Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, December 1

The thirty-fourth session of the Florida State Convention was called to order by Chairman Bud Oliver leading song on page 32t. Verlon Stiefel offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Chairman Bud Oliver 82; Vice Chairperson Reba Windom 59; Victoria Aplin 421; Aubrey Barfield 306; Earl Ballinger 101t; Danny Creel 182; Frank Hataway 395b; Louise Holland 137; Russ Schultz 64; Elene Stovall 559; John Redman 508; Max Berueffy 156; Liz Bryant 98; Bob Bonnell 511b; Hershell King 398b.

RECESS

The singing continued with Chairman Bud Oliver leading song on page 440t. Leaders: Leon Ballinger 384; Wanda Capps 505; Richard DeLong 524; Alice Bejnar 145b; Ernest Cockcroft 553b; Nancy Van Den Akker 41; Hans Guttmann 416t; Amber Springfield 501; Bob Goodman 572; Lavaughn Ballinger 393t; Daphene Causey 434; Milton Oliver 54.

RECESS

David Lee brought the class to order leading songs on pages 278b and 63. Leaders: Larry Ballinger 300; Sara Pietrantoni 119; Harrison Creel 355; Nate Green and Norma Green 45b, 381t; Tor Bejnar 361; Lela Crowder 507; Bill Aplin 94; Linda Thomas 515; Jeanette Nelson 217; John Plunkett 536; Eva Padgett 77t; Hobert Ivey 335t; Lee Rogers 121; Kennon Smith 189; Judy Mincey 411. The class was dismissed for lunch with the singing of song on page 369.

LUNCH

Chairman Bud Oliver brought the afternoon session to order leading song on page 145t. Leaders: Bill Farris 401; Ann Jett 503; John Etheridge 552; Genny Whitworth 324; Joe Nall 428; Tommie Spurlock 433; Tim Jones 38t; Billy Kelley 558; Mary Ruth Stiefel 112; Stanley Smith 288; Edith Tate 404; Verlon Stiefel 45t; Agnes Farris 101b; Juanita Hill 81; Carolyn Webb 391 (for her mother, Mammie Riley); Margaret Spurlock 212; Stanley Smith 235b (for the Barfield family).

RECESS

Aubrey Barfield brought the class to order leading song on page 522. Leaders: Elsie Moon 497; Eloise Wootten 541; Danny Creel 76b; Lois Bonnell 82; David Lee 282; Tim Jones 489; Tommie Spurlock 264b; Ernest Cockcroft 49b; Wilton Donaldson 285t; John Etheridge 358 (for Pauline Pruitt); David Lee 488t (by special request and walked time).

Announcements were made. Bud Oliver led song on page 461 as the closing song, and David Lee dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, December 2

The Sunday morning session of the Florida State Convention was brought to order by Chairman Bud Oliver leading song on page 36b. Harrison Creel offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Vice Chairperson Reba Windom 144; Victoria Aplin 270; Aubrey Barfield 220; Earl Ballinger 176; Frank Hataway 138; Louise Holland 64; David Yeager 494; Elene Stovall 183; John Redman 283b; Liz Bryant 392; Bob Bonnell 75; Hershell King 572; Leon Ballinger 239; Wanda Capps 142; Richard DeLong 98, 61 (in memory of his grandmother, Dollie Hudgins).

RECESS

Bud Oliver called the class to order leading song on page 42. Leaders: Hans Guttmann 511t; Lela Crowder 106; J.A. Mosley 542; Amber Springfield 192; Bob Goodman 500; Nancy Van Den Akker 422t; Lavaughn Ballinger 358.

Tommie Spurlock and Judy Mincey presented the memorial lesson. Tommie Spurlock spoke about the beauty that the Lord has given us, a beautiful day with bright sunshine and birds singing. But with all this beauty, it cannot compare with what our loved ones who have passed away are now experiencing, joys and beauty that cannot be described by those of us who remain. Tommie Spurlock read Psalm 100, and Judy Mincey read the list of names of the deceased. Tommie Spurlock led song on page 574, “Sweet Peace” in memory of the deceased.

Judy Mincey read the list of the sick and shut-ins, and Tommie Spurlock led song on page 225t in their honor. Harrison Creel closed the memorial with prayer.

Leaders: Daphene Causey 222; Max Berueffy 344; Karen Clark 516; Larry Ballinger 559; Sara Pietrantoni 405; Harrison Creel 54t; Ann Jett 229; Gravis Ballinger 120.

LUNCH

Chairman Bud Oliver brought the afternoon session to order leading song on page 332. Leaders: Jeanette Nelson 171; John Plunkett 244; Norma Green 449; Bill Aplin 163t; Lee Rogers 575; Don Clark 186; Eva Padgett 215; John Etheridge 110; Judy Mincey 336t; Joe Nall 216; Agnes Farris 108b; Tommie Spurlock 203; Eloise Wootten 99; Bill Farris 111b; Dewayne Hawthorne 47b; Ernest Cockcroft 159; Aubrey Barfield 288 (for Irma Shari).

RECESS

Chairman Bud Oliver brought the class to order leading song on page 73. Leaders: Jeanette Nelson and Hans Guttmann 478; Leon Ballinger 507b; Eva Padgett 198 (for the Riley family); Nancy Van Den Akker 77; David Yeager 38t; Reba Windom 573, 540; Frank Hataway 444t; John Plunkett 477.

A business session was held. The officers for next year (2002) were presented: Chairperson—Reba Windom; First Vice Chairman—Max Berueffy; Second Vice Chairman—Larry Ballinger.

Announcements were made. The class sang 146 as the closing song, and Bill Aplin dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Bud Oliver; Secretary—Victoria Aplin.