Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, July 2

The eighty-ninth session of the Henagar-Union Convention was called to order with Chairman David Ivey leading 82t. The morning prayer was offered by Ron Harper.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—David Ivey; Vice Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Secretary—Norma Green; Arranging Committee—Laura Clawson and Jennifer Allred; Memorial Committee—Henry Johnson, Ed Thacker, Allison Ivey, and Marian Bethune.

Leaders: Rodney Ivey 101t; Shane Wootten 37b; Norma Green 157; Laura Clawson 171; Ed Thacker 298; Betty Wright 97; Don Bowen 145b; Robert Walker 143; James M. Wagner 480; Michael Thompson 436; S.T. Reed 35; Beth Branscome 85; Henry Johnson 230; Bob Simmons 66; Gaston White 186; Donna Bell 282; LaMar Schlabach 131b; Jeff Adcock 354b; Annie Grieshop 198; Nate Green and Norma Green 100; Sam Schofield 340; Ron Harper 215; Bill Beverly 297; Sandra Wilkinson 268.

RECESS

Tony Ivey and Wayne Wootten brought the class back together leading 36b. Leaders: Elene Stovall 172; Louis Hughes 496; Brittany Lea 378t; Martha Beverly 504; Hubert Nall 299; Sandie Scott 110; Duncan MacLeod 89; Lela Crowder 71; Matt Hinton, Mac Powell, and Tai Anderson 99, 45t; Jesse Karlsberg 107; Lucinda Saue 49b; John Plunkett 437; Karen Willard 550.

RECESS

The class was brought together with Jackson Harcrow leading 48t. Leaders: Dana Borrelli 384; Ann Fox 135; Henry Schuman 532; Kalee Duncan 80b; Andrew Kiser 344; B.J. Schnorenberg 388; Alexandra Makris 568; James S. Wagner 455; Scott Ivey 528; Lauren Hall 376; Liz Kiser 426b; Drew Smith 74b; Allison Dodson 335; Blake Sisemore 542; Greg Saue 163b; J.L. Hopper 450; Don Clark 165; Eunice Webb 392; Richard Schmeidler 146; John Merritt, Bill Beverly, and Bob Meek 86. The lunch blessing was asked by Brother Jimmy Williams.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was opened with Shane Wootten leading 170. Leaders: Sam Sommers 370; Joyce Walton 122; Keith Willard 349; Richard DeLong 421; Jeff Sheppard 440; Daphene Causey 291; Betty Shepherd 216; Allison Ivey 270; Lomax Ballinger 300; Jennifer Allred 442; Judy Caudle 428; Jerry Enright 330b (in memory of Kelly Beard); LaRue Allen 192.

S.T. Reed counted the ballots and announced the elected officers: Chairman—David Ivey; Vice Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Secretary—Norma Latham Green.

Leaders: Richard Ivey 472; John Etheridge 398; Reba Windom 224; Karen Clark 501; Earl Ballinger 56t; Phil Summerlin 350; Ivey Biddle 106; Jenny Willard 434; Karen Freund 383; David Carlton 362.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with David Ivey leading 205. Leaders: Charlene Wallace 276; Andrew Williams 147b; Paul Figura 457; Bill McGhee 278b; Velton Chafin 463; Joe Nall 448t; Syble Adams 277; David Moore and James S. Wagner 164; Shirley Figura 348b (for Charlie Derleth); Idy Kiser, Tony Kiser, and Caleb Kiser 312b; Sharon DuPriest 212; Lynne deBenedette 425; Linda Sides 454; Loyd Ivey and Coy Ivey 486t (WB); Mark Brown “Sweet Beulah Land”.

Following announcements, David Ivey lead 323t as the closing song, and the class was dismissed in prayer by Pastor Tony Ivey.

Sunday, July 3

The Sunday session was called to order with Chairman David Ivey leading 32t. The morning prayer was led by Ed Thacker.

Leaders: Rodney Ivey 113; Shane Wootten 310; Norma Green 52b; Ann Fox 45t; Ed Thacker 403; Kathryn Eastburn 159; Sandra Wilkinson 473; Robert Walker 34b; Turner Berueffy 124; Joel Jenkins 276; David Light 172; Don Bowen 283; Idy Kiser 448b; Hubert Nall 496; Betty Wright 503; Alexandra Makris 40; Michael Thompson 507; LaMar Schlabach 76b.

RECESS

Rodney Ivey called the class back together leading 345b. Leaders: Henry Johnson 278t; Blake Sisemore 182; Linton Ballinger 224; Coy Ivey 384; David Moore and James S. Wagner 164; Ivey Biddle 64; Liz Kiser 338; Laura Clawson 430; Scott Ivey and Lauren Hall 424; Andrew Kiser 344; Bud Oliver 215; Judy Caudle 236; James M. Wagner 268; Loyd Ivey 340; S.T. Reed 158.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Rodney Ivey leading 108t. Leaders: Karen Freund and Tony Ivey 442; Sharon DuPriest 186; Richard Ivey 228; Dennis George 456; Emily Creel 269; Max Berueffy 548; Aaron Wootten 448t; Samuel Sommers 121.

The Memorial Committee, Henry Johnson, Ed Thacker, Allison Ivey, and Marian Bethune, presented the memorial lesson. Allison Ivey read the names on the sick and shut-in list and spoke about how we should think about the sick and shut-ins, put ourselves in their place, and consider how we would like to be thought about, receive a phone call, or receive a card or letter. Those remembered were Bill Thomas, Delene Thomas, Marguerite Rains, Steve Warner, Emily Boswell, Raymond Hamrick, Oscar McGuire, Susan Roberts, Jessica Roberts, Marjorie Neal, Jo Cork, Sharon Noojin, Patsy Gentle, Jeanette Lowery, Charlie Derleth, Audra Browne, Edith Tate, Flarce Creel, Fred Killingsworth, Jr., Gerald Wootten, Baby Asa, and Hubert Newman. Ed Thacker led 154, honoring these sick and shut-ins on the list.

Henry Johnson read the names on the list for the deceased. Those named were James Wheeler, Anne Friend, Floyd Peters, Jap Walton, Dean Slaton, Austin Burchett, Mark Ayers, Martha Woodard, Hershell King, Preston McClendon, Naomi Sailors, Ivalene Donaldson, Henry B. George, Ronnie Meadows, Phil Tabor, Cliffie Windom, Rayburn Humber, Kelly Beard, James Findley, Myrt Buffington, Claude Buffington, John Hocutt, Elvera Lee, Charlie Wellman, Paul Greeson, Robert Barber, Sherry Guthery, Mary Shankles, and Cheryl Dunson. Henry then read from Psalms 61 and gave an inspiring talk about the nature of the loss of loved ones through death or illness. He referred to a part of David’s prayer, “when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Henry remarked that during both days of this convention we sang a song about “the Rock that is higher than I.” He continued, “When death or illness takes away those we love, associate with, or depend upon we need to look to the Rock that is higher than I.” He read further from Psalms, “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” Marian Biddle led 572 (CB). Tony Ivey closed the memorial with prayer.

Leaders: Cheyenne Ivey and Anna Wootten 111t; Jared Wootten, Hayden Wootten, and Jamey Wootten 171; Coleman Berueffy 47b. The lunch blessing was asked at the table by Joel Jenkins.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought together with David Ivey leading 59 (by request). Leaders: Jackie Tanner, Cindy Tanner, and Cassie Franklin 208; Reba Windom and Betty Shepherd 196; Allison Ivey, Brittany Lea, and Dana Borrelli 81t; LaRue Allen and Daphene Causey 436; Terry Wootten 39t; Lisa Geist 327; Marty Wootten 475; Coy Ivey and his grandchildren (Allison Ivey, Richard Ivey, Zach Ellis, Ivey Ellis, Sumner Ellis, Worth Ellis, Jessica Ivey, and Cheyenne Ivey) 282, 87; Bridgett Hill 500; Drew Smith and Jackson Harcrow 42; Larry Ballinger 151; Bill Beverly and Martha Beverly 56b; Susan Harcrow and Wayne Wootten 29t; Lynne deBenedette, Reba Windom, and Betty Shepherd 216; Bobby Watkins 336; Sarah Jenkins and Jackson Harcrow 155; Harrison Creel 512; Charles Franklin 278 (t? b?); John Etheridge 419; Karen Ivey and Richard Ivey 567; Jennifer Allred 411; Annie Grieshop and Aubrey Hemminger 168.

Chairman David Ivey gave a special thanks to Willard Wright and Betty Wright for the delicious homemade ice cream that they provided on Saturday.

RECESS

Coy Ivey brought the final session of the convention together leading 137. Leaders: Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 209; Teddy Creel 335; Shirley Figura and Paul Figura 565; Jerry Enright 77t; Kathy James 30b; Jane Spencer 360; John Hollingsworth 460; Richard Schmeidler 474; Eloise Wootten, Marlon Wootten, and Donna Wootten 445; Joan Aldridge 546; Scott Swanton 99; Jewel Wootten 176t; Willie Mae Moon 225t.

Chairman David Ivey thanked the Arranging Committee for a job well done. Following announcements, David Ivey, Rodney Ivey, Shane Wootten, and Tony Ivey led 146, and those who wished took the parting hand. The convention was dismissed in prayer by Pastor Tony Ivey.

Chairman—David Ivey; Vice Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Secretary—Norma Latham Green.