Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 24

The 113th session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Musical Convention met at Jefferson State Community College on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November. The class was brought to order by Richard Ivey leading 144. The morning prayer was offered by Hubert Nall.

Leaders: Henry Johnson 70b; Hubert Nall 36b; Linda Thomas 52t; Rodney Ivey 129; Linda Sides 215; Bea Carnathan 456; David Ivey 224 (for Jewell Wootten); Richard Mauldin 77t; Gary Smith 344; Anne Drexler 66; Gavin Blakeley 142; Ann Jett 269; Tim Taylor 131t; Ken Sundberg 173; William Shetter 178; Steve Adams 101t; Joe Nall 186; Jim Aaron 503.

RECESS

The class was brought to order by David Ivey leading 76b. Leaders: Eugene Forbes 195; Anna Hinton 300; Tim Cook, Doug Cook, Mako Cook, and Chicko Cook 515; Mary Amelia Taylor 270; Doug Conn 546; Daryl Chesney 454; David Carlton 547; Joye Leggitt 568; Bill Hogan 277; Emily Creel 455; Amy Armstrong 209; John Plunkett 230; Ottis Sides 530; J.R. Hardman 475; Wendy Futral 340; Jeff Sheppard 472; Erin Johnson-Hill 192; Adrian Eldridge 157; Nancy Hogan 309.

RECESS

Rodney Ivey brought the class together leading 56t. Leaders: James Eldridge 328; Roberta Strauss 203; Jackson Fleder 37b.

A business session was held and the following officers and committee members were elected or appointed: Chairman—Richard Ivey; Vice Chairman—Henry Johnson; Chaplin—Eddie Mash; Arranging Committee—Cindy Tanner and Sharon DuPriest; Resolutions Committee—Bridgett Hill Kennedy and Jarrod George; Location Committee—David Ivey and Linda Thomas; Finance Committee—Rodney Ivey and B.M. Smith; Memorial Committee—Mike Hinton and Kathy Williams; Secretaries: Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall.

Leaders: Tom George 299; Virginia Eldridge 463; Jim Patterson, Sheila Patterson, and Grace Patterson 29t; Gail Doss 137; Nathan Rees 134 (in memory of J.C. Hardin); Nate Green and Norma Green 540; Judy Mincey 464; Scott Kennedy 49b; Jeannette DePoy 182 (for Holly Mixon); Erica Martinez 112; Judy Caudle 151; Rebecca Eldridge 396; Matt Hinton 432; Michael Walker 475; Aaron Kahn 313b; Susan Cherones 74b; Bridgett Kennedy 276; Katherine Eldridge 56b; Jarrod George 155; B.M. Smith 284; Judy Chambless 162; Jonathan Smith 220. The blessing before the noon meal was offered by Eddie Mash.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Henry Johnson leading 321. Leaders: Eddie Mash and Jeff Sheppard 556; Charlene Wallace 365; J.C. Rutledge 496; Karen Rollins 225t; Mike Hinton 532; Reba Windom 411; Kathy Williams 222; Sarah Beasley 146; Marilyn Burchett 108b; Louis Hughes 314; Stanley Smith 528; Sandie Scott 512; Karen Ivey and Louise Holland 31t; Daphene Causey 140; Erica Hinton 440; Darrell Swarens 111b (in memory of Harrison Creel); Len VanderJagt 99; Robert Chambless 384; Henry Guthery 304; Pam Nunn 189; Sharon DuPriest and Cindy Tanner 327 (for Scott Curran and Michele Rogan).

Announcements were made. Richard Ivey led 82t (by request) as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Eddie Mash, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, November 25

The Sunday session of the Alabama Sacred Harp Musical Convention began at 9:30 a.m. with Richard Ivey leading 34b. Prayer was offered by Eddie Mash.

Leaders: Henry Johnson 295; Eddie Mash 312t; Linda Thomas 81b; Elene Stovall 299; Judy Caudle 85; David Ivey 298; Rodney Ivey 436 (for T.C. Bailey); B.M. Smith 318; Michael Walker 138b; Kathy Williams 273; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 168; Jarrod George 270; Sharon DuPriest 186; Cindy Tanner 368; Larry Ballinger 528; Louis Hughes 405; Terry Hullett 145t; Judy Chambless 540; Delone Cobbs, Christopher Mann, and Cindy Mann 77t; Richard Mauldin 378t; James Eldridge 327; Reba Windom 542; Elijah Hinton and Matt Hinton 268; Loyd Ivey 283.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by Richard Ivey leading 138t. Leaders: Mike Hinton 373; Shelia Patterson 35; Katherine Eldridge 156; Grace Patterson 313b; Jonathan Smith 360; Karen Rollins 136; Danny Creel 383; Eloise Wootten 222; Darrell Swarens and Katya Chizhayeva 107; Vella Dailey 59; Virginia Eldridge 125; Dennis George 110; Ann Webb 384; Robert Chambless 84; Cheyenne Ivey and Reba Windom 196; Jeannette DePoy 306; Russell Pope 543; Amy Daniel 441; Geraldine Sharpton 300; Jim Patterson 159.

RECESS

Henry Johnson called the class to order leading 418. Leaders: Seth Holloway 254; Joan Aldridge 217.

Kathy Williams and Mike Hinton conducted the memorial lesson. Kathy Williams spoke on behalf of the sick and shut-ins and read the names as follows: Josie Hyde, Velton Chafin, Johnnie Chafin, Tommie Spurlock, Margaret Spurlock, Stella Pratt, Leona Haynes, T.C. Bailey, S.T. Reed, Lessie Reed, Bud Oliver, Sammie Oliver, Jeff Sheppard, Shelbie Sheppard, Violet Thompson, Cathy White, Nancy Yeager, Jim Hearn, Mark Hall Amitin, Earl Burns, Terry Redd, Curtis Owen, Edith Owen, Dan Walker, Charlotte Walker, and Heidi Nolan. Kathy Williams led 340.

Mike Hinton spoke on behalf of the deceased and read the names as follows: Dr. Julietta Haynes, Ruth Johnson, Pauline Griggs, Earnie Jett, Harrison Creel, Bill Tanner, Imogene Nelms, Charles Creel, Cecil Sanders, Wynell Sanders—Alabama; Dale Bruner—Florida; Lonnie Rogers and Gertie DeLong—Georgia; John Merritt and Nellie Davis—Mississippi; Rosa Lee Watson—North Carolina; Wilma Casenhiser, John Patterson, Lela Patterson, and Louise Burns—Ohio. Mike Hinton led 434 in memory of the deceased. Eddie Mash closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Roberta Strauss 218; Chita Blakeley 302; Anna Hinton 282; Anne Drexler 335.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Richard Ivey leading 343. Leaders: Ken Tate 147b; Hayden Arp 269; Phil Summerlin 276; Jackie Tanner 172; Max Berueffy 386; Wanda Capps 546; Shane Wootten and Donna Wootten 30b; Daniel Bearden 536; Leigh Cooper 57; Robert DuPree 40; Mark Godfrey 406; William Shetter 28b; Stanley Smith 224; Adrian Eldridge 531; Susan Cherones 481; Ann Jett 43; Aaron Kahn 183: Erica Hinton 391; Len VanderJagt 32t; Scott Kennedy 228; Rebecca Eldridge 487; Jackson Fleder 225b; Tom George 548; Gail Doss 547; Henry Guthery 485; Sandie Scott 408; Erica Martinez 448t; Nathan Rees 417; Nate Green and Norma Green 460; Marilyn Burchett 49t; Eugene Forbes 551; Gary Smith 99; Bea Carnathan 205; Sarah Beasley and Seth Holloway 274t; Karen Ivey 564.

A business session was held for the purpose of hearing reports. The Resolutions Committee thanked everyone who helped make the convention a success. The Finance Committee reported that expenses were met, and thanked everyone who contributed. The Secretary’s report was given, stating that a total of 193 leaders from 16 states and 2 countries attended. Announcements were made.

Richard Ivey and Henry Johnson led 62 as the closing song. Eddie Mash offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Richard Ivey; Vice Chairman—Henry Johnson; Secretaries—Linda Thomas and Elene Stovall