Minister of Music Coley Voyles leads the First Newark Baptist Church congregation in a song during a recent Sunday morning service.

THOMASVILLE — Coley Voyles’ musical ambition struck a sour note with some of his Central High School coaches and teammates, but not Will Roy Cooley. Cooley, who headed Central’s football team from 1971-78, supported Voyles’ other interest wholeheartedly.

“There’s more to life than just football,” Cooley said. “Football is really important, but singing was important to Coley and his family, so it was important to us and I would let him do it.”

Voyles, a Yellow Jackets offensive lineman and kicker from 1975-78, remains grateful that Cooley let him skip an occasional football practice to participate in Central’s chorus. It was an early stepping stone toward his latest role as the minister of music at First Newark Baptist Church. He joined the church in May.

“Coach Cooley was a singer, too,” Voyles explained. “He said, ‘You go and enjoy that. He was very supportive. Some of the (other) coaches didn’t like it. You could tell by some of the remarks that were made.

“I didn’t let it bother me, though.”

Voyles was seriously bothered by one Cooley decision, however. It was when he was sent in to kick a 22-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter of an important 1977 game at Tift County.

“Some kids don’t have any inhibitions and just play,” Voyles said. “I was nervous. I didn’t think there was any chance he would call on me. You just don’t do that.

“Coach Cooley was not a field goal guy.”

In addition to a raucous crowd, Voyles, who used a straight-ahead kicking style, was shaken by the bulk of Tift County’s players.

“When those guys got off the bus — we were standing there looking at them — they looked like monsters,” Voyles said. “They had green shirts on like Marines. They were just intimidating.”

Cooley chuckled heartily while describing his decision to rely on Voyles’ foot to beat Tift County.

“I knew he could kick it, but his eyes were as big as two big, fried eggs,” the coach said. “I pulled him off to the side and said, ‘Son, you are fixing to be a hero. You are going to be the man. All the girls are going to want to date you.

“‘He said, ‘You think so, coach?’ I said, ‘They love heroes, so just go in there and do it like you are supposed to do it. Do your counting, get your steps right and kick that sucker through there and let’s beat these folks and go home.’

“‘He said, ‘OK, Coach,’ and he kicked it right through the middle and we won the game (10-9).”

Likely selling himself short, Voyles described himself as a mediocre athlete. Still, he learned things on the gridiron and baseball diamond that have helped him throughout his life.

“It’s hard work,” he said. “You learn discipline in the practice and routines. A lot of kids nowadays don’t know what hard work is.”

After high school, Voyles focused exclusively on singing.

“I really didn’t want to go play football,” he said. “Music was in my heart more than football.”

Voyles, bolstered by the training of Frances Williams, Carolyn Henry and the Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe, attended Brewton-Parker College and Mercer University, earning a degree in music (vocal performance). He then looked into attending Belmont University and tried to land a job in the music Mecca of Nashville, Tennessee, as a studio musician.

“They weren’t looking for trained voices,” he said. “They wanted somebody right off the street who could play some (instruments) and wrote their own music. Those are the ones who made it.”

At that point, Voyles returned to Thomasville and embarked on a 25-year career with Nabisco that included eight moves, including Bentonville, Arkansas. He worked part-time with a church choir at every stop.

At Bentonville First Baptist Church, Voyles led a choir that featured 90 singers and a 32-piece ensemble.

“I really enjoy (serving as a minister of music),” Voyles said. “I probably should have done it as a career, but I didn’t feel led or I was running away.

“It was one or the other.”

Voyles suffered a jolt in 2006 when he suddenly lost his ability to sing. One of his vocal chords quit working while shouting instructions to a player at one of his son’s youth baseball games. His voice was reduced to a raspy whisper.

“I don’t know if God punished me or what,” Voyles said. “He did say if you don’t use your gift He will take it from you. I was using mine, but I wasn’t using it one hundred percent.”

Even though the troubled vocal chord remains silent, Voyles has regained the ability to belt out a tune.

“I took the challenge from a pastor to get back into the ministry and my voice has gotten stronger and stronger,” he said.

Voyles, who lives in Bainbridge, landed the First Newark job after notifying churches of his desire to lead a choir in south Georgia or south Alabama.

“That was a God thing,” Voyles said. “I put out a few feelers and — bang — (First Newark Pastor) Steve (Brooks) called me. It was that quick.”

It is clear that Voyles enjoys his new job. He is energetic on stage and will call for singing a verse or an entire song an extra time if he thinks the congregation lacks zeal.

“He has an infectious attitude. It’s enthusiastic and people tend to gravitate to it pretty well,” Cooley said.

Even Brooks has been impacted by Voyles’ demeanor.

The pastor said, “I think the thing that I appreciate the most about what Coley has brought to First Newark is that, in addition to his energetic style, he understands that the music portion of the service is not about a performance or just working up people’s emotion. It is about helping people truly praise and worship the Lord.

“I find myself so caught up singing some Sundays that I am already tired before I ever get into the pulpit — but I am fired up to preach!”

Cooley is pleased to have played a role in Voyles’ development.

“I haven’t heard him sing in 25 years, but he has an absolutely wonderful voice,” Cooley said. “I told him to let people hear that. I wasn’t going to let football stand in the way of him doing it.”