Claire Cloninger (August 12, 1942 – August 15, 2019) was an American songwriter of contemporary Christian music, author and speaker. She (co-)wrote hundreds of songs, including "You Gave Me Love When Nobody Gave Me A Prayer" with Archie Jordan for B. J. Thomas, "Friend of a Wounded Heart" for

Wayne Watson Wayne may refer to: People with the given name and surname * Wayne (given name) * Wayne (surname) Geographical Places with name ''Wayne'' may take their name from a person with that surname; the most famous such person was Gen. "Mad" Antho ...

(who was also a co-writer), and songs for

Sandi Patty Sandra Faye "Sandi" Patty (born July 12, 1956) is an American Christian music singer, known for her wide soprano vocal range and expressive flexibility. Biography Early life Patty was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, into a family of musician ...

and Paul Overstreet. She authored 18 books, including ''Making ‘I Do’ Last a Lifetime'', ''Dear Abba: Finding the Father’s Heart Through Prayer'', and ''Postcards for People Who Hurt''. She won six

Dove Awards A Dove Award is an accolade by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the Christian music industry. The awards are presented annually. Formerly held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Dove Award ...

from the

Gospel Music Association The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership co ...

References

1942 births 2019 deaths American women songwriters American Christian writers American women non-fiction writers 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American non-fiction writers 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American musicians 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American women writers People from Fairhope, Alabama Songwriters from Alabama Songwriters from Louisiana Women religious writers Writers from Alabama Writers from Lafayette, Louisiana {{US-songwriter-stub