Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 121st session of the Cleburne County Convention was held at Old Harmony Primitive Baptist Church, near Abernathy in Cleburne County, Alabama, on the third Sunday in August. Stanley Edwards called the class to order by leading 59. He then conducted the introductory lesson from a 1936 edition of The Sacred Harp, donated to the convention in 1942 by Med and Al Huester in memory of J.W. Laminack. The book was given with explicit instructions that this is the only time the book can be used. Stanley Edwards led 400 and 213 (t? b?). Cecil Roberts offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Donna Bell 441, 440; Judy Chambless 549, 548; Richard Ivey 317, 345t (for Bud Oliver); Jeff Sheppard 297, 430; Joyce Walton 436; Mary Jo Shafer 452, 225t; Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 321, 541; Robert Chambless 176b, 84; Karen Rollins 106 (in memory of her grandfather, Frank Rogers), 389 (for her daddy, Lonnie Rogers); Michael Thompson 70b, 292; Reba Windom 145t (for Bud Oliver), 77t (in memory of Jerry Enright).

RECESS

Donna Bell brought the class back to order leading 503 (in memory of B.J. Harris). Leaders: Ed Thacker 48t, 316; Charlene Wallace 99, 155 (for Carlene and Nick Griffin); Richard DeLong 431, 407; Marilyn Bradley and Stanley Edwards 335, 34t; Evelyn Harris 32t, 47t; Cecil Roberts 178, 229; Ann Simpson 354b, 426t; Lou Cotney 300, 218; Ruth Daniel 127; 378t; Richard Ivey 202; Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 286; Reba Windom 276; Karen Rollins 350; Michael Thompson 426b; Jeff Sheppard 571.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Michael Thompson. He read a Jewish prayer, then read the names of the sick, shut-in’s and the deceased, before leading 392. The sick and shut-ins honored were Lois Bowman, Bud Oliver, Sammie Oliver, Lonnie Rogers, George Garner, Lucy Garner, Erma Tiller, Mary Florence Smith, and Violet Thomason. The deceased remembered were Jerry Enright, Pam Wright, Fay Wood, Ceford Wood, Japeth Jackson, Pauline Edwards, George Seiler, and Billy Williams. Ed Thacker closed the memorial lesson with prayer. Ed Thacker blessed the noon meal at the table.

LUNCH

The singing resumed with Stanley Edwards leading 500. Leaders: Cecil Roberts 277; Mary Jo Shafer 388; Richard DeLong 296; Charlene Wallace 283; Robert Chambless 479; Ed Thacker 456; Lou Cotney 358; Evelyn Harris, Ruth Daniel, Nellie Mae White, and Sherrell Cleino 129; Marilyn Bradley and Stanley Edwards 47b; Ann Simpson 30t; all the school teachers—Richard DeLong, Mary Jo Shafer, Karen Rollins, Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg, and Sherrell Cleino 224; all the retired teachers—Judy Chambless, Robert Chambless, and Marilyn Bradley 494; all singers working and drawing a pay-check—Ann Simpson, Cecil Roberts, Michael Thompson, Marilyn Bradley, and Richard Ivey 299; all the retirees—Hester Edwards, Reba Windom, Buddy Owen, and Ed Thacker 46.

A business session was held to elect officers for the coming year. Those elected or appointed to serve are as follows: Chairman—Stanley Edwards; Vice Chairman—Cecil Roberts; Secretary—Donna Bell. It was decided that next year’s Cleburne County Convention will be held at Old Harmony Primitive Baptist Church on the third Sunday in August. All current Cleburne County residents were recognized, and the business session was closed.

Announcements were made. Stanley Edwards led 62. Cecil Roberts offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Stanley Edwards, Vice Chairman—Cecil Roberts; Secretary—Donna Bell