Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 15

The eighty-seventh session of the Calhoun County Sacred Harp Convention met at Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church in the Four Mile Community between Anniston and Jacksonville, Alabama on the third Sunday and Saturday before in September.

B.J. Harris brought the class to order with song on page 33b. Lonnie Rogers offered the morning prayer. B.J. Harris led song on page 32t, followed by Evelyn Harris leading 47t, 155; and Pearl Guier 49b, 59.

The class organized with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—B.J. Harris; Vice Chairman—B.M. Smith; Secretary—Evelyn Harris; Arranging Committee—Pearl Guier and Hester Edwards; Memorial Committee—Mary Florence Smith.

Leaders: B.J. Harris 503; Henry Johnson 278b, 56b; Margie Smith 123t, 101t; S.T. Reed 124, 125; Linda Thomas 31t, 56t; Felton Denney 448t, 448b; Nancy Allen 452; Harvey Austin 108t, 335; LaRue Allen 63, 37b.

RECESS

B.M. Smith called the class back to order by leading song on page 75. Leaders: Louise Holland and Robert Walker 36b, 40; Lonnie Rogers 225t, 318; Judith Green 384; Judith Green and Teenie Moody 117; Ginnie Prater 186, 460; Everette Denney 127, 171; Mary Florence Smith 378t, 378b; Mandy Cummings 312b, 358; Freeman Wootten 33b; Leola Smith 196, 268; Hershell King 426t, 97.

LUNCH

B.M. Smith brought the afternoon session to order leading songs on pages 475 and 284. Leaders: Teenie Moody and Judith Green 142, 317; Nate Green and Norma Green 83t, 109, 64; John Plunkett 90, 26; Lou Cotney 218, 300; Jewel Wootten 336, 166; Bud Oliver 73t, 42; Shelbie Sheppard 229; Eunice Webb 298, 544; Jimmie Denney 313t, 276, 143; Reba Norton 217, 441; Jeff Sheppard 392, 293; Sherrell Cleino 294, 421; B.M. Smith 28b; Ruth Brown and Hester Edwards 73b (for Alice Edwards), 340.

The class was very moved by comments made by many singers during the day on events of September 11, 2001, but comments made by Bud Oliver, retired Army Officer, were especially meaningful and expressed the views of everyone present.

Announcements were made. B.J. Harris and B.M. Smith led song on page 46 as the closing song. Harvey Austin dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, September 16

The Sunday session was brought to order by B.J. Harris leading song on page 82t. Lamar Smith offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: B.J. Harris 32t; B.M. Smith 70t, 448b; Evelyn Harris 30t, 39b; Pearl Guier 127, 303; Jeff Sheppard 75, 316; Mary Florence Smith 318, 300; Rodney Ivey 298, 475; Charlene Wallace 388, 391; Lamar Smith and Randall Smith 36b, 76b; Louise Holland 137, 273; Milton Oliver 176t, 270; Daphene Causey 142, 186.

RECESS

The class was reassembled by B.M. Smith leading song on page 354b. Leaders: Margie Smith 512, 317; Earlis McGraw 181, 435 (for the fire fighters and policemen at the World Trade Center, Washington, and Pennsylvania); Glenda Collins 124, 282; Richard Ivey 111b, 192; Carlene Griffin 155, 171; Bud Oliver 480, 384; Karen Ivey 107, 72b; Max Berueffy 126, 302; Elene Stovall 203, 224; David Ivey 271b, 471; Eunice Webb 436, 460.

Mary Florence Smith gave a very moving memorial lesson using the words from the song on page 26. Great emphasis was devoted to the tragedies at the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings. The deceased remembered were: Cecil Edwards, Daisy Roberts, Nelda Tolbert, and Lisa Bobo (daughter of Roy and Louise Nelson). Henry Johnson led songs on pages 410t and 341 and also talked about the tragedies that had occurred, offering a very somber and fitting tribute to those who had lost their lives.

Pam Nunn led songs on pages 146 and 524 for the sick and shut-ins. Those remembered were: Reba Edwards, Alice Edwards, Eula Johnson, Roy Nelson family, Sandie Sensenbach (daughter of Roy and Louise Nelson), Mozelle Sheppard, Vivian Rogers, Donnie McGraw, Polly Moore, Oakie Austin, and June Smith (daughter of Estelle Flowers). Mary Florence closed the memorial with prayer.

LUNCH

The afternoon of singing began with B.M. Smith leading song on page 108t. Leaders: LaRue Allen 454, 314; Leola Smith 268, 434; Stuart Ivey 99, 178; Judith Green and David Ivey 117, 274t; Randall Smith 73t, 501 (CB); Nancy Allen 106; Lou Cotney 172, 189; Teenie Moody 222, 37b; Shelbie Sheppard, Rene Greene, and Pam Nunn 216, 148, 269 (by request); Henry Johnson 81t, 229; Joan Aldridge 217; Max Berueffy 437, 120; David Ivey, Karen Ivey, Richard Ivey, and Stuart Ivey 182; Mary Florence Smith and Teenie Moody 383; Charlene Wallace, Carlene Griffin, and Earlis McGraw 225t; Elene Stovall 503; Daphene Causey and LaRue Allen 196; Randall Smith 343; Rodney Ivey and Lou Cotney 430; Reba Norton and Glenda Collins 373; Margie Smith and B.M. Smith 45t; Jeff Sheppard 454 (for grandson, Benjamin Greene); Hester Edwards and Eunice Webb 569b; Ruth Brown, Pearl Guier, and Louise Holland 68b.

After announcements, B.J. Harris and B.M. Smith led song on page 46 as the closing song. David Ivey dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—B.J. Harris; Vice Chairman—B.M. Smith; Secretary—Evelyn Harris.