Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 9

The ninety-seventh session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association was brought together by David Ivey leading song on page 144. The morning prayer was led by Louis Hughes.

The officers were called to lead as follows: Nora Parker 36b; Rodney Ivey 108 (t? b?); Henry Johnson 565; Jackie Tanner 101t; Max Berueffy 177; Elene Stovall 217; Kelly House 142; B.M. Smith 475; Louis Hughes 135. Leaders: S.T. Reed 134; Roy Turrentine 69 (t? b?); Patricia Mauldin 63; Jim Ballinger 401; Mattie Townsel 317; Carla Smith 57; Ann Jett 269; Judith Green 117.

RECESS

David Ivey reassembled the convention leading song on page 371.

A business session was held to elect officers with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chairman—Dennis George; Secretary—Nora Parker; Chaplain—Harrison Creel; Arranging Committee—Henry Johnson, Max Berueffy, Jackie Tanner, Richard Ivey, and Richard Mauldin; Memorial Committee—Cindy Franklin, Carla Smith, and Louis Hughes; Resolution Committee—Susan Harcrow and Elene Stovall; Location Committee—Coy Ivey and B.M. Smith; Finance Committee—Danny Creel and Bud Oliver.

Leaders: Travis Keeton 496; Lora Cargo 400; Kenneth Tate 145b; Teenie Moody and Coy Ivey 384; Ivalene Donaldson 61; Judy Caudle 66; John Etheridge 456; David Carlton 486; Jewel Wootten and Freeman Wootten 47b; Karen Ivey 405; Bill Hogan 56b; Charlene Wallace 481; Glenn Keeton 285t; Cathryn Baker 485; Velton Chafin 573.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Rodney Ivey leading song on page 81t. Leaders: Dennis George 542; Jerry Schreiber 373; Betty Wright 323b; Lynne deBenedette 430; Chip Ward 442; Marion Black 28 (t? b?); Leola Smith 234; Jacob Affoiter 472; Amber Springfield 299; Reba Dell Windom and Elene Stovall 196; Mary Florence Smith 43; Jane Hancock 224; Cindy Franklin 335; Jon Giles 376; K.A. Rand 68 (t? b?); Gary Smith 31 (t? b?); Jerry Enright 131 (t? b?); Tommy McGraw 77 (t? b?); Susan Turpin 312b; Edith Tate 88t.

LUNCH

The afternoon session resumed with Dennis George leading song on page 76b. Leaders: Henry Schuman 344; Janet Herman and Dewayne Hawthorne 122; Jim Carnes 440; Cassie Franklin 220; Matt Wells 39 (t? b?); Danny Creel 383; Lou Cotney 218; Cheyenne Ivey 354 (t? b?); Laura Boyd Russell 202; Lomax Ballinger 300; Rick Russell 200; Harrison Creel 498; Pauline Childers 318; Carroll Lunsford 338; Larry Ballinger 276; Richard Mauldin 72b; Sally House 347; Richard Ivey 567; Carla Smith 399b; Roy Turrentine 123b; Ruth Walker 73 (t? b?); Wanda Capps and Flarce Creel 146; Coy Ivey 59; Shelley Capps and Cassie Franklin 348b; Lucy Heidorn 40; Margie Smith 569b.

The Saturday session was closed by Rodney Ivey leading song on page 46. Harrison Creel dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, September 10

The Sunday session was brought to order by Coy Ivey leading songs on pages 56t and 30t, followed by Rodney Ivey leading song on page 327. Harrison Creel led the morning prayer.

Leaders: Nora Parker 276; Dennis George 57; Louis Hughes 403; Carla Smith 70 (t? b?); Judith Green 117; Dave Ressler 47 (t? b?); Sara Smith 290; Pattie Doss 285 (t? b?); Jerry Schreiber 100; Rebecca Browne 171; B.J. Harris 503; Teenie Moody 40; Freeman Wootten and Jewel Wootten 441; Jon Giles 182.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Rodney Ivey leading song on page 460. Leaders: Max Berueffy 328; Charlene Wallace 192; Cathryn Baker 112; Betty Wright 410 (t? b?); Milton Oliver 321; Ann Jett 327; Chip Ward 384; Richard Mauldin 36b; Marion Black 29 (t? b?); Leola Smith 185; Jacob Affoiter 34b; Eschol Hughes 436; Mary Florence Smith 302; Estelle Flowers 388; Nathan Blackwood 317; Sarah Harcrow 127; Jane Hancock 102; Tommy McGraw 475.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Rodney Ivey and Dennis George leading song on page 186. Leaders: Susan Harcrow 430; Gary Smith 569b; Amanda Denson 232; Bonnie Flowers 225t; Susan Turpin 203; Laura Boyd Russell 113; Evelyn Harris 87; Janet Herman 271 (t? b?); Matt Wells 288; Rick Russell 99; Kathy Robinson 546.

Cindy Franklin conducted the memorial lesson with these thoughts: “Death is the end of life as we know it. But Christians believe that God’s love and plan for us does not end with death. Revelations 21:4 tells us that God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.”

The deceased remembered were: Virgil Phillips, Ruby Phillips, Herbert Phillips, Marie Creel Aldridge, Karen House, Katharine Brooks, Hubert Calvert, Dollie Hudgins, Ester Wall Brown, Horace Batchelor, Theo Grayson, Rosa Hughes, Carroll Ivey, Shelton Williamson, Dr. Clyde Terrell, Mercedes Cagle Lambert, Louisa Raoul, Allene Stanford, Tommie Lee Frederick, Claudia Freeman, Don Wilkerson, and Lela Crider.

Becky Browne led song on page 304; Louis Hughes 137; and Kelly House 48t for the deceased.

The names on the sick and shut-ins list were read by Cindy Franklin. Those remembered were: Jap Walton, Joyce Walton, Lonnie Rogers, Vivian Rogers, Lucille Creel Tolbert, Mavis Price, Gene Wakefield, John Hocutt, A.C. McGough, Tressie Adkins, Ruth Aaron, Thurman Nall, Lou Nall, Woodie Walker, Ruby Wilks, John Henry Busby, Shelbie Sheppard, Noelle Hancock, Carroll Hancock, Don Sheppard, Mozelle Sheppard, Audra Brown, Tommye Denson Mauldin, Verdie Touchstone, Polly Moore, and I.V. McWhorter.

Carla Smith led songs on pages 123 (t? b?) and 340 for the sick and shut-ins. The memorial was closed with prayer led by B.J. Harris.

Leaders: Ruth Brown 101t; Carroll Lunsford 204.

LUNCH

The afternoon session resumed with Max Berueffy leading song on page 319. Leaders: Buell Cobb 81 (t? b?); Karen Freund 278b; Sally House 178; Henry Johnson 416; Jeff Sheppard 455; Jerry Enright 398; Bud Oliver 73 (t? b?); Harrison Creel, Flarce Creel, Cassie Franklin, and Shelley Capps 342, 512, 111b; Edith Tate 155; Karen Ivey 532; Roy Nelson 380; Allison Ivey, Richard Ivey, and Stuart Ivey 222, 270; Reba Dell Windom 216; Lynne deBenedette 274 (t? b?); Allison Stovall 217; Stuart Ivey 192; Kelly House 306; Billy Williams 28b; Danny Creel 269.

RECESS

The class was called together by Danny Creel and Cassie Franklin leading song on page 76b. Leaders: Jackie Tanner 172; Cassie Franklin 224; Coy Ivey 212; Pauline Childers 142, 234; Wanda Capps 299; Cindy Franklin 88 (t? b?); Elene Stovall 298; Shelley Capps 405; David Ivey, Karen Ivey, Susan

Harcrow, and Elene Stovall 120, 454.

A business session was held to hear committee reports.

The Resolutions Committee made up of Susan Harcrow and Elene Stovall gave the following report. On September 9 and 10, 2000, the Resolutions Committee of the United Sacred Harp Singing Convention hereby resolves to give thanks to:

(1) Almighty God, along with our daily thanksgiving, gratitude for the extra blessing of being able to come together once again to lift our voices in song, harmony, and praise to Him;

(2) County Line Church for hosting this convention, to members and friends, and to the community for supplying meals for two days, and gracious hospitality;

(3) All officers and committee members for a smooth and well run convention;

(4) And, finally, to all of our singing family who traveled from near and far to help make this another memorable convention.

The Locating Committee, Coy Ivey and B.M. Smith, gave the following report. The ninety-eighth session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association will be held at Shady Grove Baptist Church located three miles south of Dutton, Alabama in Jackson County between Section and Dutton.

Nora Parker reported for the Finance Committee. Total expenses of this year’s convention were $375.06. A collection of $324.00 was received. Balance on hand is $1,193.97.

The business session was closed.

Rodney Ivey, Dennis George, and Harrison Creel led song on page 62 as the closing song. Harrison Creel dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chairman—Dennis George; Secretary—Nora Parker.