Famed gospel songwriter Pastor Colbert Croft and his wife of 49 years, Joyce, penned more than 5,000 songs together. These songs include “I Can’t Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand),” “Flow Through Me,” “I Believe He Died For Me,” “Come Into the Presence,” “Almost Home,” “First Million Years,” “Is That Footsteps That I Hear.”

Each Labor Day, for the past quarter century, the Crofts hosted a community gospel sing in Valdosta that featured their famed friends in the gospel music community, often performers who had recorded the Crofts’ songs.

For the past several years, Colbert Croft often missed the Labor Day gospel sing due to illness. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, Colbert Croft passed away after he suffered another massive stroke, according to the Singing News. Croft was 72.

The Crofts’ musical collaboration created an impact in gospel music while the couple retained their North Florida/South Georgia roots and ministry. Yet, music brought them together.

She had taken piano lessons since the age of 12 in Valdosta. Her high school senior year, Joyce performed in one of her music teacher’s programs. Colbert worked sound equipment, recording the show.

He asked Joyce out. She said yes. They were married 49 years.

They also shared a musical rapport. Colbert would think of a song and sing it. Given her music studies, Joyce picked up the tune of his singing and played the song.

They began writing their songs down. The young Colbert predicted they would have sheet music in the future. Little did he realize, they would eventually have sheet music for 5,000 songs.

They would share in the creative duties of writing songs from their home in Jasper, Fla. While pastoring at Faith Chapel in Jasper, they began a free Labor Day Gospel Sing in Hamilton County, Fla. In 1998, the Crofts moved to Colbert’s hometown of Valdosta.

In past Times interviews, Joyce Croft has told the story about when she and Colbert attended a concert as audience members. As a gospel group sung the refrain, “I’m gonna walk, I’m gonna talk for my Lord,” the singers dedicated the gospel tune to its songwriters, the Crofts. The group had no idea that the Crofts were seated in the audience.

Many people know the Crofts’ music but don’t associate it with the songwriters. The Kingsmen and Marty Stuart, for example, lead a long list of musicians who have sung and recorded “I Can’t Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand).”

But it was the Crofts who wrote those famous lines in 1974. It was the Crofts who penned the lines: “I can’t even walk without You holding my hand. The mountain’s too high and the valley’s too wide. Down on my knees, I learned to stand. And I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.”

People didn’t always recognize the Crofts while claiming the Crofts’ songs as favorites.

Joyce Croft once recalled the time when she and her husband performed “I Can’t Even Walk.”

“The pastor’s wife said, ‘That is my favorite song.’ We thanked her and asked, ‘When did you find out we wrote it?’ She looked at us and said, ‘You wrote it?’”