Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 23

The ninety-seventh session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Jeff Sheppard leading song on page 59. The morning prayer was led by Elder Edwin Farris. Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 75; Linda Thomas 106; Elder Edwin Farris 29t; Edith Tate 73 (t? b?); Harrison Creel 348b, 378b; Willie Mae Moon 48t; Bud Oliver 39b; Cassie Franklin 47t; B. M. Smith 475; Jewel Wootten 40; Coy Ivey 63; Azilee Adams 337; Margie Smith 503; Virgil Phillips 137; Carla Smith 112; Jeffrey Bell 228; Jeannette DePoy 369.

RECESS

Harrison Creel brought the class to order leading song on page 498. Leaders: Norma Latham 418; Danny Creel 269; Henry Johnson 68b; Louis Hughes, Jr. 347; Shelbie Sheppard 28b; Rex Wilks 53; Leon Ballinger 84; Samuel Sommers 386; Mel Kersey and Jim Wike 99; Judy Mincey 474; Edward Howton 436; Judy Caudle 234; Jerry Enright 411 (in memory of Tom Harper); Carlene Griffin 511; Daphene Causey 439; Mae Seymour 301; Linton Ballinger 300; Reba Windom 192; J. L. Hopper 543; James Ballinger 405.

RECESS

Bud Oliver called the class together leading song on page 345t. Leaders: Katharine Hough 569 (t? b?); Jerry Schreiber 344; Mattie Townsel 145b; Walter Graff 101t; Cathy White 159; Louis Hughes, Sr. 410t; Jenny Willard 168; Charles Whitmer 147t; Don Bowen 163b; Jenny Gurley 340; Charles Farris 460; Edna Phillips 143; Gail Doss 85; David Hough 282; Milton Oliver 206; Keith MacAdam 107; Keith Willard 74b; Pauline Childers 318; Jeff Sheppard 260.

LUNCH

Harrison Creel reassembled the class leading song on page 512. Leaders: Phil Summerlin 152; Phillip Langley 383; Lou Cotney 218; Bobby Bailey 35. A business session was held. Officers elected or appointed were: Chairman—Bud Oliver; Vice Chairman—David Ivey; Secretaries—Jewel Wootten and Linda Thomas; Chaplain—Elder Edwin Farris; Arranging Committee—Linton Ballinger, Coy Ivey, and Cindy Franklin; Memorial Committee—Connie Karduck and Shelbie Sheppard; Finance Committee—Don Bowen, Willie Mae Moon, and Jerry Schreiber; Resolutions Committee—Buell Cobb, Azilee Adams, and Jerry Enright. End of business session. Leaders: Ann Jett 327; Connie Karduck 391; Bill Hogan 48t; Leola Smith 182; Thurman Nall 523; Bob Meek and friends 178; Richard DeLong 419; Charlene Wallace 481; Hubert Nall 34b; Hershell King 384; Flarce Creel 299; David Ivey 477; Wanda Capps 36b; Pam Nunn 186; John Bealle 46; Ted Mercer 240; Dorothea McCowan 304.

RECESS

The singing resumed with Bud Oliver leading song on page 30t. Leaders: Jonathan Blakely 67; Travis Keeton 203; Mae Holt 358; Eloise Clark 49b; A. C. McGough 454; Anna Marie Bullock 535; Lomax Ballinger 222; Ruth Brown 335; Sambo Patrick 34t; Cindy Franklin 146; Buell Cobb 81b; Waylon Blakely 31t; Freeman Wootten 37b. Bud Oliver, David Ivey and Elder Edwin Farris led song on page 45t for the closing song. The class was dismissed with prayer by Edwin Farris.

Sunday, November 24

The Sunday session began with Bud Oliver leading song on page 32t. The morning prayer was led by Elder Edwin Farris. Leaders: Bud Oliver 82t; David Ivey 448b; Jewel Wootten and Linda Thomas 290 (for Ruby Phillips); Elder Edwin Farris 480; Coy Ivey and Cindy Franklin 475; Connie Karduck 460; Shelbie Sheppard 269; Don Bowen 270; Willie Mae Moon 470; Jerry Schreiber 528; Azilee Adams 317; Jerry Enright 77t; Allison Ivey 134; Jenny Willard 108t; Pauline Childers 234; Warren Steel 411; David Ballinger 111b; Charles Whitmer 133; Rodney Ivey 137; Bill Hogan 65.

RECESS

Bud Oliver brought the class together leading song on page 145b. Leaders: Louis Hughes, Sr. 89; Samuel Sommers 524; David Hough 385t; Anna Marie Bullock 388; Karen Ivey 112; Walter Graff 371; Joan Aldridge 189; Leola Smith 176b; Karen Travis 535; Edward Howton 434; Corene White 171; B. M. Smith 384; Mae Seymour 217; Jeff Sheppard 403; Cathy White 87; Bob Meek 236; Marilyn Burchett 64; Milton Oliver 224; Jeannette DePoy and Richard DeLong 448t; Nell Estes 192; Sambo Patrick 53.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with David Ivey leading song on page 329. Leaders: Bill Shetter 452; Carla Smith 296; John Hartsougil 268. The memorial lesson was held at this time. Shelbie Sheppard gave the memorial, and Connie Karduck read the long list of names. Ted Mercer led song on page 565, and Thurman Nall led song on page 48t for the following deceased: Don Johnson, Joseph Phillips, Hazel Cagle, Willie Windsor, Otis Nall, Ed Latham, Ellen Hough, Colbie Allen, Ester Reed, Agnes Hocutt, Joe Smith, Luther Miller, Guy Parker, Effie Brock, Lucille Brothers, Tommy Creel, J. T. Conn, Tom Harper, Tenna Rogers, Irvin Creel, Dillie Creel Harris, Jesse Swindall, Charles Dannals, Janice Nelson, Chris Whiting, Otto McCoy, Homer Cordes, R. C. Stanford, LeRoy McGraw, Mary Helen Chafin, Randolph Mincey, Ola Pruitt, Lonnie Jones, Odell Cleveland, Russell Norton, Elbert Drake, Harold Jackson, Lawrence Daugherty, Vena Holley, Merle Etheridge, and Ewell Nelson. Reba Dell Windom led song on page 128 for the following sick and shut-ins: Bill Green, Gertrude Norton, Catherine Cessna, Laurie Allison, Ruby Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Ashley, Lawrence and Lula Underwood, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hardin, Jerry and Mozelle Sheppard, Herbert Phillips, Nora Collett, Ozettia Gilliland, Alpha Black, Woodie Walker, Mamie Creel, Lucille Tolbert, Elder Bernard Moon, Vernice and Essie Calvert, Vester and Flossie Jones, Eloise and Marshall Avery, L. E. Hannah, Lola Roberson, and Maxine Lacy. After a few moments of silent prayer, Samuel Sommers closed the memorial with prayer. Leaders: Bobby Bailey 40; Gail Doss 455; Tyler Wilks 63; Victoria Aplin 274t; Stuart Ivey 84; Daphene Causey 223; Hubert Nall 186; Virgil Phillips 34b.

LUNCH

The class resumed singing with Bud Oliver leading song on page 73t. Leaders: Louis Hughes, Jr. 276; Ann Jett 546; Keith Willard 144; Eloise Clark 278t; T. J. Willard 145b; Bill Aplin 33b; Judy Mincey 497; Jim Carnes and Celia Carnes 146; Toney Smith 185; Syble Adams “There Is A Fountain”; Marie Aldridge 336; Billy Williams 28b; Eron White 408; Henry Johnson 338; Margie Smith 501; Jeff Bell 569b; Rex Wilks 47b; Katharine Hough 277; John Bealle 442; Flarce Creel, Ann Jett, and Cindy Franklin 37b; Pam Nunn 155; Dorothea McCowan 218; Ruth Brown 142; Mattie Townsel 136; Richard Ivey 306; Charles Farris 299; Harrison Creel 342; Buell Cobb 425; Jenny Willard 421; Kermit Adams 377; Richard DeLong 387; Edith Tate, Marie Aldridge, Pauline Childers, and Harrison Creel 378b. A business session was held. Jewel Wootten gave the finance report. Balance brought forward $1,127.29; interest $52.74; collection $558.80; total $1,738.83. Supplies $102.25; ham $26.50; chicken and slaw $84.12; gift to the church $250.00; minutes $50.00; Balance $1,225.96. The Resolutions Committee report was given by Jerry Enright. Shelbie Sheppard gave the report for the “Directory and Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings”. Balance on hand as of November 22, 1995, $6,709.71; deposit of $448.50; balance on hand as of December 31,1995 was $7,158.21. Printing of book for 1995-1996—$3,897.00; postage for mailings of book $234.16; deposits $5,217.50. Balance as of November 19, 1996—$8,244.55. End of business session. Bud Oliver, David Ivey and Edwin Farris led song on page 146 while the class took the parting hand. The closing prayer was led by Elder Edwin Farris. There was a total of thirteen states represented.

Chairman—Bud Oliver; Vice Chairman—David Ivey; Secretaries—Jewel Wootten and Linda Thomas.