Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 27

The one hundred-fifth session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Musical Convention met at Mount Pleasant Home Primitive Baptist Church on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November. Chairman Henry Johnson called the class to order at 9:00 a.m. leading 61, extended a welcome to everyone, and then led 338. Ron Harper offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Vice Chairman Max Berueffy 138t; Elene Stovall and Linda Thomas 186; Bud Oliver and Cassie Franklin 73t; Shelbie Sheppard and Richard DeLong 202; Rodney Ivey and Don Bowen 389; Richard Mauldin 144 (for John Hocutt); Samuel Sommers 112; Linton Ballinger 306; Margaret Keeton 276; Ron Harper 40; Josie Hyde 477; Earl Ballinger 460; Herby Bailey 347; Terry Hullett 63; Seth Holloway 388; Corene White 314; Edward Howton 436; Kelly Macklin 291; Arlon Gardner 457.

RECESS

Henry Johnson brought the class to order leading 147b. Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 454; Mike Thompson 82 (t? b?); Daryl Chesney 569b; John Plunkett 569t; Faye Donaldson 430; Lou Cotney 218; B.M. Smith 373; Debbie Wakefield 432; Stanley Smith 532 (for Edith Tate); Tim Cook 531; Will Allred 340; Alex Makris 358; Coleman Berueffy 84; Caleb Allred 300; T.J. Willard 36b; Rachael Allred 192; Brooks Berueffy 332; Seth Allred 37b.

RECESS

Max Berueffy led 157 to bring the class to order. Leaders: Tim Reynolds 492; Judy Caudle 528; Syd Caldwell 224; Linda Sides 328; Leon Ballinger 299; Ashley Keeton and Pamela Baker 171; J.L. Hopper 461; Jenny Willard 318; George Seiler 183; Leyland delRe 151; Louis Hughes 348b; Glenn Keeton and Elizabeth Keeton 335; Milton Oliver 270; Rene Greene 200; Ernest Phillips 434; Hershell King and Rodney Ivey 410t; Donna Bell 87; Frank Strickland 339; Kermit Adams 99; Bobby Watkins, Mercy Watkins, and April Watkins 76b; Jean Seiler 217; Bill Stewart 480; Kenneth Fannin and Carol Fannin 290. Sam Sommers offered the blessing on the noon meal.

LUNCH

The class was brought together for the afternoon session by Bud Oliver leading 145b. Leaders: Larry Ballinger 182; Allison Ivey and Richard Ivey 187; Jerry Enright 183; Henry Johnson 138b.

It was moved and seconded to go into a business session for the purpose of electing officers. The following officers were elected and committees appointed: Chairman—Max Berueffy; Vice Chairman—Larry Ballinger; Secretaries—Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall; Arranging Committee—Allison Ivey, Bud Oliver, Linton Ballinger, and Cassie Franklin; Memorial Committee—Shelbie Sheppard and Keith Willard; Finance Committee—Rodney Ivey and Don Bowen; Resolutions Committee—John Plunkett and Bridgett Hill; Chaplain—George Seiler.

A move was made and seconded to close the business session.

Leaders: Cindy Tanner 198; Coy Ivey 384; Lynne deBenedette 442; Daphene Causey and Sharon DuPriest 402; LaRue Allen 142; Laura Clawson 542; Ted Mercer 93; Joan Aldridge 228; Cheryl Foreman 546; Floy Wilder 535; Keith Willard 441; Reba Dell Windom 216; Karen Freund 385b; Amber Davis 380; John delRe 296; Jennifer Allred 269; Bridgett Hill 168; Bob Meek 236; Lisa Geist 273.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Vice Chairman Larry Ballinger leading 57. Leaders: Pam Nunn 137; John Hyde 43; John Redmon 445; Lela Crowder 166; David Yeager 240; Stephen McMaster 77b; Judy Mincey 571; Penny Kujawinski 352; Marilyn Burchett 108b; Jeannette DePoy and Sarah Leflar 566; William Shetter 547; Lou Kujawinski 32t; Travis Keeton 203; Scott Swanton 108t; Lee Rogers 540.

Announcements were made. Chairman Max Berueffy led 56t for the closing song. Chaplain George Seiler offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, November 28

The Sunday morning session began at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Max Berueffy leading 34b. Chaplain George Seiler offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Vice Chairman Larry Ballinger 136; Secretaries Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall 345b; Bud Oliver, Allison Ivey, and Linton Ballinger 146; Rodney Ivey and Don Bowen 283; John Plunkett and Bridgett Hill 37b; Shelbie Sheppard and Keith Willard 106; Chaplain George Seiler 68b; Jackie Tanner 111b; Hubert Nall 135; Nate Green and Norma Green 539; Ila Ingle 436; Eugene Forbes 155; Gary Smith 31t; Julietta Haynes 192; James Wagner, Rachel Wagner, and Marie Wagner 480; Liz Meitzler 49b; Sarah Beasley Smith 129; Doron Henkin 564; J.C. Rutledge 569b; Dennis George 318.

RECESS

Cassie Franklin brought the class together leading 222. Leaders: Kenneth Tate 498; Jewel Wootten 460; Wayne Jones 30t; John Etheridge 500; John Daniel delRe 313b; Ron Farris 282; Willie Mae Moon 225t; Edith Tate and Kenneth Tate 73t; Nora Parker 394; Marlin Beasley 512; Tommy George 300; Paul Wilson 284; Kyle Blakeley 313t; Jackson Harcrow 35; Ed Thacker 486; Loyd Ivey 424.

RECESS

The class was brought together by David Ivey leading 371. Leaders: Marlon Wootten 426t; Becky Briggs 234; Syd Caldwell 353; Joel Jenkins, Sarah Jenkins, Richard Ivey, and Brittany Lea 171; Judy Caudle 254; Louis Hughes 448t; Carla Morris 143; Steve Adams 401; Leon Ballinger and Gravis Ballinger 99; Wanda Capps and Sharon DuPriest 212.

Keith Willard and Shelbie Sheppard conducted the memorial lesson. Keith Willard read the words from Phillips Farwell, song on page 549. Keith Willard and Shelbie Sheppard led 547 for the deceased and 312t for the sick and shut-ins.

The deceased remembered were: G.L. Hinton, Virginia Easter, Elvin Guthrie, Gladys Simmons, Christal Crocker, Mavis Price, Ovada Phillips Carr, Ronnie Meadows and J.C. Hardin—Alabama; Rev. Loyd Toney, Marshall Avery, Estelle Flowers, and Barbara DePoy—Georgia; Mary Craig—Texas; Allen Fannin—New York; Betty Haas—Arkansas; Cheryl Doehler—New Jersey; Lois DePoy and Tom DePoy—Indiana; Harriett Freeman and Geneva Jackson—Massachusetts.

The sick and shut-ins remembered included: Clarence McCool, Amanda Denson, John Hocutt, Gladys McGraw, Reby Stanford, Nick Griffin, Alice Edwards, Sherry Guthery, Daphene Causey, Tommie Spurlock, Flarce Creel, Harrison Creel, Lois Stanson, Terry Wootten, Sheila Wootten, Beau Caldwell, Dan Brittain, Kelly Beard, Ernestine Pipkins, Richard Shipman, Lester Shipman, Willie Mae Gilmore, Violet Thomason, Hugh McGraw, Donnie McGraw, Elsie Beasley, I.V. McWhorter, Floyd Massey; and Fay Thompson. Richard Mauldin closed the memorial with prayer.

Leaders: Shane Wootten 393; Judy Mincey 475; Glenn Keeton, Elizabeth Keeton, and Ashley Keeton 215; Alex Makris 405; John Hyde and Travis Keeton 297; Jean Seiler 315. George Seiler offered the blessing on the noon meal.

LUNCH

The class was brought back together for the afternoon session by Chairman Max Berueffy leading 330b. Leaders: Jerry Enright and Karen Freund 77t; Cindy Tanner 391; Susan Harcrow 426b; Lisa Geist 327; Samuel Sommers 422; Daphene Causey 434; Jennifer Allred and Lela Crowder 442; David Light 200; Reba Dell Windom 196; Amber Davis 224; Laura Clawson and Lynn deBenedette 430; Joan Aldridge 189; Richard DeLong 411; LaRue Allen 302; Ted Mercer 195; Jenny Willard 392; Henry Johnson 70b; Cheryl Foreman 272; Stephen McMaster 319; Lou Kujawinski and Penny Kujawinski 53.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Richard Mauldin and Bridgett Hill leading 378t. Leaders: Bob Meek 137; John Redman 503; David Yeager and Nancy Yeager 489; Bill Shetter 474; Kelly Macklin, John delRe, and Leyland delRe 419; Jeff Sheppard and Shelbie Sheppard 29b; Adrian Nall 358; Lee Rogers 138t; Josie Hyde 507; Phil Summerlin 97; Marilyn Burchett 29t; Kermit Adams and Emily Jones 294.

A motion was made and seconded to go into a business session for the purpose of hearing reports from committees.

The Resolutions Committee, John Plunkett and Bridgett Hill, submitted their report. James 1:17 states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights...” So, with this in mind, we resolve to thank first our Father God for His grace and traveling mercies.

We thank each officer, each committee member, and each volunteer who have worked tirelessly in order to assure the success of this convention.

We thank Mount Pleasant Home Primitive Baptist Church for its open doors. And finally, we thank each of you for lending your voice for this occasion.

A special Resolution was presented by Jerry Enright. Be it resolved that the Alabama State Sacred Harp Convention wishes to express its deep gratitude to Walter and Nora Parker for their many years of dedicated service for 25 editions of the Minute Book; and propose that we have a plaque made to state this.

A motion was made and seconded to the resolution, and unanimously approved.

The Finance Committee Report was presented by Linda Thomas. A balance of $3,195.66 was brought forward; a collection for two days was received in the amount of $1,493.65, for a total of $4,689.31. Expenses were: supplies and food $934.40; gifts to the church $250.00; cleaning of church $75.00; minutes $60.00. Total expenses $1,319.40. The balance after expenses is $3,369.91.

Elene Stovall presented the Secretaries Report stating that there were: 183 persons registered from 21 states; there were 115 leaders who led 105 songs on Saturday; and 111 leaders led 89 songs on Sunday; for a total of 226 leaders leading 194 songs.

A moved was made and seconded to approve the reports as given and to adjourn the business session.

Announcements were made. Max Berueffy and Larry Ballinger led 62 as the closing song as those who wished took the parting hand. George Seiler offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Max Berueffy; Vice Chairman—Larry Ballinger; Secretaries—Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall.