Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday Evening, October 7

The Sacred Harp, 1992 Cooper Revision was used for this singing.

The sixth annual session of the Tennessee State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Tim Reynolds leading song on page 85, followed by prayer. Tim Reynolds led song on page 293b.

Leaders: Clayton Ezell 300, 108; Gordon Wilkinson 63, 220; Wanda Capps 515, 503; Brenda Merritt 559, 137 (in memory of Virgil Phillips); Sandie Scott 571 (in memory of Judge Ottis Knippers), 408; John Merritt 138, 263; Samuel Sommers 180, 574; Marilyn Burchett 229; Bud Oliver 573, 572.

RECESS

Milton Oliver brought the class back to order leading song on page 505. Leaders: Ann Jett 222; Marie Guthrie 497, 192; Gary Smith 31t, 81; Margie Norwood 405, 451; David Roberson 239, 203; Sara Harwell 128, 31b; Earl Ballinger 292, 176; Elder J.L. Hopper 245, 350; Eldagene Roberson 144, 142; Harrison Creel 54t; Henry Cobb 72, 68t; Sarah Smith 288, 290; Shelley Capps 73t; Clayton Ezell 38t (by request); John Merritt 39, 478, 392 (all by request).

Announcements were made. Tim Reynolds led song on page 132 as the closing song. Elder J.L. Hopper closed the session with prayer.

Sunday, October 8

The singing was from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Revision.

Tim Reynolds called the convention to order by leading song on page 312b. Gordon Wilkinson offered the morning prayer. Tim Reynolds led song on page 171.

Leaders: Gordon Wilkinson 34b, 73t; Sandie Scott 40, 475; David Roberson 340, 222; Sarah Smith 318, 384; Clay Mattox 119 (requested by his wife in memory of their grandson, Nathaniel Kaiser); Marilyn Burchett 335, 66; Samuel Sommers 473, 112; Eldagene Roberson 215, 203; Gary Smith 34t, 565b; Larry Ballinger 49t, 78; Arlene Richardson 168, 143; Henry Guthery 120, 39b.

RECESS

Tim Reynolds brought the class back together by leading song on page 81.

The convention went into a business session with the following officers retained or appointed: Chairman—Tim Reynolds; Vice Chairman—Gordon Wilkinson; Secretaries—Marilyn Burchett and Sandie Scott; Arranging Committee—Clayton Ezell and Shelley Capps; Memorial Committee—Gary Smith and Paige Hunter.

Tim Reynolds concluded the business session by reading some excerpts from a report of the sixth session of an earlier form of the Tennessee State Convention held at George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee on October 7-8, 1944. Participants included: George Pullen Jackson, Irving Wolfe, and Lonnie Odem. Lodging for the convention was provided by the college at a cost of seventy-five cents per night with the convention paying twenty-five cents per night. The total cost to the convention was eleven dollars.

Leaders: Lomax Ballinger 101t, 144; Margie Norwood 100, 147t; Harrison Creel 342, 111b; Milton Oliver 314; Henry Cobb 68b, 159; John Merritt 358, 499; Flarce Creel 503, 475; Gravis Ballinger 300, 91; David Carlton 278b, 48t; Edith Tate 35, 532; Earl Ballinger 530, 500; Judy Caudle 302, 385b.

LUNCH

Tim Reynolds brought the afternoon session to order leading songs on pages 313b, 278t, and 312t; followed by Ann Jett leading 269 and 327.

Gary Smith and Anita Shaddix (filling in for Paige Hunter) presented the memorial lesson. Gary Smith talked about the feeling of family that exists among Sacred Harp singers and the number of losses we, as a family, have suffered this past year, and led song on page 163b for those who had passed away in the last year.

Henry Guthery led song on page 119 in memory of Nathaniel Kaiser, ten year old grandson of Clay Mattox, who passed away in September.

Anita Shaddix led song on page 480 for the sick and shut-ins to conclude the memorial lesson.

Leaders: Brenda Merritt 436, 336; Bud Oliver 47t (in memory of Virgil Phillips), 426; Linton Ballinger 208, 217; Wanda Capps 299, 142; Laurens Blankers 551, 515b, 147t; Marie Guthrie 434, 411; Charlotte Plunkett 143; Paige Hunter and Clayton Ezell 45t; Vella Bea Ezell Gillespie and Clayton Ezell 335; Laris Ezell and Clayton Ezell 358; Ezell family 294; Anita Shaddix 235b, 405; Hershell King 97; Shelley Capps 30t; Samuel Sommers 24 (by request), 457.

Announcements were made. Tim Reynolds led song on page 87 as the closing song. Harrison Creel closed the singing with prayer.

Chairman—Timothy Reynolds; Vice Chairman—Gordon Wilkinson; Secretaries—Marilyn Burchett and Sandie Scott.