Photo by Crystal Reed
Sullivan mayor Richard Glazebrook presented a plaque recognizing Virginia Darnell, former director of the Prairie Winds, for her 30 years of dedication to the performing group. Looking on is Virginia’s husband Jim. Darnell retired as director in November 2015. The group recently disbanded.

•October 26, 2022•
Virginia Darnell, who directed the Prairie Winds from Sullivan for 30 years, was surprised last Wednesday at Tanglewood Village in Decatur. Sullivan mayor Richard Glazebrook presented a plaque to her in recognition of her work with the group that performed for seniors in Moultrie, Douglas and Shelby counties. The Prairie Winds recently disbanded.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story. 

Darnell directed her final performance at Courtyard Estate in Sullivan in November 2015. The idea of the Prairie Winds came about when, while working as an activity director at an area nursing home in 1986, Darnell noticed the folks there needed quality entertainment. At that time, her reasoning for creating the group was that people in nursing homes need and appreciate good singing programs.
The original group included Debbie Seelhoefer, Teresa Shaw, Janet Roney, John Shuman, Jerry Dycus, Steve Jackson, Vic Arendell and Mike Gross. The group first began rehearsals at Darnell or Seelhoefer’s home with the guys and gals practicing separately. They combined for a joint rehearsal before the show.
Darnell formerly owned Golden Horizons which created and sold activity products to nursing and senior centers. Her connections brought more performance requests for Prairie Winds. In 2015, the group had grown to 22 members who learned two separate shows a year for which they had 14 performances each.
The performances presented by the group were thematic, 45-50 minute-shows which ranged from Country Western, Patriotic, Tropical, On The Road Again, a 1940’s Radio Show, Down South, and Lawrence Welk to Get Happy and a Little Bit of Broadway. Variety was the key to their shows which included barbershop, comedy skits and familiar songs, all with frequent audience participation.