Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 9

The 118th session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association met on the second Sunday and Saturday before in September. The class was called to order by Marty Wootten leading 82t. Shane Brown offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Marty Wootten 31t; Jamey Wootten 37b; Pam Nunn 155; Anna Hinton 203; Shane Brown 114; Jerry Turlington 335; Garrett Morton 129; Winfred Kerr 36b; Susan Lee 107; James Shipp 159; Cheyenne Ivey and Reba Windom 30b; Daniel Williams 442; Eddie Mash 556; Karen Rollins 171; Jeanette Graves and Joyce Morton 358; Daniel Lee 474.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by Marty Wootten leading 56t. A business session was held and the following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Jamey Wootten; Vice Chairman—Blake Sisemore; Secretary—Pam Nunn; Chaplain—Shane Brown; Arranging Committee—Cindy Tanner and Anna Hinton; Memorial Committee—Marty Wootten and Judy Caudle; Finance Committee—Shane Wootten and Scott Ivey; Resolutions Committee—Nathan Rees and Prisca Rice; Locating Committee—Garrett Morton, Reba Windom, and Jared Wootten.

Leaders: Cindy Tanner 436; Alex Forsyth 336; Judy Caudle 434 (in memory of J.L. and Glenda Hopper); Phil Summerlin 35; Erica Hinton 460; Jeremy Shipp 232; Scott Ivey 284 (in memory of B.M. Smith); Brenda Armstrong and David Killingsworth 277; Lori Rodgers 162; Judy Chambless 472 (for Karleen Williams, Beverly Thompson, and Barry Rollins); Lucey Rose Karlsberg 196; Linda Sides 500; Elizabeth Shipp 117.

RECESS

Jamey Wootten led 76b to bring the class to order. Leaders: Rodney Ivey and Cheyenne Ivey 384 (in memory of Coy Ivey); Nicholas Thompson 76t (in memory of J.L. Hopper); Nathan Rees 134; Bill DuPre 378b; Benjamin Chesser 126; Prisca Rice 115; Robert Chambless 540; Andrew Whaley and Jackie Tanner 89; Reba Windom 216 (for Betty Shepherd and Dot Crow).

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Jamey Wootten leading 101t. Leaders: Eli Hinton 157; David Killingsworth 225t; Mandy Askins 71; Rachel Geary 319; Samuel Williams 476; Linda Thomas 131b; Matt Hinton 138t; Donna Wootten 274t; Jesse P. Karlsberg 272; Jared Wootten 456; Joy Dunn 122; Joyce Morton and Garrett Morton 46; Shane Wootten 542; Virginia Watts 111t; Ann Jett 327; Jeremy Shipp 111b; Andrew Whaley 112; Elizabeth Shipp 86; Benjamin Chesser 268; James Shipp 63; Mandy Askins 127; Eddie Mash 503; David Killingsworth and Brenda Armstrong 282; Bill DuPre 512; Lori Rodgers 379; Jerry Turlington 209; Jamey Wootten 398 (by request).

Jamey Wootten led 62 as the closing song. Shane Brown dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, September 10

The Sunday session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association meeting began with Jamey Wootten leading 48t. Jared Wootten offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Jared Wootten 32t; Blake Sisemore 34t; Pam Nunn 224; Bill DuPre 49b; Linton Ballinger 460; Marty Wootten 546; Samuel Williams 163t; Abigail Cannon 318; Ezra Eddins 34b; Joyce Morton 36b; Aaron Wootten 39t; Elam Eddins 89; Alex Forsyth 182; Jackie Tanner 73t; Bill Denney 457; Hayden Wootten 448t.

RECESS

Blake Sisemore led 101t to bring the class together. Leaders: Shane Brown 228; Cassie Allen 234; Eric Eddins 29b; Jerry Turlington 59; Deborah Taube 107; Emily Eddins 92; Daniel Williams 328; Tim Daly 284; Eli Eddins 565; Moriah Miller 503; Mark Jones 49t; Susan Lee 349; Luke Strickland 29t; Nathan Rees 193.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Jamey Wootten leading 166. Leaders: Matt Hinton 139; Meredith Ivey 153; Ethan Eddins 401; Garrett Morton 480 (in memory of Wendy Morton); Judy Caudle 91; Ann Jett 88t; Edith Eddins 135; Cheyenne Ivey 222; Jeanette Graves 45t; Reba Windom 172. Kevin Eddins asked a blessing at the tables before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Blake Sisemore leading 343. Leaders: Nicholas Thompson 192; Rachel Geary 426t; Rodney Ivey 220; Ainslie Allen 498.

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Marty Wootten spoke, remembering those who organized this convention, and kept it for the next generation of singers. Judy Caudle read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Ozella Blackmon, Alice McGuire, David Carlton, Richard Mauldin, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Margaret Keeton, Nate Green, Dan Brittain, Loyd Ivey, Louise Ivey, Teresa Bethune, Wanda Capps, Judy Henry, Caroline Wootten, and Betty Shepherd.

Judy then read the following list of names of the deceased: Elder J.L. Hopper, Norma Green, Boyd Scott, Doug Ivey, Marlon Wootten, Hubert Nall, Chita Blakeley, Jerry Kitchens, Juanita Beasley, Edna Calvert Graves, Joe Jones, and Claudene Townson—Alabama; Lydia Lewallen and David Wilson—North Carolina; Landis Powell, Charlotte Powell, and Cheryl Foreman—Texas; Philip Denney and Virginia Dyer—Georgia; Becky Browne—Missouri; Melanie Hauff—Illinois; Wendy Morton—Tennessee; Pete Mathewson—Colorado; Eva Striebeck—Germany; victims of September 11, 2001, attack and their family members left behind. Judy read a devotional from the writings of Charles H. Spurgeon, stating that blessed are those who sleep in Jesus. Marty and Judy led 99 and 354b. Aaron Wootten closed the memorial service with prayer.

Leaders: Evie Eddins 299; Prisca Rice 38b; Lucey Rose Karlsberg 186; Daniel Lee 497; Joy Dunn 496; Ewan Eddins 180; Emily Stutzman 532; Jesse P. Karlsberg 411; Scott Ivey 376; Dana Eddins 28b; Loyd Bricken 108t; Linda Sides 148; Shelby Castillo and Reba Windom 436; Virginia Watts 104; Kevin Eddins 149; Jared Wootten 283; Shane Wootten 348b; Betty Shepherd 216, 159; Cindy Tanner and Sharon DuPriest 269, 327.

The business session begun on Saturday was continued to hear reports from the various committees. Pam Nunn gave the secretary’s report and the financial report. Nathan Rees and Prisca Rice presented the Resolution’s Report, thanking God and all who helped make the convention run smoothly and successfully. They resolved to meet again on the second weekend in September, 2024. Reba Windom made the Locating Committee report, recommending the convention be held at Zion Hill Primitive Baptist Church, near Douglas, Alabama. The class accepted the recommendation, and all reports. The business session was closed. Announcements were made.

Jamey Wootten and Blake Sisemore led 146 as the closing song, and those who wished took the parting hand. Shane Brown offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Jamey Wootten; Vice Chairman—Blake Sisemore; Secretary—Pam Nunn