Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, June 10

The fifty-fourth session of the annual Hopewell Homecoming Sacred Harp Singing was called to order by Terry Hullett leading song on page 82t. Calvin Phillips led the morning prayer. Terry Hullett led songs on pages 32t and 61.

A business session was held with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Terry Hullett; Vice Chairman—Calvin Phillips; Secretaries—Jewel Wootten, Paula Gilmore, and Marie Hyatt; Arranging Committee—Coy Ivey and Brenda Merritt; Memorial Committee—Linda Thomas and Philip Gilmore.

Leaders: Calvin Phillips 59, 147t; Jewel Wootten 74b, 354b; Roie Alexander 317; Coy Ivey 63; Brenda Merritt 336; Doug Conn 430; Henry Johnson 418; Charlene Wallace 99; Martha Woodard 274t; Bud Oliver 47t; Margie Smith 225t; Hershell King 340; Karen Willard and Ken Hallock 370, 330b; S.T. Reed 316; Willie Mae Moon 383; Elder J.L. Hopper 245.

RECESS

The singing resumed with Terry Hullett leading song on page 29t. Leaders: Gordon Wilkinson 475; Shane Wootten 542; Gavin Blakeley 146; Lydia Baswell, Vella Dailey, and Ovetta Carr 452; Chita Blakeley 384; Bill Green 448t; Sandie Scott 40; Clayton Ezell 137; Karen Davis 270; B.M. Smith 73t; Pauline Childers 436, 546; Larry Ballinger 112; Dennis George 117; Judy Caudle 361; Glenn Keeton 231; James Cain 218; Jeff Sheppard 29b; Buddy Davis 45t; Gene Wakefield 284; Max Berueffy 145t; Bobby Jackson 290; Donna Wootten and Shane Wootten 108t; Leola Smith 234; David McGinty 143; Travis Keeton 343.

LUNCH

Terry Hullett brought the afternoon session to order leading songs on pages 37b and 35. Leaders: Jessica Davis 145b, 101t; Dennis George “Sweet Beulah Land” (by request); Tommy George 354 (t? b?); Anita Landess 480; Cindy Franklin 368; Shelbie Sheppard 220; Velton Chafin 97; Cassie Franklin and Chip Ward 33b, 217; Ron Crocker 201; Carmon Brothers 569b; Nate Green and Norma Green 268; Edith Tate 532; Ella Lee Robertson and Onette Watkins 373, 72b; Linda Sides 454; Tommie Spurlock 376; Linda Thomas 39t.

RECESS

Jeff Sheppard brought the class to order leading song on page 408. Leaders: Andrew Crocker 128; Freeman Wootten 70b; Betty Sue Johnson 406; Margaret Spurlock 108b; Eloise Wootten 299; Alice Wakefield 335; Elene Stovall and Coy Ivey 222; Philip Gilmore 142; Glenda Hopper 501 (CB); Paula Gilmore and Philip Gilmore 441; Nate Green, Leola Smith, Eldora Moody, Genny Whitworth, Bill Green, and B.J. Green 186, 100 (in memory of Lois Green); Verlon Steifel and Mary Ruth Steifel 348b, 333.

Terry Hullett and Philip Gilmore led song on page 235 as the closing song. Elder Philip Gilmore dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, June 11

The Sunday session of the Hopewell Homecoming was called to order by Terry Hullett leading song on page 59. Lamar Smith offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Chairman Terry Hullett 49b; Vice Chairman Calvin Phillips 61, 143; Roie Alexander and Jewel Wootten 145b, 97; Douglas Conn 278 (t? b?), 321; Milton Oliver 318; Lamar Smith 76b; Bill Green 378b; Roy Nelson 392; Randall Smith 36b; Jessica Davis 30t, 145t; Jackie Tanner 48t; Tommie Spurlock 430, 565; Buddy Davis 99, 101t.

RECESS

Terry Hullett brought the class to order leading song on page 220. Leaders: Rodney Ivey 47t; Shelbie Sheppard 549, 105; Margaret Spurlock 112, 212; Karen Willard 171, 148; Anita Landess 73b, 58; Steven Schmidgall 136, 68b; Dennis George 224, 47b; Karen Ivey 288, 475 (in memory of Virgil Phillips).

RECESS

Jeff Sheppard brought the class to order leading songs on pages 75 and 440; Mark Brown 503.

Memorial Lesson: Linda Thomas gave a moving memorial tribute to Virgil Phillips and other deceased. With tears streaming from her eyes she remembered Virgil and read the list of deceased: Virgil Phillips, Alton Lowe, Rev. James Putman, Mary Oden, Willard Hopper, Ester Brown, Ralph Heath, Lindberg Lacy, Bessie White, Jerry Green, Verlie Putman, and Lucille Foreman.

Brothers, sisters, and children of Virgil Phillips along with Linda Thomas, Rodney Ivey, and Jeff Sheppard led song on page 137 in memory of Virgil and song on page 45t in memory of Jerry Green, son of Wilma Green. The group led song on page 376 in honor of Herbert Phillips, brother of Virgil Phillips, who is in a nursing home and was not able to attend. As a special request Mark Brown led the class in singing “Sweet Beulah Land”.

Members of the Green and Alexander families led songs on pages 235 and 176b for the sick and shut-ins. Those remembered: Ruby Phillips, Lawrence Underwood, Lula Underwood, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Hardin, Thurman Nall, Marie Aldridge, Rosa Hughes, Mattie Townsel, Marie Hyatt, Polly Moore, Mozelle Sheppard, Herbert Phillips, and Gladys Adams.

The class was dismissed to reassemble in the cemetery to complete the memorial service. Songs on page 30b, “We Will Sing With The Angels There”, “Not Made With Hands”, and 31t were selected to pay tribute to all the deceased. Elder Philip Gilmore concluded the memorial service with prayer.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Terry Hullett leading song on page 217. Leaders: Richard Ivey 42; Stuart Ivey 189; Cindy Franklin 155, 88t; Buell Cobb 131b, 467; Cassie Holmes 119; Jackson Harcrow 63; Cassie Franklin 74b; David Ivey 67; Sarah Harcrow 347; Katrina Holmes 168, 137; Susan Harcrow 142, 300; Nate Green and Norma Green 89, 569b; Ernest Phillips 198, 39b; Eloise Watkins 225t, 426b; Lydia Baswell and Vella Dailey 222, 511b (CB); Leola Smith 203; Karen Davis 270; Herby Bailey 34b; Philip Gilmore 396; Rodney Ivey and Sarah Harcrow 299 (by request); Rodney Ivey “Trusting”; Linda Thomas and Teresa Ratliff 500 (CB); Terry Hullett 176t.

Announcements were made. Terry Hullett, Calvin Phillips, and Philip Gilmore led song on page 62 for the closing song as those who wished took the parting hand. Philip Gilmore dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Terry Hullett; Vice Chairman—Calvin Phillips; Secretaries—Jewel Wootten, Paula Gilmore, and Marie Hyatt.