Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 24

The 108th session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Musical Convention met at Jefferson State Community College on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November. Danny Creel called the class to order at 9:00 a.m. leading 31b. The morning prayer was offered by Richard Mauldin.

Leaders: Danny Creel 33b; Jeff Sheppard 176t; Richard Mauldin 84; Cassie Allen, Rodney Ivey, and Bud Oliver 220; Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall 217; Bridgett Hill and Judy Caudle 110; Niel Gary 61; Jeff Adcock 108t; Louis Hughes 203; Josie Hyde 507; Michael Walker 144; Darrell Swarens 542; Charlene Wallace 186; Roger Crabtree 277; Terry Hullett and Jewel Wootten 298; Bob Meek 314; Jim Herr 440; Loyd Ivey 283; Eddie Mash 482; James Eldridge 137.

RECESS

Danny Creel brought the class to order leading 76b. Leaders: Ed Thacker 269; Liz Meitzler 122; David Casenhiser 159; Melissa Mease, Liz Meitzler, and Adam Mease 312b; Aubrey Barfield 480; Gail Doss 112; Ron Harper 300; Scott Curran 299; Stanley Smith 273; Jerry Creason and Ann Sibole 497; Hans Bayer 196; Rebecca Eldridge 215; Kyle Massengale and Jessica Massengale 29t; Caleb Allred 49b; Katherine Eldridge 117; Jubal Bayer 168; Will Allred 124; Cheyenne Ivey, Jessica Massengale, and Katherine Eldridge 128; Lomax Ballinger and Linton Ballinger 142.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Danny Creel leading 81t. Leaders: David Ivey 272; Scott DePoy 201; Bobby Watkins, Mercy Watkins, April Watkins, and Taylor Watkins 345t; Tim Cook 174; Karen Rollins and Randa Harris 489 (in memory of Felton Denney); Clarence McCool 349; Jonathan Smith 40; David McGukin 172; Gary Smith 66; Tommie Spurlock 446; Karen Freund 421; David Carlton 504; Ann Jett 327; Robert Chambless 225t; Sandra Wilkerson 384; John Bayer 513; Nate Green and Norma Green 426b; Ernestine Pipkin 276; John Redman 318; Nellie Alexander 56t.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought together by Danny Creel leading 275b. Leaders: Phillip Langley 564; Reba Windom 189; Jim Carnes 436; Kelsey Wessels 228.

A business session was held and the following officers were elected or appointed: Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—David Ivey; Chaplain—Ed Thacker; Secretaries—Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall; Arranging Committee-Cassie Allen, Jennifer Allred, Bud Oliver, and Linton Ballinger. After committees were appointed, the business session was closed.

Leaders: Ken Tate 73b; Rene Greene 192; Lynne deBenedette and Karen Freund 182; Richard DeLong 422; Emily Creel 475; Ted Mercer 181; Jenna Strizak 460; Shelbie Sheppard 183; Nathan Rees 380; Virginia Eldridge 180; Betty Shepherd 216; Joe Nall 211; Corene White and Jim Carnes 97; Cindy Tanner 362; Jerry Enright 383; Jennifer Allred 411.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Jeff Sheppard leading 101t. Leaders: Pam Nunn 236; John Merritt 271t; Evelyn Harris 47t; J.C. Rutledge 551; Eugene Forbes 155; Laura Clawson 430; Judy Mincey 86; Henry Johnson 288; Matt Hinton and Erica Hinton 209; Wanda Capps and Harrison Creel 512; Mary Jo Shafer 229; John Etheridge 99; Arlon Gardner 448t; Susan Allred 120.

Announcements were made. Jeff Sheppard led 46 for the closing song. Ed Thacker offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, November 25

The Sunday morning session began at 9:00 a.m. with Jeff Sheppard leading 32t. Ed Thacker offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 82t; Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall 37b; Ed Thacker 538; Bud Oliver and Linton Ballinger 145b; Rodney Ivey and Hubert Nall 499; Adrian Nall 358; Travis Keeton 392; Lee Rogers 193; Marlin Beasley 336; Willie Mae Moon 441; Marilyn Burchett 81t; Adrian Eldridge 569b; Sandie Scott 472; Joan Aldridge 198; Jeannette DePoy and Sara Leflar 494; Julietta Haynes 200; Becky Briggs 335; Judy Chambless 81b; Sarah Smith 340; Nancy Banks 63; Lela Crowder 391; Melissa Bowman 65.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Jeff Sheppard leading 113. Leaders: Don Clark 174; Carolyn Thompson 455; Larry Ballinger 384; Voncile Graves 47b; Stephanie Fida 228; Seth Allred 522; Bea Carnathan 412; Rachel Allred 385b; Lisa Geist 224; Karen Clark 234; John Plunkett 152; Seth Holloway 388; Carri Grindon 504; Floy Wilder 293; Caleb Allred 503; Nate Zweig 497; Phil Summerlin 278t; Karen Daniel and David Daniel 159; Richard Mauldin 378t.

RECESS

The class was brought together by David Ivey leading 202. Leaders: Michael Walker 58; Yancey Jett and Ann Jett 42; Louis Hughes 510; Rebecca Eldridge 203; Scott Curran 176b; Karen Freund 442; Bob Meek and Melissa Bowman 496; Laura Clawson 146; Richard DeLong 399 (t? b?); Lynne deBenedette 379; Ted Mercer 468; Jenna Strizak 111t; Nathan Rees 530; Virginia Eldridge 569t.

Henry Johnson and Judy Caudle conducted the memorial lesson. Judy Caudle read the names of the sick and shut-ins and led 540 in honor of the following: Amanda Denson, Emily Boswell, Joyce Walton, Edith Tate, Jeanette Lowry, Fran Lipman, Milton Oliver, Pauline Oliver, Violet Thomason, M. B. Forbes, Pauline Childers, Pat Meek, and the Denney Family.

Henry Johnson spoke for the deceased and read the following names: Minja Lausevic, Helene Yeames—Massachusetts; Felton Denney, Gladys McGraw, Elder Homer Benefield, Maxine Clements, Gertrude Norton—Georgia; Mary Ballinger, Charlie Vaughn—Texas; Alice Watkin—Tennessee; Reese House—Washington, D.C.; John Hyde, Brenda Dean, B.J. Harris, LaRue Allen, Heath Jett, Flarce Creel, Sam Jones, Herby Bailey, Marie Guthrie, Wilton Donaldson, Edwin Farris, Cecil Wakefield, Dick Mauldin, Roger McDowell, Billy Dean Hornsby, J.J. Merrill, Chester Lacy, M.G. Edwards, Eldora Moody, Fred Killingsworth, Jr., Euel Franklin—Alabama. He led 338 in their memory and closed the memorial with prayer.

LUNCH

The class was brought together by Jeff Sheppard leading 121. Leaders; Jerry Enright 77t; Jewel Wootten 277 (in memory of Freeman Wootten); Joe Nall 186; Katherine Eldridge 85; Jonathan Smith 110; Liz Meitzler 142; Matt Hinton and Erica Hinton 501; Karen Ivey and Coy Ivey 222, 486t (WB); Jerry Creason and Ann Sibole 547; Kelsey Wessels 278b; Darrell Swarens 350; James Eldridge 445; John Redman 38b; Allison Davis, Gresham Davis, and Elene Stovall 436; John Etheridge 270; Ila Ingle 434; Charles Woods 197; Eddie Mash 30b; Judy Mincey 367; David McGukin 433.

A business session was held for the purpose of hearing reports. The Resolution Committee (Emily Creel and Matt Hinton) thanked everyone who helped to make the convention a success. The Finance Report was given by Linda Thomas and all expenses were met. The Secretary’s Report was given by Elene Stovall, stating that for the two days a total of 226 leaders from 14 states and the United Kingdom led 189 songs. A motion was made and seconded to accept the reports as given and adjourn the business meeting.

Leaders: Reba Windom 216; Bobby Watkins and Mercy Watkins 512; Ken Tate and Nell Ellis 166b; Jennifer Allred 336; Shelbie Sheppard 556; Cindy Tanner, Wanda Capps, Danny Creel, and Harrison Creel 389, 342; Susan Allred 378b; Eugene Forbes 328; Terry Hullett 129; Gary Smith 565; Linton Ballinger 306; Linda Thomas, Jeff Sheppard, and Matt Parker 81b.

Announcements were made. Jeff Sheppard and David Ivey led 62 as the closing song. Ed Thacker offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—David Ivey; Secretaries—Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall