Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Sacred Harp singing at State Line Church in Cleburne County, Alabama (just off highway 78 at Georgia/Alabama state line) was held on Saturday before the second Sunday in April.

B. M. Smith called the class together leading song on page 59. The morning prayer was led by Felton Denney.

Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 57; Mary Florence Smith 72t; Helen Bryson 272.

The class was organized with the same officers being elected: Chairman—B. M. Smith; Vice Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Secretary—Mary Florence Smith; Arranging Committee—Margie Smith; Memorial Committee—Shelbie Sheppard.

B. M. Smith led song on page 475 (especially for Virgil Phillips). Leaders: Jerry Enright 354 (t? b?); Shelbie Sheppard 269 (in memory of her parents, Walker and Lessie Cates); Bill Waddington 299; Katharine Hough 378 (t? b?); Dick Levine 569 (t? b?); Cathy White 258 (?); Jim Pfau 350; Melanie Hauff 464; David Lee 99; Pam Nunn 236; Linda Thomas 48t; Mary Elizabeth Lee 276; Ted Johnson 383; Pearl Guier 49b; Steven Levine 441.

RECESS

B. M. Smith called the class together leading song on page 384. Leaders: Clarke Lee 503; Judy Mincey 501; David McGukin 134; Jeanne Schaffer 198; Louis Hughes 480; Shelton Williamson 300; Susan Pfau 84; Roy Nelson 456; Judy Hauff 504; Keith Willard 82b; Katharine Manning 528; Louis Hughes, Jr. 208; Jeanette DePoy 278t; John Bayer 278b; Marcia Johnson 547; Kathy Lee 435; David Hough 282; Karen Willard 171; Cassie Franklin 192; John Schaffer 391; Charlie Lee 175; Kat Kincade 372; Gordon Olson 163b; Pauline Childers 318.

LUNCH

The singing resumed with B. M. Smith leading song on page 28b. Leaders: Don Bowen 137; Toby Tenenbaum 38b; Jenny Willard 80t; Milton Oliver 321; Cindy Franklin 442.

A memorial was given by Shelbie Sheppard for the friends and loved ones who have died during the last year, and remembered especially those families who are no longer with us who worked so faithfully to keep the singing going: Cates family, Bertha Kilgore, Arthur Windom, Viola Hicks, Ester Hart, Etta Sanders, and many others.

In 1984, there were not enough people to sing, and the decision was made to hold the singing on Saturday the following year. As a result of this change, you can look around and see the tremendous crowd of singers who have come from all over the country to help carry on this tradition. These people, as well as those of us who are here today, would be so proud to know that you have come, and we are especially glad that Virgil Phillips is able to be here with us today. We must not forget those who would like to be here, but could not because of sickness. The song on page 47b was led by Shelbie Sheppard. The memorial was closed with prayer by Johnny Lee.

The singing continued with the following leaders called: Lonnie Rogers 348b; Edith Tate 389; Charlene Wallace 548; Jack Loftin 454; Gene Hauptmann 29t; Julie Lee 123b; Felton Denney 489; Richard DeLong 496.

RECESS

Jeff Sheppard called the class to order leading song on page 274t. Leaders: Jeff Sheppard and a group from his singing school 34b; Julia Vea 106; Carol Selleck 401; Cullen Wade 324; James Gingerich 448b; Patty Butterfield 112; Joyce Wade 254; Laura Densmore 228; Jimmie Denney 313t; Rene Greene 196; J. W. “Bud” Oliver 328; Everette Denney 426t; Lou Cotney 222; Ted Mercer 345b; Jan Ketelle 31b; Bill Hogan 61; Levon Wootten 101t; Liz Bryant 32b; Beth Hoffman-Reed 271t; Val Eng 280; Christine Guth 522; Cathy Wallace 455; Eleanor Haase 142. Announcements were made. B. M. Smith and Jeff Sheppard led song on page 46 for the closing song. The class was dismissed with prayer by Lonnie Rogers.

Chairman—B. M. Smith; Vice Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Secretary—Mary Florence Smith.