Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, December 13

The ninth annual Joseph Jackson Beasley Memorial Singing was held at Concord Primitive Baptist Church in Winfield, Alabama on the second Sunday and Saturday before in December. The class was called to order by Chairman John Beasley leading 68b. Elder J.L. Hopper offered the morning prayer.

A business session was held with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—John Beasley; Vice Chairman—Marlin Beasley; Secretary—Henry Schuman; Arranging Committee—Sandie Scott.

Leaders: Marlin Beasley 192, 480; Richard Schmeidler 474, 475; Henry Schuman 32t, 318; Sandie Scott 108 (t? b?), 408; J.L. Hopper 137 (CH), 172 (CH); Josie Hyde 225b, 223; Virginia Douglas 49b; Becky Beasley Briggs 333 (LD), 334 (LD); Tim Cook 507b (CB), 393t (CB); Jim Helke 575 (CB), 571 (CB).

RECESS

Richard Schmeidler brought the class to order leading 84. Leaders: Betty Marvin 287, 73b; Wilton Donaldson 490, 499; John Hyde 39b, 566; Julietta Haynes 421, 406; Mako Cook 70b (CH), 67b (CH).

LUNCH

John Beasley called the class to order leading 67. Leaders: John Merritt 45b (CB), 258 (CH); Travis Keeton 129, 343; Marilyn Burchett 496, 324; Velton Chafin 521, 31t; Cora Beasley Sweatt 47b, 111 (t? b?); Glenda Hopper 81b, 81t; Ann Beasley Ballard 380 (LD), 274 (t? b?); John Redman 57, 50 (LD); Dorothea McCowan 559 (CB), 58; Sarah Beasley Smith 159, 384; Gary Smith 503, 565.

RECESS

Henry Schuman called the class to order leading 290. Leaders: David Carlton 134, 411 (CB); Brenda Merritt 76b, 82t; Brenda Pena 137 (CB), 313 (CH); Seth Holloway 143, 145 (t? b?); Alvin Beasley 45t, 59; Marlin Beasley, Diane Studdard, Lylia Bryant, and Susan Harris 72 (t? b?), 358; Marlin Beasley (by request) demonstrated lining, using 333 (LD).

Chairman John Beasley and Richard Schmeidler led 146 as the closing song. John Merritt dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, December 14

The Sunday session was called to order by Richard Schmeidler leading 34b. Harrison Creel offered the morning prayer. Leaders: Richard Schmeidler 276, 38t; John Beasley 32t, 33b; Sandie Scott 225t, 282; Henry Schuman 112, 426b; Emily Creel 217, 186; Earl Ballinger 331, 322; Brenda Pena 548, 441; Warren Steel 440, 74t.

RECESS

Betty Marvin brought the class to order leading 551. Leaders: Betty Marvin 154; Bridgett Hill 134, 384; Olivia Hill 335, 24b; Clarence McCool 430, 535; Jayne Fulmer 454, 300; Guy Bankes 456, 151; Bethanne Hill 159, 503; Ricky Beasley 68 (t? b?), 111 (t? b?); Kermit Adams 81t, 28b; Tim Reynolds 273, 66; Becky Briggs 396, 405; Glenn Keeton 163b, 117; Jim Helke 418, 196; Cecil Wakefield 208, 310; Ivalene Donaldson 204.

Gary Smith conducted the memorial lesson, read the names of the deceased, and led 47b in their memory. The names of the deceased remembered were: Elder Donald Smith, Nell Adams, Lena Lawson Baker, Etoile Lawson Smith, A.A. Malone, James Lavaughn Ballinger, and Ruth Brown—Alabama; Madeline Faulkner—Kentucky; Hugh Anderson—New York; Lois Liles Crump Smith—Tennessee.

The sick and shut-ins remembered were: John Hocutt, Elsie Beasley, Ophelia Lawson Heupel, Earl Sweatt, Uel Freeman, Jeff Sheppard, Shelbie Sheppard, and Juanita Beasley—Alabama; Bill Reynolds—Texas; Floyd Smith—Tennessee. Marlin Beasley led 340 in their honor. The memorial was closed.

LUNCH

Marlin Beasley called the class to order leading 317. Leaders: Danny Creel 76b, 269; Travis Keeton 203; John Hyde 297; Julietta Haynes 216, 192; Wilton Donaldson 499; Brenda Merritt 137; David Beasley 72 (t? b?), 73t; Johnny Humber 288; Gravis Ballinger 200; Virginia Douglas 49b, 268.

RECESS

John Merritt called the class to order leading 484 (CB). Leaders: John Merritt and Olivia Hill 392 (CB); Larry Ballinger 50b; John Redman 349, 513; Marilyn Burchett 567; David Carlton 448t; Josie Hyde and Warren Steel 225 (t? b?); Alvin Beasley 30t; Dorothea McCowan 442; Marlin Beasley 498, 460 (for Elsie Beasley); Cora Sweatt 46; Seth Holloway 274t; Gary Smith 31t; Ann Ballard 81b; Dorothea McCowan 218; Sarah Smith, John Beasley, Cora Sweatt, David H. Beasley, Ann Ballard, Becky Briggs, Alvin Beasley, and Marlin Beasley 146.

Chairman John Beasley and Richard Schmeidler led 48t as the closing song. Earl Ballinger dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—John Beasley; Vice Chairman—Marlin Beasley; Secretary—Henry Schuman.