Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

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Labor Day Singing

Shoal Creek Church, Cleburne County, Alabama

Monday, September 6, 2004

The annual Labor Day Singing was held at Shoal Creek Church in the Talladega National Forest, Cleburne County, near Heflin, Alabama on the first Monday in September. Jeff Sheppard called the class to order leading 37b. Henry Johnson offered the morning prayer.

The class was organized with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—Richard DeLong; Secretary—Shelbie Sheppard; Arranging Committee—Hester Edwards.

Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 142; Richard DeLong 27, 67; Shelbie Sheppard 334, 202; Henry Johnson 467, 418; Jimmie Denney 101t, 276; Glenda Collins 282, 290; LaRue Allen 112, 556; Les Scott, Tom Zuiderveld, Pam Duncan, and Myka Stephens 147t, 117; Lou Cotney 300, 172; Reba Windom 373, 186; B.M. Smith 475, 28b; Oscar Brown 335, 460; Louise Brown Allen 318.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Jeff Sheppard leading 155. Leaders: Ed Thacker 422, 351; Tony Hammock 89, 312b; Sandra Lutters and James Marshall 479, 268; Dennis George 352; Dennis George, LaRue Allen, and Reba Windom 358 (for Daphene Causey); Bridgett Hill 99, 440; B.J. Harris 535, 503; Sonja Randall 87, 45t.

Joe Jones, son of Leo and grandson of George O. Jones, paid tribute to Louise Jones Brown Allen. Louise (96 years old) is the youngest of 10 children born to George O. Jones who was one of the community workers who helped erect the present log cabin church in the mid 1890’s. Church services were disbanded in 1914, and the only regularly scheduled service at the church is the Sacred Harp Singing, held annually, for the past half century on Labor Day.

Leaders: Earlis McGraw 545, 284; Joan Durdin 77t, 31b; Rodney Ivey 39t, 419; Reba Norton 177; Stephen Metcalf-Conte 324, 277; Winfred Kerr 146, 339.

LUNCH

The class resumed singing with Richard DeLong leading 399b. Leaders: John Plunkett 399t, 564; Corene Laminack 345t, 345b; Donna Bell 203, 97; Ann Simpson 46, 323b; Ivalene Donaldson 343; Wilton Donaldson 348b, 47b; Ray Holley, Joyce Holley, and Bonnie Gentry 405, 49b; Charlene Wallace 371, 448b (for Carlene Griffin); Evelyn Harris 39b, 47t; Debora Grosse 569t, 299; Elise Eskew 384, 40; Robert Chambliss 274t; Stephen Metcalf-Conte 401.

Announcements were made. Jeff Sheppard and Richard DeLong led 46 as the closing song. B.J. Harris offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—Richard DeLong; Secretary—Shelbie Sheppard.