Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, March 22

The thirty-sixth session of the Georgia State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in March at Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church. The convention was called to order by Elder Jesse Roberts leading song on page 178. Jack Smith led the morning prayer.

Elder Jesse Roberts led song on page 441 followed by Ted Mercer 326; Jack Smith 145 (t? b?); and Charlene Wallace 556. Members of various committees were called: Richard DeLong 57; Jeanette DePoy 475; Laurie Allison 335; Don Bowen 462; Judy Mincey 510; Helen Bryson 176b (for Kim Cagle); Kenneth DeLong 354 (t? b?); Felton Denney 503; Liz Bryant 377; Kelly Morris 147 (t? b?); Jack Corley 168; Violet Thomason 143; John Hollingsworth 240; Frances Mary D’Andrea 384; Lonnie Rogers 225 (t? b?); Faye Pettis 498; John Plunkett 53; Carlene Griffin 516.

RECESS

Ted Mercer called the class together with song on page 61. Leaders: Bobby Bailey 35; Everette Denney 34b; Louis Hughes, Jr. 565b; Susan Roberts 47 (t? b?).

A motion was made and duly seconded to go into the business session.

The following officers were elected: Chairman—Jeanette DePoy; Vice Chairman—Kenneth DeLong; Secretary—Charlene Wallace; Chaplain—Elder Jesse Roberts. Jeanette DePoy led song on page 436 and the following officers for various committees were appointed: Arranging Committee—Richard DeLong and Faye Pettis; Memorial Committee—Frances Mary D’Andrea, Cathy White, and Jessica Roberts; Resolutions Committee—Lee Rogers, Helen Bryson, and Louis Hughes, Jr.; Finance Committee—Laurie Allison, Don Bowen, and Phillip Langley; Locating Committee—Felton Denney, Kelly Morris, and Judy Mincey. End of business session.

Leaders: Phillip Langley 222; Mary Brownlee 501; Louis Hughes, Sr. 480; Jimmie Denney 87; Henry Zittrouer 108 (t? b?); Lee Rogers 217; Karen Snowbird 547; Berkley Moore 99; Sharon Kellam 160b; Cathy White 213 (t? b?); Kathy Lee 171; Ashley Roberts 214; Janice Paulk 446; George Snyder 137; Trudy Jones 159; Johnny Lee 48 (t? b?); Andy Morse 448 (t? b?); Laura Akerman 224.

LUNCH

The afternoon session resumed with Jeanette DePoy leading songs on pages 192 and 369. Leaders: Paul Booth 198; Kathy Williams 455; Reba Windom 216; Carolyn Deacy 114; Hannah Roberts 515; Buell Cobb 270; Lynn deBenedette 542; David Lee 128; Clarke Lee 39 (t? b?); Jessica Roberts and Jonathan Altman 107; Debra Jones 136; Ted Mercer 319; Jim Brock 84; Sandy Hill 203; Bryan Black 236; Joan Durdin 29 (t? b?); Julie Lee 129; Mary Alice Latimer 454; G. C. Waldrep 260.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Jeanette DePoy leading song on page 460. Leaders: Mark Boyt and Erin O’Brien 40; Richard Whatley 86; Bryan Black 45 (t? b?); Chris Carnell 272; Mark Bumgardner 85; LeAnne Carnell 180; Susan Posey 81 (t? b?); Frances Carnell 551; Paul Booth 347; Hannah Roberts, Ashley Roberts, and Jessica Roberts 328; Don Bowen 163b; Reba Windom 442.

Announcements were made. Jeanette DePoy led song on page 267 as the closing song. The closing prayer was led by Elder Jesse Roberts.

Sunday, March 23

The convention was called to order by Jeanette DePoy leading song on page 77b. The morning prayer was led by G. C. Waldrep. Jeanette DePoy led song on page 31 (t? b?). Leaders: Bobby Bailey 27; Richard Whatley 28b; Doug Allison 282; Evelyn Harris 30 (t? b?); Sid Caldwell 284 (for I.V. McWhorter); Reuben Ball 497; Don Bowen 283; G. C. Waldrep 269; Cathy White 178; B. J. Harris 452; Frances Carnell 240.

RECESS

Faye Pettis called the class together leading song on page 89. Leaders: Henry Zittrouer 490; Phil Summerlin 495; George Snyder 254; Karen Snowbird 532; Louis Hughes, Jr. 99; Raymond Hamrick 354 (t? b?); David Lee 63; Debra Jones 480; John Whittemore 159; Jim Brock 189; Sharen Kellam 76b.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Jeanette DePoy leading song on page 122. Leaders: Ashley Roberts 372; Cindy Franklin 475 (for Flarce Creel); Paul Booth 313b; Hannah Roberts 350; Chris Carnell 481; Cassie Franklin 492; Judy Mincey 474; Phillip Langley 198; LeAnne Carnell 277; Jessica Roberts and Jonathan Altman 192; Sandy Hill 565.

The memorial lesson was held with Jessica Roberts reading from I Thessalonians 4:13-18. Helen Bryson led song on page 482 in memory of Georgia deceased: Mae Moone, Virginia Temple, Mike Dunn, William Headrick, Charlie Dannals, Edna Wilson, and Mildred Cox. Buell Cobb led song on page 339 in memory of Alabama deceased: Jimmy Causey, Tom Harper, Tommy Creel, Rodger Morrison, Hurley Tyrone Dryden, Bonnie Ashley, Lola Jenkins, Clelan Cobb, and Lola Myrtle Roberson. Richard DeLong led song on page 149 in memory of Hazel Cagle, and songs on pages 89 and 229 for Mrs. Eva Reeves and Horace DeLong who were unable to attend because of sickness. Doug Allison led song on page 36b for other deceased: North Carolina—Quay Smathers; Ohio—Danna Wagge; England—Lindy Swann; Colorado—Don Johnson.

For all the sick and shut-ins, Hannah Roberts led song on page 47b. Elder Jesse Roberts closed the memorial with prayer.

LUNCH

The afternoon session resumed with Jeanette DePoy leading songs on pages 434 and 569b. Leaders: Carolyn Deacy 456; Edith Tate 371; Kathy Williams 368; S. T. Reed 32b; Shelbie Sheppard 485; Milton Oliver 137; Ted Mercer 278 (t? b?); Clark Lee 276; J. W. Oliver 426 (t? b?); Wesley Haley 198; Sheri Taylor 528; Jeff Sheppard 448 (t? b?); Elder Jesse Roberts 384; Henry Johnson 338; Linda Thomas 217; Lynne deBenedette 383; Johnny Lee, Raymond Hamrick, and Richard DeLong 503; Dollie Hudgins 343.

RECESS

Jeanette DePoy and Kenneth DeLong called the class together leading song on page 301. Leaders: Louis Hughes, Sr. 489; Charlene Wallace 347; John Hollingsworth 82 (t? b?); Berkley Moore 435; Julie Lee 123b; Kelly Morris 49b; Susan Roberts 385b; Andy Morse 216; Laura Akerman 543; Martha Ann Stegar 268; Margie Dietz 58; Liz Bryant 492; Karen Morris 236.

A motion was made and duly seconded to go into the business session.

The Locating Committee reported that the 1998 Georgia State Convention would be held in the old Dekalb Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia.

The financial report was given.

Resolution Committee report:

First and foremost, we offer words of thanksgiving to our Creator, through which all things are possible, especially for grace in allowing us to raise our voices once again in song, and for the beautiful spring weather in which we rejoice.

We wish to thank Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church and its members for their generosity in offering this facility and making this a successful convention.

We wish to extend a special word of gratitude to Faye Pettis and Elizabeth Talbert for their hospitality, and diligent work, and to the Elder W. A. Kelly family whose strong family values continue to influence this church and our singing here.

We wish to give our thanks to the officers and organizers for planning and executing their duties faithfully and well, and to all those who prepared food, served on committees and do this convention work. We especially thank the singers that have traveled far and near to sing words of praise to our Heavenly Father.

We resolve to be more aware of those who are no longer able to join with us in song as a result of frailness or infirmnity and to make an effort to brighten their day with a visit or phone call, a note or a card. We further resolve to carry on the tradition of Sacred Harp. In so doing, we wish to honor the ones that have gone before us, to celebrate and preserve their heritage with friends and family here, and to go forth to introduce this special music to as many people as possible.

Respectfully submitted: Lee Rogers, Helen Bryson, and Louis Hughes, Jr.

The business session closed.

Jeanette DePoy led song on page 45t. After announcements, Jeanette DePoy and Kenneth DeLong led song on page 62, “Parting Hand”, as the closing song. Elder Jesse Roberts closed with prayer.

Chairman—Jeanette DePoy; Vice Chairman—Kenneth DeLong; Secretary—Charlene Wallace.