Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 4

The one hundred forty-ninth session of the Chattahoochee Convenvention was held at Wilson’s Chapel, near Carrollton, Georgia on the first Sunday and Saturday before in August. Chairman Sheri Taylor opened the convention by leading song on page 77t. Everette Denney led the class in prayer.

Leaders: Sheri Taylor 84; Helen Bryson 546; Donna Duke 159, 155; Richard Mauldin 63, 143 (sung in honor of his mother, Tommye Denson Mauldin); John Plunkett 97, 432; Kathy Williams 275b, 53; Charles Woods 378b, 411; Laura Boyd Russell 140, 428; Everette Denney 426t, 335; Duncan McLeod 168, 89; Coy Ivey 101t, 99; Scott DePoy 277, 47b; Kiri Miller 448b, 448t.

RECESS

The class was called to order by Sheri Taylor, Laura Frey, and Lisa Webb leading song on page 178. Leaders: Lisa Webb and Laura Frey 369.

Chairman Sheri Taylor opened the business session of the convention, and the following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Sheri Taylor; Vice Chairman—Richard DeLong; Secretary—Donna Duke; Chaplain—Lonnie Rogers; Arranging Committee—Saturday—Laura Frey and Lee Rogers—Sunday—Jeannette DePoy and Lela Crowder; Finance Committee—Don Bowen and Lisa Webb; Resolutions Committee—Kiri Miller and Richard Mauldin; Memorial Committee—Judy Mincey and Kathy Williams.

New business: John Plunkett will form an ad hoc committee to plan the celebration of the convention’s 150th session in 2002. Anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact John Plunkett. End of business session.

Leaders: Lee Rogers 337, 298; Cindy Scott 28b, 29t; Aaron Girard 384, 385t; Hugh McGraw 354 (t? b?); Lela Crowder 300, 480; Bobby Jones 568, 569b; Paul Gailiunas 163 (t? b?), 344; Rick Russell 425, 201; Sue Bunch and Morgan Bunch 49b, 383; Ted Mercer 132, 43.

LUNCH

Vice Chairman Richard DeLong opened the afternoon session by leading songs on pages 399b and 407. Leaders: Don Bowen 82t; Lou Cotney 218; Kenneth DeLong 492; Tom Ivey 501; Judy Mincey 327; Louis Hughes 176t; Jeannette DePoy 306; Andy Anderson 430; Charlene Wallace and Carlene Griffin 365; Gene Duke 45t; Eric Tweedy 245; Lonnie Rogers 225t; Frances Mary D’Andrea 171; Andy Morse 57; Henry Johnson 418; Earlis McGraw 148 (for Mozelle Sheppard and Gladys McGraw); Jimmie Denney 276.

RECESS

David Yeager brought the class to order leading song on page 142. Leaders: Tokay Shumake 204; Felton Denney 299; Louise Holland 441; Dan Huger 32t; Josephine Denney 503; Bernard Denney 222; Homer Benefield 119.

Chairman Sheri Taylor and Vice Chairman DeLong closed the Saturday session with song on 323t. Chaplain Lonnie Rogers offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, August 5

The Sunday morning session was brought to order by Chairman Sheri Taylor leading songs on pages 39t and 95. Chaplain Lonnie Rogers led the morning prayer.

Leaders: Richard DeLong 43; Donna Duke 45t; Phillip Langley 542; Don Bowen 390; Kathy White 159; Sue Bunch 72b; Andy Morse 28t; Carlene Griffin 113; David Yeager 34b; Josephine Denney 143; Tommy McGraw 477; Evelyn Harris 155; Bobby Jackson 100; Mary Florence Smith 460; Tom Ivey 198; Eunice Webb 544; Jimmie Denney 313t; Laura Frey 163b; B.J. Harris 303.

RECESS

Charlene Wallace called the class to order leading song on page 106. Leaders: Teenie Moody 441; Richard Mauldin 36b; Pearl Guier 49t; Morgan Bunch 335; Louise Holland 323b; “Happy Birthday” was sung for Ruth Brown who is 91; Earlis McGraw 389; Tokay Shumake 145b; Philip Denney 503; Lee Rogers 91; Phil Summerlin 35; Judy Mincey 34t; Lonnie Rogers 222; Sharon Strong 38b; Felton Denney 489; Laura Ackerman 192; Lloyd Toney 401; Glenda Collins 354b; Adam Wilson 68b.

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Judy Mincey read the following list of deceased and led song on page 510 in their memory: Doris Sills, Mary Lou Cagle, Jack Corley, Jack Smith, Judith Ann Caruthers, Lisa Nelson Bobo, G. Gene Munce, Cecil Edwards, Gene Wakefield, Mercedes Cagle Lambert, Marguerite White, and Sara Street.

Kathy Williams led song on page 340 for the sick and shut-ins: Mozelle Sheppard, Jerilyn Schumacher, Vivian Rogers, Jeff Sheppard, Shelbie Sheppard, Tommye Denson Mauldin, Sandy Sensenbach, and Alice Edwards. Lonnie Rogers closed the memorial session with prayer.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Chairman Sheri Taylor leading song on page 142. Leaders: John Plunkett 271t; Charlene Wallace, Judith Green, and Kady Simpson 384; Paul Gailiunas 86; Karen Clark 138t; Henry Johnson 138b; Kiri Miller 224; Buell Cobb 42; Tom Clark 329; Amanda Denson 399b; Tom Hubert 99; Ted Mercer 151; Oscar McGuire 573; Bob Goodman 84; Gene Duke 75; Jeannette DePoy 318; Lela Crowder 282; Jack Nelson 30b.

RECESS

Vice Chairman Richard DeLong called the class together leading song on page 109. Leaders: Paul Gailiunas 497; Ted Mercer 379; Lee Denney and Philip Denney 164, 120; Kiri Miller and Aaron Girard 270; Tom Ivey 66; Karen Clark and Ted Mercer 501; Sharon Strong 479; Lisa Webb 451.

A motion was made and duly seconded to go into a business session for the purpose of hearing committee reports.

Finance Committee—Collected $476.00 for the two days.

Resolutions Committee Report. In 1880 the Chattahoochee Convention met at Mt. Zion, and the minutes were published in the Carroll County Time. They read, “The convention was harmonious from first to last. We were all kindly treated and the good people of that vicinity deserve credit for entertaining the visitors. May they live a long and prosperous life and their baskets and store-houses be filled full, and may their souls be filled with the love of God.”

And with this thought in mind, we wish to thank:

(1) The Wilson family for this wonderful location provided by them;

(2) Our officers and committees that administered their duties in a superlative manner;

(3) Our singers, leaders, visitors;

(4) And especially all the people that provided the bounteous supply of food that has sustained us these two days.

In 1894, the convention made the following resolutions of which we repeat today. “That the good people of this vicinity have our thanks for their kindness shown in opening their doors, hearts and souls to us, ever praying heaven’s blessing upon them that their souls may be filled with the love of God.” And “that we respect and praise the young people for the good order and high bred manners, for they are the hope of our country and will soon have to take our station in life.”

We give thanks to God for the songwriters and people who have kept these songs flourishing up to the present days so we can continue to meet in common fellowship to sing these wonderful hymns and anthems with themes that are so appropriate even in these current times.

We end as the convention minutes ended in 1869, with the observation that “Separating one year hence seemed a long time to those who have become so much attached to each other as all appeared to be.” Therefore, we resolve to meet next year for the 150th session of the Chattahoochee Musical Convention and encourage all to be here to celebrate in songs and presence.

Submitted respectfully to this Convention by this Resolution Committee today, Sunday the 5th day of August in the year 2001. Kiri Miller and Richard Mauldin, Resolutions Committee.

A motion was made and carried that the reports be accepted as read, and added to the minutes.

The collection of $476.00 was acknowledged. After payment to the minutes, $60.00, the remaining monies were given to the Wilson family for expenses.

New Business: Hugh McGraw suggested that the Memorial service be moved back to 11:00 a.m. The motion was seconded and carried. John Plunkett asked that everyone bring someone next year to the 150th session.

Announcements for future singings were announced. Sheri Taylor and Richard DeLong led song on page 62 as the closing song. Lonnie Rogers dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Sheri Taylor; Vice Chairman—Richard DeLong; Secretary—Donna Duke.