Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, January 27

The W. L. “Bill” Green Memorial/Baldwin County Singing Convention was opened by Bill Hogan, who welcomed everyone, led 575 and 36b, then offered the opening prayer.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Bill Hogan; Vice Chairman—J.A. Mosley; Secretary—Nancy Hogan.

Leaders: J.A. Mosley 75; Alice Mosley 343; Nancy Hogan 49t; Nate Green and Norma Green 544; Faye Jones 47b; Robert Walker 96; Voncile Graves 450; Bill Beverly 478; Frank Hataway 395b; Buna Mae Purvis 410; Lera Ellison 204; Bud Oliver 377t; Emily Creel 355; Richard Graham 571.

RECESS

Bill Hogan brought the class back together leading 179. Leaders: Wilburn Ellison 447t; Jewell Rowland 143; Martha Beverly 102; Mike Jones 159; Danny Creel 133; Bill Aplin 567; Wayne Jones 205; Jeff Sheppard 507b; Rodney Ivey 465; Reba Windom 559; Carolyn Thompson 183.

RECESS

J.A. Mosley and Alice Mosley called the class back to order leading 572. Leaders: Shelbie Sheppard 211; Elene Stovall 222 (for Coy Ivey); Judy Caudle 460; Russ Scholz 157; Loretta Jones 497; Victoria Aplin 337; Morgan Bunch 210; Bill Bragwell 155; Sue Bunch 268t; Karen Clark 430; Tommie Spurlock 140.

Cleo Murphy and the Mobile, Alabama, Vocal Choir (Mary Lucy, Artemellia Rocker, Hester Gray, Annie Mae Smith, Mary Murphy, Mammie Henley, Annie McCarty, and Willie Steele, Jr.) sang “I’m Not Alone, Jesus Walks with Me” and “Just Passing Through”. The class sang 369, and Bill Aplin offered the blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Bill Hogan leading 146. Leaders: Ernestine Pipkin 171; Ernest Cockcroft 401; John Merritt and Dana Merritt 392, 486; Bridgett Hill 380t; John Etheridge 464; Joe Nall 543; Cora Sweat 45t; Sandie Scott 463; Gary Smith 553; Ford Bulger 225t; Max Berueffy 54t (for Harrison Creel and Flarce Creel); Jennifer Allred 215; Sarah Smith, Cora Sweatt, and Becky Briggs 519; Paulette Chavers 49b; Marion Patrick 516; Billy Kelley 558; Marilyn Burchett 229; Christine Gandy 330t; Ben Patrick 450; Genny Whitworth and Nate Green 442t; Becky Briggs 393t; Stanley Smith 283; Margaret Spurlock 112; Tommy Spurlock 290 (for Lurleen Heath); John Merritt 522 (for the Bobby Willis family).

After announcements were made, the class sang 488b (by request of the Skipper family), and shared the hand of fellowship. The day of singing was closed with prayer offered by Danny Creel.

Sunday, January 28

Bill Hogan opened the Sunday morning session leading 40. He read Psalm 100 and Colossians 3:15-17, followed by prayer.

Leaders: J.A. Mosley 82; Nate Green and Norma Green 515; Genny Whitworth 83t; Alice Mosley 484; Nancy Hogan 274t; Buna Mae Purvis 440b; Tommy Spurlock 217; Voncile Graves 355; Ernestine Pipkin 276; Frank Hataway 32t; Bud Oliver 563; Don Clark 176b; Loretta Jones 138t.

RECESS

The singing resumed with J.A. Mosley leading 59. Leaders: Shelbie Sheppard 39; Martha Beverly 518; Robert Walker 546; Reba Windom 505; John Etheridge 577; Elene Stovall and Carolyn Thompson 559; John Merritt 539; Bill Beverly 575; Karen Clark 95b.

RECESS

Bill Hogan called the class to order leading 95t. Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 497; Mike Jones 424; Carolyn Thompson 402; Jennifer Allred 472; Stanley Smith 408; Marilyn Burchett 483; Rodney Ivey 33, 414, 137.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Bill Hogan. He commemorated Bill Green, discussing his life and love of singing. The list of names of the deceased was read: W.L. (Bill) Green, Wanda Faye Shumock, Teddy Creel, Heath Jett, John Hyde, and Elsie Beasley—Alabama; Bobby Jackson—Georgia; Arlie A. Nall and Agnes Nall—Florida; Hibbard Thatcher and Betty Blankers—Tennessee. Beufa Green, Nate Green, Norma Green, Genny Whitworth, Sandy Nicholson, and Kelley Green led 63 in memory of the deceased.

Stanley Smith led 388 for the following sick and shut-ins: Emma Mosley, Uel Freeman, Aubrey Barfield, Thurman Nall, Lou Nall, Pauline Childers, Shirley Figura, Martha Jane Fowler, Lloyd Fowler, Velton Chafin, Herby Bailey, Milton Oliver, Bill Tanner, Mary Ballinger, Lurleen Heath, Pauline Pruett, Jim Windom, Pauline Oliver, Flarce Creel, Edith Tate, Jimmy Carter, Amanda Denson, and Jeanette Lowry. To close the memorial lesson, Stanley Smith offered prayer and a blessing for the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Bill Hogan leading 299. Leaders: Sandie Scott 408; Max Berueffy 410; Judy Caudle 264b, 573; Gary Smith 507b; Cora Sweatt 541; Becky Briggs 405; Bridgett Hill 38t; Sarah Smith 400; Willonease Trauner 488b; Martha Beverly 572; Bill Beverly 511t.

Announcements were made. Nate Green, Norma Green, Genny Whitworth, Bill Hogan, and Nancy Hogan led 72 as the closing song. Bill Hogan offered prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Bill Hogan; Vice Chairman—J.A. Mosley; Secretary—Nancy Hogan