Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Decoration Day Sacred Harp Singing at Old Flatwoods Primitive Baptist was held on Mother’s Day, the second Sunday in May. The class was called to order by Joshua Keeton who welcomed everyone and led 59. Earl Warren offered the morning prayer. Joshua Keeton led 32t.

The officers for the singing were as follows: Chair—Pamela Gilmore Baker; Vice Chair—Ashley Keeton; Secretary/Memorial Committee—Jimmie Gilmore; Arranging Committee—Arthur Gilmore.

Leaders: Pamela Baker 35, 34b; Ashley Keeton 112, 425; Mike Hinton 146, 373; Wilton Donaldson 317, 335; John Hyde 124, 297; Bud Oliver 145b, 274t; Amanda Denson, Richard Mauldin, and Mike Hinton 217, 276; Amanda Denson 278b; John Merritt 66; John Merritt and Amanda Denson 65; John Merritt 358; John Merritt and Glenn Keeton “Nothing But The Blood.”

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Ashley Keeton leading 288 (for her grandmother, Jimmie Gilmore) and 176b. Leaders: Richard Mauldin 143 (in memory of his mother, Tommye Mauldin), 168 (in memory of his aunt, Vera Nunn); Ivalene Donaldson 544; Ricky Beasley 72b, 39b; Gary Smith 31t, 565; L.H. Gilmore and Estelle Gilmore 48t, 318, 275b; Margaret Keeton 387, 313t; Chuck Beasley 61, 33b; Ila Ingle and Josie Hyde 470, 500 (in memory of Tom Harper and Annie Harper), 329 (for Mack Harper).

Jimmie McGough Gilmore and Pamela Gilmore Baker conducted the memorial lesson and led 192 and 45t.

The sick and shut-ins remembered were: Garnsey McGough, Dick Mauldin, Bo Caldwell, Denson Hinton, John Hocutt, Jap Walton, Joyce Walton, Elsie Beasley, Clarence McCool, and Kermit Adams.

The deceased remembered were: Betty Haas—Arkansas; Ruth Brown, Willie Carolyn Denson, Lebron Hinton, A.C. McGough, Bernice McGough, Bruce Randolph, Clearcy Rutledge, Mavis Price, Flora Otwell, Susan McKathan, Ethel McGough, Lavada Gilmore; the Harpers (Joe, Martha, Grady, Robert, Wallace, Tom, Annie, Mac, and Nervia)—Alabama. The memorial lesson was closed. John Merritt offered the blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

Joshua Keeton brought the class back to order leading 111t and 189. Leaders: Billy Williams 323b, 448 (t? b?); David Beasley 31b, 30b; Josie Hyde 280; Josie Hyde and John Hyde 43; Glenn Keeton and Elizabeth Keeton 34b, 494, 497, 30t; Travis Keeton 290 (for A.C. McGough), 343b; Travis Keeton and Bud Oliver 270; Sarah Smith 480, 111b; John Beasley 81 (t? b?), 340; Lena Keeton 512, 475; Gwen Cornelius and Lena Keeton 294, 454; Dwight Ingle and Karen Wigginton 445b, 460; Arthur Gilmore, Jimmie Gilmore, and Pamela Baker 491b (WB); Joshua Keeton and John Merritt 484b (CB).

Announcements were made, and an invitation was extended to everyone to come again next year. Pamela Baker led 46 as the closing song. Ricky Beasley offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chair—Pamela Gilmore Baker; Vice Chair—Ashley Keeton; Secretary—Jimmie Gilmore.