Bott Memorial Remembers Musicians of the Past
Margaret Green Driskill: Margaret, a graduate of Alexandria School of Nursing, joined Bott Memorial Presbyterian Church in 1956 after marrying her husband of 64 years, William Louis Driskill, Sr. (a lifelong member of Bott). Margaret & William raised three children (Vicki, Susan and William, Jr. "Bill") steeped in the tradition and heritage of Bott Memorial. Along with a 40-year career in medicine as a Registered Nurse, Margaret was an active member and Elder of the church until her death. She also helped fill in as organist in the extremely rare absence of longtime church organist, Lulie Wright Bolte. When Mrs. Bolte passed away, Margaret, along with one of the current pianists, Betty S. Rapp, and a budding pianist and member of the Bott youth membership, Brett M. Neville, all stepped up to fill in the huge void Mrs. Bolte's death created. We love & miss you dearly, Margaret!
Margaret Green Driskill
June 14, 1936 - August 15, 2020
Lulie W. "Pete" Bolte
August 9, 1923 - October 28, 1998
Lulie Wright Bolte: Lulie "Pete" Bolte, longtime organist at Bott Memorial, was the daughter of Rev. Lloyd O. Wright and his wife, the former Carrie Carter. She was born at the Wright family home in Rustburg, but grew up in many places as her father served Methodist churches around Virginia. She graduated from Beaver Dam High School and Madison College (now James Madison University). She began her teaching career at Thomas Dale High School in Chester in 1944, then moved to Dinwiddie High School in 1947. During her first year in Dinwiddie, she met William E. “Billy” Bolte, whom she married in 1948. Their daughter, Caroline Bolte Cardwell, was born in 1958, and Pete took a career break to focus on her family. In 1965, she began teaching at Dinwiddie County High School, continuing until her retirement in 1986. During her teaching career, she served as president of the Dinwiddie Education Association and was active in her professional associations at all levels.
Pete became interested in music as a child, as her mother was also a church organist. Her piano lessons were gifts from her uncle and aunt, Francis and Myrtle Wright McNerhany, who had no children of their own. When she and Billy became engaged, she began attending Bott and later started playing the organ for services. Soon after their marriage, she transferred her membership to Bott without telling anyone in her family (including Billy). In addition to contributing her musical talents to Bott over five decades, she was an elder, member of Presbyterian Women, all-around supporter of church activities and served as Bott’s organist until her death. Thank you for your love and dedication to Bott. We love you and your years of service shall never be forgotten!
We humbly dedicate this page to pay homage and offer tribute to these wonderful people and true servants of God who have now joined His Church Triumphant. Their work here in this community and at Bott will never be forgotten!
