and director of adult choirs at a church in Austin.
When Dr. Jones died this past February, the Mellenbruchs decided to honor what has been most important to them about Baylor's presence in their lives - enriching music and the University's Christian mission - by making a combination of gifts to Baylor. "Through our son, Dr. Jones and her husband had become our friends," Judy said. "As a memorial to her, we wanted to remember her by contributing to the funds related to her, her family and for current and future organ students at Baylor."
BLENDED GIVING
The Mellenbruchs made contributions to the Robert A. and Enid Markham Organ Scholarship Fund, the Johnnie and Jessie Gilstrap Scholarship Fund, the Joyce Jones Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Robert C. Jones George W. Truett Seminary Endowed Scholarship Fund through a type of philanthropy known as blended giving.
Blended giving combines a current gift of cash with a deferred gift, such as a charitable gift annuity, and allows a donor to see the impact of their giving today and continue to support Baylor's mission in the future.
"After consulting with our financial advisor and considering the areas to which we wanted to contribute, we determined that this type of gift might benefit Baylor and us in the most positive manner and for the future," Judy said.
Today, Judy and Charlie, who is retired, remain involved in numerous music and performance organizations around Corpus Christi, as well as playing handbells at their church, First Baptist. They said they are grateful to be at a place in their lives where they are able to make philanthropic gifts that will nurture a love for music in future Baylor Bears.
"It's our hope that the music and seminary students who receive these scholarships will be able to experience the meaningful and valuable education in a Christian environment that Baylor offers as they prepare for their careers and places of ministry," Judy said. "It's time now for us to share with others as we have been given, by assisting current and future students of the organ and those called to ministry."