Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

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Georgia State Sacred Harp Convention

Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia

March 22-23, 2003

Saturday, March 22

The forty-second session of the Georgia State Sacred Harp Convention was held at Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in March.

The convention was called to order by John Plunkett leading 59. Louis Hughes, Sr. offered the morning prayer.

John Plunkett led 229 in memory of Kenneth DeLong, Vivian Rogers, Everette Denney, and Revy Williams, deceased from Georgia.

Leaders: Charlene Wallace 63 (in memory of Dollie Hudgins); Louis Hughes, Sr. 61; Helen Bryson 568; Jeannette DePoy 89; Eric Tweedy 385b; Lee Rogers 228; Lela Crowder 374; Andy Anderson 107; Don Bowen and Andrea Mockridge 99; Philip Denney 120; John Hollingsworth 82t; Laura Clawson 186; Jimmie Denney 313t; LaRue Allen 142.

RECESS

The class was called together by John Plunkett leading 494. Leaders: Carlene Griffin 159; Chris Carnell 348t; Betty Wright 348b; Cindy Tanner 198; Lonnie Rogers 225t; Charles Woods 454; Janice Paulk 518; Danny Creel 269; Karen Rollins 34b.

A motion was made to go into the business session. Officers elected or appointed were: Chairman—Richard DeLong; Vice Chairman—Charles Woods; Secretary/Treasurer—Charlene Wallace; Chaplain—John Hollingsworth; Arranging Committee—Jesse Roberts, Andy Morse, and Louis Hughes, Jr.; Memorial Committee—Jeannette DePoy, Lee Rogers, and David Lee; Resolutions Committee—Helen Bryson and Sandra Wilkinson; Finance Committee—Lela Crowder, Andy Anderson, and Don Bowen; Locating Committee—Philip Denney, Faye Holbrook, and Louis Hughes, Sr.

John Plunkett continued to serve as Chairman due to the illness of Richard DeLong.

Leaders: Jerry Enright 300; Sandie Scott 408; Frances Carnell 327; Louis Hughes, Jr. 112; Kiri Miller 430; Reba Windom 208; David Lee 183; Henry Johnson 414; Earlis McGraw 389; Floy Wilder 227; O.A. Chesney 143; Susan Harcrow 383; Karen Freund 42; David Carlton 565; Martha Beverly 377; Rodney Ivey 440; Jessica Roberts 272; Hermon Wilkinson 215; Judy Caudle 94; Jesse Roberts 242.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called together by John Plunkett leading 52t. Leaders: Andy Anderson 540; Malinda Snow 73b; Aaron Girard 131t; Karen Ivey 192; Jackson Harcrow 153; Violet Thomason 189; Ted Mercer 332; Susan Posey and Mandy Trenton 58; David Ivey 472; Daryl Chesney and Sharon Jenkins 528; Sandra Wilkinson 384; Felton Denney 155; Faye Holbrook 236; Junie Wooten 503; Martha Ann Stegar 268; Ricky Harcrow 182; Hans Guttmann 37b; Cathy White 84; John Redman and Susan Redman 358.

RECESS

Charles Woods called the class to order leading 203. Leaders: Phillip Langley 110; Gaston White 66; Bobby Watkins 81t; Judy Mincey 475; Bill Beverly 547; Anita Landess 297; Andrew Snyder 442; Nancy Yeager 479; Kathy Williams 510; John Whittemore 40; Phil Summerlin 350; Louise Holland 35; David Yeager 425; Lonnie Rogers 340; Violet Thomason 343, 434; Laura Akerman 543.

Announcements were made. John Plunkett and Charles Woods led 46 as the closing song. The singing was closed with prayer led by Elder Jesse Roberts.

Sunday, March 23

The convention was called to order by Charles Woods leading 27. Chaplain John Hollingsworth offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: John Plunkett 207; Charlene Wallace 276; John Hollingsworth 196; Faye Holbrook 67; Andy Morse 542; Bill Beverly 474; Laura Clawson 274t; Bobby Watkins 34t; Kathy Williams 186; Bud Oliver 170; Anita Landess 480; Philip Denney 73t; Carlene Griffin 448b; Hans Guttmann 566; Janice Paulk 362; Jerry Enright 77t; Cathy White 270; Aaron Girard 70b; Helen Bryson 411.

RECESS

John Plunkett called the class together leading 77b. Leaders: Scott DePoy 201; David Lee 39t; Rodney Ivey 426b; Martha Beverly 71; Earlis McGraw 284; Kiri Miller 383; Don Bowen 513 (for Richard DeLong); Allison Ivey 56t; Jeannette DePoy 47t; Reba Windom 216; Henry Johnson 288; Gaston White 178; Louis Hughes, Jr. 347; Lela Crowder 546; Louis Hughes, Sr. 569t.

RECESS

Charles Woods called the class together leading 197. Leaders: Danny Creel 222; Karen Freund 428; Judy Caudle 163 (t? b?).

The memorial lesson was held. David Lee spoke about those who are sick, read the names of the sick and shut-ins, and led 100. Those remembered: Kelly Beard—Texas; Dot Garber—Connecticut; Barbara Johnson, Jan Lewandowski, Gladys McGraw, Gertrude DeLong, and Richard DeLong—Georgia; Lavaughn Ballinger, Joyce Walton, Jap Walton, Jeff Sheppard, Shelbie Sheppard, Ruth Wills, Betty Shepherd, and Ruth Brown—Alabama.

Jeannette DePoy spoke about those who have passed on. She read the list of the deceased and led 390 in their memory. Those remembered: Kenneth DeLong, Revy Williamson, Vivian Rogers, Everette Denney, Cindy Cole, Virginia Redman, Wilford Denney, George Rogers, Frances McDaniel, Julie Burns, Rockell Austin, Sara Woolf, and Thomas Hauk—Georgia; Jim Dancer—Arkansas; Flora Skinner, John Lacy, Bobby Lacy, and Henry C. Sherer—Alabama. John Hollingsworth closed the memorial with prayer.

Leaders: David Ivey 500; John Redman 397; Ted Mercer 123t.

LUNCH

The afternoon session resumed with Charles Woods leading 283. Leaders: Louise Holland 273; Phillip Langley 215; Vaudie Sherer 143; Karen Ivey 441; Milton Oliver 314; Martha Ann Stegar 63; Andy Anderson 28t; Jennifer Kerns 236; Tim Cook, Mako Cook, Ayako Furukawa, Doug Cook, and Chieko Cook 350, 45t; Sandra Wilkinson 405; Judy Mincey 538; Rueben Ball 544; David Yeager 154; Violet Thomason 318, 189.

RECESS

The class was called together by John Plunkett leading 146. Leaders: Judy Green 147t; Mike Castleberry 490; Beverly Oneida 142; Lucrissa H. Frankin and Faye Holbrook 153, 380; Jeannette DePoy, Scott DePoy, and Lynn Allen 282; Bill Beverly and Martha Beverly 192; Jerry Enright and Karen Freund 56b; Kiri Miller and Aaron Girard 436; Laura Clawson 76b; Hans Guttmann 48b; Ted Mercer 345b.

A motion was made to go into the business session. Reports from various committees were made.

The Finance Report was given.

The Resolutions Report:

In these unsettled and uncertain times, what a pleasure it is to be able to come together in the spring to share the joy of singing and friendship. For it is in the music that we remember those who have departed this earth and those who are unable to be with us due to life’s infirmities. Therefore, be it resolved:

  • That this Convention will encourage each to do their part in the promotion and support of this music that we all love so much;
  • Give thanks to all those who have worked so diligently in order that these proceedings ran smoothly;
  • Thank those who provided the opportunity to come together to make new friends and renew old friendships;
  • Recognize that it is through God’s grace that we are allowed to come together as one to sing His praises;
  • Extend thanks to John Gray of Mrs. Winters Chicken for donating the chicken for lunch;
  • Offer a gracious thanks to Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church and host families who cared for us and provided for our every meal.

Submitted by: Helen Bryson and Sandra Wilkinson.

The Locating Committee reported that the 2004 session of the Georgia State Sacred Harp Convention would be held near Carrollton, Georgia at Emmaus Primitive Baptist Church.

The business session was closed.

Announcements were made. John Plunkett and Charles Woods led 62 as the closing song. Chaplain John Hollingsworth led the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairmen—Richard DeLong and John Plunkett; Vice Chairman—Charles Woods; Secretary—Charlene Wallace.