Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 13

The 105th session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association met at Pleasant Hill Church, Fayette County, Alabama, on the second Sunday and Saturday before in September. The class was called to order by Karen Clark leading 34b. Elene Stovall welcomed everyone and led 36b. The morning prayer was offered by Ed Thacker.

Leaders: Floy Wilder 422; Nora Parker 317; Donna Bell 278t; Ed Thacker 338; Richard DeLong 116; Mike Hinton 373; Cindy Tanner 155; Karen Rollins 136; Sonya Sipe 77t; Roberta Strauss 276; Ottis Sides and Linda Sides 480; Joyce Walton 439; Elsie Moon 436; Velton Chafin 419; S.T. Reed 354t; Bea Carnathan 204; Beth Branscomb 81t; Matt Hinton 82t.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Richard Mauldin leading 168. Judy Chambless led 404.

A business session was held with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Co-Chairpersons—Elene Stovall and Joan Aldridge; Vice Chairman—Dennis George; Secretary—Nora Parker; Chaplain—Ed Thacker; Arranging Committee—Cindy Tanner and Cassie Allen; Memorial Committee—Linda Thomas, Richard DeLong, and Becky Browne; Resolutions Committee—Judy Caudle and Darrell Swarens; Finance Committee—Michael Thompson and Larry Ballinger; Locating Committee—David Ivey and Henry Johnson. The business session was closed.

Leaders: John Merritt 80t; Lou Cotney 218; Anne Chalker 146; Darrell Swarens and Cindy Tanner 198; Judy Caudle 355; Kevin Dyess 52t; Michael Thompson 34t; Wendell Rinehart 445; Kristi Harju 440; Wayne Dell 49b; Anne Steel 318; Danny Creel 269; Brenda Merritt 542; Henry Johnson 326; Jonathan Smith 442.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Joan Aldridge leading 474. Leaders: Toney Smith 444; Carolyn Thompson 275t; Cassie Allen 392; Tom George 145b; Robert Chambless 84; Travis Keeton 343; Warren Steel 396; Hugh Bill McGuire 441; Delone Cobbs 111b; Nate Green and Norma Green 426b; Marlin Beasley 448t; Marilyn Burchett 176b; Steve Adams 309; Gary Gronau 426t; Eddie Mash 73t; Sharon DuPriest 186; Karen Ivey 492; Henry Guthery 140.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called to order by Elene Stovall, Joan Aldridge, and Toney Smith leading 192. Leaders: Dennis George 189; Ken Tate 222; Reba Windom 411; Harrison Creel 512; Bridgett Hill 377; David Carlton 528; Matthew Cook 388; Sarah Smith 290; Bobby Watkins 196; Juanita Beasley 61; Becky Browne 362b; Max Berueffy 72b; Wanda Capps 430; Larry Ballinger 540; Linda Thomas 217; Wayne Baines 354b; Rodney Ivey 432; Nathan Rees 530; Gary Smith 66; Anna Grace Sipe 274t; Bill Waddington 299; Josie Hyde 507; Coy Ivey 384.

Elene Stovall and Joan Aldridge led 46 for the closing song. Ed Thacker offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, September 14

The Sunday session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association was brought to order at 9:30 a.m. by Elene Stovall leading 36b. The morning prayer was offered by Ed Thacker.

Leaders: Joan Aldridge 546; Dennis George 27; Nora Parker 276; Ed Thacker 280; Henry Johnson 113; David Ivey 328; Richard DeLong 407; Linda Thomas 131 (t? b?); Larry Ballinger 224; Kermit Adams 288; Becky Browne 313t; Michael Thompson 506; Bill Waddington 350; Allison Davis 436; Don Clark 174; Nathan Rees 465; Sarah Smith 318; Verlon Stiefel 565; Stanley Smith 500; Tom George 155.

RECESS

The class was called back together by Dennis George leading 88t. Leaders: Tim Reynolds 173; Kristi Harju 126; Lisa Geist 273; Wayne Dell 282; Marilyn Burchett 108b; Emily Creel 532; Wendell Rinehart 72b; Mary Ruth Stiefel 143; David Carlton 254; Mercy Watkins, Bobby Watkins, April Watkins, and Taylor Watkins 354b; Gary Gronau 216; Mike Hinton 234; Kathy Robinson 142; Donna Bell 438; Nate Green and Norma Green 496; Andrew Farris 454.

RECESS

Joan Aldridge brought the class back together by leading 373. Leaders: Earl Ballinger 283; Cassie Allen and Eddie Mash 383; Hugh Bill McGuire 272; Jonathan Smith 400; Floy Wilder 432; Rodney Ivey and Judy Caudle 571; Wanda Capps 568; Robert Chambless 503; Karen Ivey 182; Danny Creel and Karen Ivey 222; Bea Carnathan 205; Karen Clark 534; Joyce Walton and Michael Thompson 456.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Elene Stovall leading 440. Leaders: Ken Tate 472; Bridgett Hill 99; Harrison Creel and Cassie Allen 342; Eddie Mash 236; Richard Mauldin 378t.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Linda Thomas. Richard DeLong spoke on behalf of the following deceased and led 34b in their memory: Milton Oliver, Amanda Denson, Fred Killingsworth, Jr., Dale Harris, Edith Tate, Furn Kitchens, M.B. Forbes, Delores Beasley, Elder W.G. McGough, Lear McGough, Sam Jones, Corene Laminack, and Gertrude Norton—Alabama; Loy Garrison, Elizabeth Tolbert, Gladys McGraw, Reby Stanford, Felton Denney, and Elder Homer Benefield—Georgia; Pauline Childers—Michigan; Marsha Williams and Naomi Uri—Tennessee; Jeanette Lowry—Missouri.

Linda Thomas read the list of names of the sick and shut-ins. Becky Browne spoke and led 201 in honor of the following: John Etheridge, Ozella Blackmon, Violet Thomason, Dot Garrison, James Tolbert, Jimmie Denney, Josephine Denney, Johanna Fabke, Bud Oliver, E.M. Robbins, Kathleen Robbins, Katherine Benefield, Cecil Sanders, Kim Jenkins, Katherine Worthington, Myra Palmer, Ophelia Matthews, and Sara Harwell. The memorial lesson was closed with prayer.

Leaders: Carolyn Thompson 481; Hannah Tate and April Watkins 294; Coy Ivey, Jessica Ivey, and Cheyenne Ivey 76b; Travis Keeton 179; Gary Smith 178; Henry Guthery 225t; Steve Adams 101t; Juanita Beasley 39b; Josie Hyde 361; Marlin Beasley 81t; Cindy Tanner 327; Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall 556.

A business session was held to hear committee reports. Nora Parker gave the Finance Report. The Resolutions Committee thanked everyone for helping make the singing a success. Henry Johnson of the Locating Committee read a letter from Corinth Church in Fyffe, Alabama, requesting the convention be held there in 2009 and making the recommendation that the request be granted. Reports were approved and the business session was closed.

Announcements were made. Elene Stovall, Joan Aldridge, and Dennis George led 46 as the closing song. Ed Thacker offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Co-Chairpersons—Elene Stovall and Joan Aldridge; Vice Chairman—Dennis George; Secretary—Nora Parker