Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

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John N. Merritt Memorial Singing Convention

Old Court House Museum, Vicksburg, Mississippi

May 26-27, 2012

Saturday, May 26

The 1st annual John N. Merritt Memorial Singing Convention (formerly the Holt Collier/Mississippi Bear Hunt Singing Convention) was called to order by Henry McGuire leading 47b. Robert Vaughn offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Henry McGuire 137; Mark Davis 123t, 270; Robert Vaughn 215, 142; Mary Ellen Schrock 171, 572 (CB); Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr. 200, 273; Sister Susan Dickey 59, 128; Richard Mauldin and T.J. Mauldin 358, 43; Charity Vaughn 113; 448b; Henry McGuire 68t (CB) (by request).

RECESS

Henry McGuire and Will McGuire brought the class to order by leading 392 and 518. A business meeting was held. It was decided unanimously that, henceforth, this singing will be known as the John N. Merritt Memorial Singing Convention. The current slate of officers was reelected as follows: Chairman—Henry McGuire; Vice Chairman—Mark Davis; Secretary—Henry Schuman.

Leaders: Henry Schuman and Linda Hellerich 189 (CH), 149 (CH); Natalie Davis 388, 288; Drew McGuire 542, 314; Matt Bell 329 (CH), 354 (CH); Logan Green and Hannah Monroe 56 (t? b?), 87; Carole Watts 40, 384; Michael Jones 179, 36t; Warren Steel 411, 254; Arlon Gardner 67, 163t.

LUNCH

Henry McGuire brought the class to order by leading 472. Leaders: Henry Schuman 172 (CH); John Van Horn 64 (CH), 204 (CH); Hannah Monroe and Logan Green 64, 282; Ron Bernucho 463 (CB); Rita McGuffie and Henry McGuire 159, 146; Matthew Dawson 269, 455; Suzan Bernucho and Henry McGuire 488b (CB), 107t (CB); Hugh Bill McGuire, Jr. 272 (CH), 194 (CH); Royce Boyer 198, 383; Sara Tidwell 42, 72b.

RECESS

Richard Mauldin led 66 to bring the class to order. Leaders: Sister Susan Dickey 551; Robert Vaughn and Mark Davis 477 (CB), 468 (CB); Matt Bell 30t (CH); Mary Ellen Schrock 505 (CB); Michael Jones 546; Hannah Monroe and Logan Green 31t; Logan Green 442; Warren Steel 150 (CB).

Announcements were made. Henry McGuire, Hugh Bill McGuire, Jr., and Mark Davis led the Drone as the closing song. Robert Vaughn dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, May 27

The Sunday session was called to order by Henry McGuire leading 199 (CB). Danny Creel offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Henry McGuire 19 (CH); Mark Davis 281b (CH), 547 (CH) (in memory of John Merritt); Henry McGuire and Will McGuire 40; Mary Ellen Schrock 573 (CB), 146 (CB); Henry Schuman and Linda Hellerich 170 (CH), 184 (CH); Richard Mauldin and T.J. Mauldin 551, 508 (CB).

RECESS

Henry McGuire, Hugh Bill McGuire, Jr., and Sara Tidwell brought the class back together by leading 212. Leaders: Natalie Davis 145b, 354b; Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr., Hugh Bill McGuire, Jr., and Henry McGuire 131 (CH), 101 (CH); Danny Creel 238 (CH), 54 (CH); Carole Watts 490, 46; Drew McGuire 129 (CB), 480; Charity Vaughn 504, 224; Ron Bernucho 500 (CB), 449 (CB).

Arlon Gardner, Charity Vaughn, and Carole Watts conducted the memorial lesson. Arlon spoke on behalf of both the sick and shut-ins and the deceased. He led 72b. Charity Vaughn read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Johnnie Chafin, Harrison Creel, Carlene Griffin, Josie Hyde, Bud Oliver, Sammie Oliver, S.T. Reed, Lessie Reed, and Darlene Reynolds. She led 410t in their honor.

Carole Watts read the following names of the deceased: Dr. Julietta Haynes, Marie Ivey, Ernie Jett, Clarence McCool and Cecil Sanders—Alabama; Nick Griffin and Lonnie Rogers—Georgia; John Merritt and Junie McNeal—Mississippi. She led 339 in their memory.

LUNCH

John Van Horn called the afternoon session to order leading 563 (CB) and 168 (CH). Leaders: Henry Schuman 131 (CH); Suzan Bernucho 239 (CB), 492 (CB); Hugh Bill McGuire, Jr. 283b (CB), 569 (CB); Arlon Gardner 201, 313b; Natalie Davis 400; Richard Mauldin and T.J. Mauldin 358; Carole Watts 424; Hugh Bill McGuire, Sr., Hugh Bill McGuire, Jr., and Drew McGuire 36b; Mary Ellen Schrock 361; Ron Bernucho 128 (CB); Charity Vaughn and Henry McGuire 521 (CB); Drew McGuire 569t; John Van Horn 16 (CH); Suzan Bernucho 408; Mark Davis 145b; Arlon Gardner 507; Henry McGuire 236.

Announcements were made. Henry McGuire, Hugh Bill McGuire, Jr., and Mark Davis led the Drone as the closing song. Drew McGuire dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Henry McGuire; Vice Chairman—Mark Davis; Secretary—Henry Schuman