Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 25

The 107th session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Musical Convention met at Mount Pleasant Home Primitive Baptist Church on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November. Chairman Larry Ballinger called the class to order at 9:00 a.m. leading 31b. The morning prayer was offered by Richard Mauldin.

Leaders: Vice Chairman Danny Creel 196; Elene Stovall 99; Bud Oliver, Linton Ballinger, and Cassie Allen 186; Shelbie Sheppard and Henry Johnson 216; Rodney Ivey 564; Dick Mauldin and Richard Mauldin 358; David Ivey, Elizabeth Keeton, and Lisa Geist 276; Billy Thompson 108 (t? b?); Judy Chambless 490; Velton Chafin 463; Eddie Mash 86; Ruth Wyers 176b; Jo Schultz 84; Toney Smith 326; Jimmie Gilmore 383; Charlene Wallace 192; Corene White 403; Robert Walker 510; Linda Sides and Ottis Sides 480; Arlon Gardner 454; Hubert Nall and Joe Nall 137; Erin Mills 345b.

RECESS

Larry Ballinger brought the class to order leading 224. Leaders: Glenn Keeton 504; Edward Howton 436; Sandra Wilkinson 394; Ron Harper 411; Aubrey Barfield 551; John Merritt 312b; Tommie Spurlock 442; Robert Chambless 503; Josie Hyde 507; David Carlton 183; James Eldridge 516; Will Allred 300; Rebecca Eldridge 282; Adam Hale 77t; Caleb Allred 107; Alex Makris 313t.

RECESS

The class was brought to order by Jeff Sheppard leading 43. Leaders: Louis Hughes 512; Jeannette DePoy 362; Ernestine Pipkin 110; Bob Meek 448t; Mary Holcombe 405; Gail Doss 400; Carol Fannin and Laura Hale 30b; Tim Cook 289; Brenda Merritt 542; Matt Hinton 31t; David Hough 371; Seth Allred 377; Darrell Swarens 335; Judy Hauff 215; Arthur Gilmore 378t; Nellie Alexander 81t; Harrison Creel 498; Mike Hall and Debbie Hall 33b; Bill Hogan 455.

LUNCH

The class was brought together for the afternoon session by Danny Creel leading 76b. Leaders: Rachel Allred 440; Daphene Causey 434; Sarah Jenkins 314.

A business session was held for the purpose of electing officers. The following officers were elected or appointed: Chairman—Danny Creel; Vice Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Chaplain—Richard Mauldin; Secretaries—Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall; Arranging Committee—Cassie Allen, Jennifer Allred, and Jackie Tanner. After committees were appointed, the business session was closed.

Leaders: Jackie Tanner 336; Rachel Speer 417; Reba Windom 142; Michael Thompson 198; Joan Aldridge 189; Bridgett Hill and Judy Caudle 297; Nathan Rees 447; Liz Meitzler 245; Richard Ivey and Brittany Lea 39t; Emily Creel 532; Melanie Hauff 212; Aldo Ceresa 214; Jennifer Allred 391; Lou Cotney 218; Floy Wilder 432; Travis Keeton 388; Joyce Walton 428; Buell Cobb 378b; Kenneth Fannin 441.

RECESS

The class was brought to order by Danny Creel leading 123t. Leaders: Sharon DuPriest 460; Dean Jens 446; Ann Jett, Wanda Capps, and Flarce Creel 203; Chris Holley 159; Katharine Hough 376; Nate Green and Norma Green 72t; Cindy Tanner and Cassie Allen 546; Coy Ivey 384; LaRue Allen 373; Adrian Eldridge 58; Karen Ivey 182; John delRe 318; Lynn deBenedette 430; Julietta Haynes 200; Lee Bradley 87; Ed Thacker 538; Jessica Beer 500; Susan Allred 399b; Bobby Watkins 426t; Virginia Eldridge 47b.

Announcements were made. Danny Creel, Jeff Sheppard, and Larry Ballinger led 46 for the closing song. Richard Mauldin offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, November 26

The Sunday morning session began at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Danny Creel leading 155. Richard Mauldin offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 172; Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall 81b; Cassie Allen, Jennifer Allred, and Jackie Tanner 208; Bud Oliver and Rodney Ivey 270; Richard Mauldin and Dick Mauldin 378t; Sonya Sipe and Garrett Sipe 354b; Henry Johnson, Joan Aldridge, and Karen Ivey 89; Judy Caudle, Bridgett Hill, and Glenn Keeton 349; Eugene Forbes 343; Delone Cobbs 147t; Erin Mills 288; Adrian Nall 358; Karen Rollins 178; Melissa Mease and Liz Meitzler 47b; Randa Harris 268; David Light 318; Karen Clark 540; Marlin Beasley 77t; Gravis Ballinger and Larry Ballinger 78; Don Clark 151; Lisa Geist 269; Eddie Mash 177.

RECESS

Jeff Sheppard brought the class to order leading 36b. Leaders: Malik Williams 37b; Rebecca Eldridge 168; Caleb Allred 542; Jessica Ivey and Cheyenne Ivey 128; Alex Makris 222; James Eldridge 163b; Liz Meitzler 496; Dean Jens 215; Rachel Speer 312t; Katharine Hough 196; Lee Bradley 112; Chris Holley 146; Bea Carnathan 568; Seth Allred 383; Arlon Gardner 457; Virginia Eldridge 503; Nathan Rees 217; Travis Keeton 348b; Joe Nall 120; Harrison Creel and Flarce Creel 342; Jo Schultz 472.

RECESS

Danny Creel and Elene Stovall brought the class to order leading 456. Leaders: Ed Thacker 187; Julietta Haynes 171; John Plunkett 374; Steve Adams 101t; Ron Farris 335;Melanie Hauff and Judy Hauff 536; Nate Green and Norma Green 185; Darrell Swarens 350; Jessica Beer 445.

Henry Johnson, Karen Ivey, and Joan Aldridge conducted the memorial lesson. Karen Ivey read the names of the deceased and led 48t in memory of the following deceased: Teddy Creel, Adeline Hunt, Lois Sheppard Stanson, William (Bill) Green, Elsie Beasley, John Hyde, Opal Tanner—Alabama; Sgt. Phil Dodson, Bobby Jackson, Helen Plunkett, Donnie McGraw—Georgia; Catherine Eulalie Durant Long—Florida; Raymond Frederick Erickson and Marcia Tucker—California; Marie Burt—New York; Mark Seiler—Maine; Bill Thomas—Tennessee.

Joan Aldridge read the names of the sick and shut-ins and led 134 in honor of the following: Elder W. G. McGough, L.H. Gilmore, Estelle Gilmore, E.E. Farris, Milton Oliver, Herby Bailey, Bill Tanner, Violet Thomason, Jimmie Denney, Felton Denney, Josephine Denney, Edith Tate, Kay Smith, Pauline Childers, Roberta Strauss, Shirley Figura, Dave Sipe, and Johnny Jeans. Henry Johnson closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Rachel Allred 389; Matt Hinton and Erica Hinton 29b; Jeannette DePoy 522; Michael Thompson 82t.

LUNCH

The class was brought together by Jeff Sheppard leading 142. Leaders: LaRue Allen 220; Aldo Ceresa 430; Lynne deBenedette 216; Bobby Watkins 176b; Daphene Causey 223; Shelbie Sheppard 211; David Ivey 202; Floy Wilder 297; Reba Windom 328; John delRe 433; Emily Creel 475; Louis Hughes 201; Joyce Walton 280; Cindy Tanner 368; Adrian Eldridge 319; David Hough 384; Hubert Nall 332; Nora Parker 276; Bob Meek 314 (for Milton Oliver); T.J. Ryan 30t; Bill Bagwell and Cindy Tanner 59; Susan Allred 183; Elizabeth Keeton and Glenn Keeton 42; Jessica Beer and Sandy Melof 436; Jo Schultz 448b; Lena Keeton 546; Rachel Speer and Dean Jens 209; Adrian Eldridge, Virginia Eldridge, Rebecca Eldridge, James Eldridge, and Katherine Eldridge 569t; Mary Jo Shafer 569b; Aldo Ceresa and Nathan Rees 271t; Beth Ann Clay and Garrett Sipe 274t.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Danny Creel leading 327. Leaders: Rodney Ivey 294 (by request); Rodney Ivey and Coy Ivey 486t (WB).

A business session was held for the purpose of hearing reports from various committees.

The Resolutions Committee (Glenn Keeton, Bridgett Hill, and Judy Caudle) thanked everyone who helped to make the convention a success.

The Finance Report was given by Linda Thomas. A balance of $3662.15 was brought forward. A collection for two days was received in the amount of $1714.91, for a total of $5377.06. Total expenses were $1493.72. The balance, after expenses, is $3883.34.

The Secretary’s Report was presented by Elene Stovall, stating that for the two days a total of 217 leaders led 183 songs. A motion was made and seconded to accept the reports as given and adjourn the business meeting.

Announcements were made. Danny Creel and Jeff Sheppard led 323t as the closing song. Richard Mauldin offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Danny Creel; Vice Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Secretaries—Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall.