Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 26

The one hundred-sixth 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 Max Berueffy called the class to order at 9:00 a.m. leading 32t. The morning prayer was offered by Louis Hughes.

Leaders: Vice Chairman Larry Ballinger 84; Elene Stovall and Linda Thomas 556; Cassie Franklin Allen and Bud Oliver 270; Rodney Ivey and Don Bowen 283; Shelbie Sheppard 216; John Plunkett 492; Mike Thompson 436; Travis Keeton 179; Sandra Wilkinson 405; Robert Walker 145b; James S. Wagner 384; Aubrey Barfield 480; Steve Duff 189; Charlene Wallace 99; John Hyde 73t; J.A. Mosley 282; Russ Hanson 299; Dan Hopper 171; Clayton Ezell 300; John Bayer 399b; Arlon Gardner 454.

RECESS

Larry Ballinger and Allison Ivey led 144 to bring the class to order. Leaders: Brittney Duff 155; Hans Bayer 385b; Will Allred 87; Alex Makris 168; Jubal Bayer 128; Caleb Allred 196; Jerry Creason and Charlotte Gentry 47b; Penina Kane 61; Edward Howton 434; Lomax Ballinger 101t; Lela Crowder 430; John delRe 433; Loraine Bayer 38b; Warren Steel 36t; Velton Chafin 463; Phillip Langley 411; Carlene Griffin 448b; Stanley Smith 151; James M. Wagner 490; Floy Wilder 183.

RECESS

Danny Creel brought the class to order leading 222. Leaders: Jewel Wootten and Shane Wootten 441; Chris Holley 81t; Lou Cotney 218; Eugene Forbes 426b; Jeannette DePoy 522; Henry Johnson 29b; Kelly Macklin 444; Glenn Keeton and Elizabeth Keeton 178; Cheryl Foreman 107; Tommie Spurlock 442; Phillip Ashworth and Clayton Ezell 108b; Jim Carnes 209; Leland delRe 468; Jeff Adcock and Charlotte Gentry 354b; Regina Bayer 475; Flarce Creel, Ann Jett, Wanda Capps, Cindy Tanner, Cassie Allen, Danny Creel, and Harrison Creel 546, 342.

LUNCH

The class was brought together for the afternoon session by Earl Ballinger leading 331. Leaders: Jackie Tanner 318; Ken Tate 532 (for Edith Tate); Elder J.L. Hopper 250.

It was moved and seconded to go into a business session for the purpose of electing officers. The following officers were elected and committees were appointed: Chairman—Larry Ballinger; Vice Chairman—Danny Creel; Chaplain—Richard Mauldin; Secretary—Linda Thomas; Arranging Committee—Cassie Allen, Allison Ivey, Bud Oliver, and Linton Ballinger; Memorial Committee—Henry Johnson and Shelbie Sheppard; Finance Committee—Rodney Ivey and Don Bowen; Resolutions Committee—David Ivey, Lisa Geist, and Elizabeth Keeton. A motion was made and seconded to close the business session.

Leaders: Leon Ballinger 297; Jennifer Allred 500; Joan Aldridge 228; Jerry Enright 51; Lisa Geist 273; Daphene Causey 223; Teddy Creel 124; Sarah Jenkins 217; Amber Davis 440; Charles Franklin 74b; Betty Shepherd 137; Karen Freund 319; Richard Mauldin and Dick Mauldin 358; Rachel Allred 142; Liz Meitzler 274t; Jeff Sheppard, Hans Bayer, and Jubal Bayer 388; Anne Steel 348b; Seth Allred 383; Karen Ivey and David Ivey 371.

RECESS

Allison Ivey and Cindy Tanner brought the class to order leading 76b. Leaders: Jonathon Thompson 91; Nathan Blackwood 24 (t? b?); Matt Hinton 147t; Herby Bailey 34b; Gary Smith 569b; Buell Cobb 131b; Roberta Strauss 496; William Shetter 540; Sharon DuPriest 186; Bob Meek 198; Louis Hughes 448t; Ed Thacker 470; Judy Mincey 497; Marilyn Burchett 29t; Marlin Beasley and Juanita Beasley 438; Nate Green and Norma Green 418.

Announcements were made. Chairman Larry Ballinger led 45b for the closing song. Chaplain Richard Mauldin offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, November 27

The Sunday morning session began at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Larry Ballinger leading 319. Chaplain Richard Mauldin offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Vice Chairman Danny Creel 327; Elene Stovall and Linda Thomas 186; Richard Mauldin 146; Bud Oliver, Cassie Allen, Allison Ivey, and Linton Ballinger 306; Henry Johnson and Shelbie Sheppard 70b; Rodney Ivey and Don Bowen 503; David Ivey, Lisa Geist, Elizabeth Keeton, and Anne Drexler 59; Sandie Scott 472; Sarah Smith 129 (in memory of Ivalene Donaldson and in honor of Wilton Donaldson); Bobby Watkins 203; Ila Ingle 530; Eddie Mash 347; Julietta Haynes 216; Sonya Cobbs Sipe 30b; Adrian Nall 358; Benny Green 144; Seth Holloway 388; Jan Ketelle 168; Roberta Strauss 45t; Susan Allred 77t; Gravis Ballinger 112; Larry Ballinger 215.

RECESS

Milton Oliver brought the class back to order leading 314. Leaders: Daryl Chesney and Richard Chesney 114; Hubert Nall 324; Chris Green 301; J.D. Findley and Angelia Findley 282; Ron Farris 145b; Richard Ivey 182; Ted Mercer 132; Harrison Creel 498; John Etheridge, Tim Jones, and Wayne Jones 378b; Nora Parker 276; David Carlton 332; Delone Cobbs 39b; Richard DeLong 395; Leon Ballinger and Lisa Geist 269; Terry Hullett and Jewel Wootten 421; Jessica Findley 430; Bob Meek and Adrian Eldridge 384; Liz Meitzler and Olivia Taylor 245; Jerry Creason 50t; Chris Holley 268; Nancy Banks 111t.

RECESS

The class was brought back to order by Allison Ivey leading 155. Leaders: Caleb Allred 312b; Alex Makris 222; Jessica Ivey and Cheyenne Ivey 128; Rachel Allred 442; James S. Wagner 46; Will Allred 454; Jennifer Allred 362; Nathan Blackwood 270; Jonathon Thompson 448t; Emily Creel 196; William Shetter 171; Eloise Clark and John Bealle 475.

Henry Johnson and Shelbie Sheppard conducted the memorial lesson. Henry Johnson read the names of the sick and shut-ins and the deceased. Shelbie Sheppard and Henry Johnson led 179 in honor of the sick and shut-ins.

The following names of the sick were included: Dr. William Reynolds, Martha Howell, Bobby Jackson, Bill Windom, Violet Thomason, Dale Meitzler, M.B. Forbes, Gib Amason, Vernelle Amason, Shirley Figura, Elsie Beasley, Jeanette Lowry, Linda Coppock, Wilton Donaldson, Josie Hyde, Carroll Lunsford, Larry Olszewski, Rebecca Lowman, Clarence McCool, and Mike Spencer.

Henry Johnson, Shelbie Sheppard, and Cassie Allen led 312t in memory of the following deceased: Jap Walton, Ivalene Donaldson, Nadine Franklin, Marian Wallace, Sylvia St. Clair, Alice Edwards, Maxine Lacy, John Hocutt, Hershell King, Ruth Aaron, Carolyn Whitten, and Sherry Guthery—Alabama; Mark Lincoln Seiler and Marie Burt—New York; Floyd Peters and I.V. McWhorter—Georgia; Kelly Beard—Texas; Dean Slaton—Indiana; Tom Gibney—New Jersey; Adelaide Hollez, Myle Hollez, and Travis Fuller—Massachusetts; Austin Burchett—Tennessee; Barbara Foster (Helen Brown’s mother) and Wilma Elliott—United Kingdom. Henry Johnson led 338 to conclude, and Chaplain Richard Mauldin closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

LUNCH

The class was brought together by Larry Ballinger leading 50b: Leaders: Betty Shepherd 299; David Light 200; Bridgett Hill and Mike Thompson 426b; Karen Freund 454; Daphene Causey and Sharon DuPriest 434; Lynne deBenedette 542; Max Berueffy 377; Cindy Tanner 208; Jerry Enright 300; Joan Aldridge 198; Jackie Tanner 477; Jeannette DePoy 328; Jeff Sheppard 556; Karen Ivey 192; Glenn Keeton and Elizabeth Keeton 349; Wanda Capps 142; Marlin Beasley 318; Bea Carnathan 568; Teddy Creel 337; Judy Mincey 344; Charles Franklin 278b; Louis Hughes 512; Coy Ivey, Cassie Allen, Allison Ivey, and Richard Ivey 559 (CB), 384.

RECESS

J.C. Rutledge led 501 (CB) to bring the class back to order. Leaders: James M. Wagner, Ron Fleming, and Judy Fleming 480; Rodney Ivey, John Etheridge, and Linda Thomas 39t; Robert Walker 143; Eugene Forbes 405; Willie Mae Moon 225t; Nate Green and Norma Green 473; Marilyn Burchett 551.

A business session was held for the purpose of hearing reports from various committees.

The Resolutions Committee Report was given as follows: Whereas the people of the 106th session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Musical Association have been richly blessed with singing, fellowship, refreshments, and spirit. Be it resolved that we thank:

• The community for its physical support of the convention;
• Mt. Pleasant Home Primitive Baptist Church for again graciously opening its doors to the convention;
• The singers from across the country and this state for traveling to make this a vital and strong singing convention;
• The forefathers of this convention-the many who worked and sacrificed to keep and preserve the Sacred Harp tradition and the Alabama State Sacred Harp Association;
• And, foremost, we thank God for his generous blessings and the mercy and love he continues to show us. Respectfully submitted: Elizabeth Keeton, Lisa Geist, and David Ivey, Resolutions Committee.

A plaque was presented to Nora Parker by Max Berueffy on behalf of the Alabama Sacred Harp Musical Convention for the twenty-five years of dedicated service in compiling and publishing the Minutes Book that she and her husband, Walter A. Parker, so lovingly and faithfully fulfilled for the convention.

The Finance Committee Report was presented by Linda Thomas. A balance of $3,449.10 was brought forward; a collection for two days was received in the amount of $1,646.95, for a total of $5,096.05. Expenses were: food and supplies, $1,209.18; gift to the church, $250.00; cleaning of the church, $75.00; minutes, $60.00. Total expenses were—$1,594.18. The balance, after expenses, is $3,501.87.

The Secretary Report was presented by Elene Stovall stating that there were 184 registered guests from eighteen states. There were 123 leaders who led 102 songs on Saturday and 124 leaders led 92 songs on Sunday. A total for the two days resulted in 247 leaders leading 194 songs.

A motion was made and seconded to accept the reports as given and adjourn the business meeting.

Announcements were made. Larry Ballinger and Danny Creel led 62 as the closing song as the class took the parting hand. Richard Mauldin offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Larry Ballinger; Vice Chairman—Danny Creel; Secretary—Linda Thomas.