Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Sacred Harp singing at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, was held on the third Sunday in February. Myron House called the class to order, welcomed everyone, and then led 59. Henry Johnson offered the morning prayer. Myron House led 270.

Leaders: Jan House 148, 151; Donna Bell 490, 47t (for Evelyn Harris); Henry Johnson 87, 138t; Karen Rollins 36b, 35; Judy Chambless 37b, 82t.

A business session was held with the following officers retained: Chairman—Myron House; Vice Chairman—-Jan House; Secretary—Donna Bell; Arranging Officer—Judy Chambless; Memorial Lesson—Karen Rollins.

Leaders: Samuel Williams 38b, 183; Erin Johnson-Hill 30b, 276; Robert Chambless 77b, 225t (in memory of Raymond Hamrick).

RECESS

Jan House brought the class back to order leading 143. Leaders: Susan Klinefelter 114, 142; Richard DeLong 28t, 316; Philip Denney 61, 84; Rachel Rudi 132, 375; Earlis McGraw 284, 312b; Faith Riley 159, 72b; Denney Rogers 318, 345t; Lisa Bennett 130, 131b; Wyatt Denney 49b, 100; Charlene Wallace 99, 101t; Oscar McGuire 171, 350; Marilyn Bradley 448b, 81t; John Plunkett 435, 405; Mary Morris 45t, 335; Daniel Williams 30t, 74t. Henry Johnson offered the blessing of the noon meal at the table.

LUNCH

The afternoon session of singing began with Myron House leading 104. Leaders: Claudia Smigelski 68b, 503; Sheri Taylor and Christian Webb 294, 46.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Karen Rollins. She read a variation of page 450 from The Sacred Harp, stating that life can be slow or quick, and that we don’t know how long life will be, but all tend to eternity. She explained the purpose of a memorial and reminded us to remember those gone on before us, not just for a year. She encouraged us to call or send a card to the singers on the sick and shut-in’s list. Karen read the names of the deceased and sick and shut-ins. The deceased remembered were Josephine Denney, Betty Wright, Raymond Hamrick, Stanly Edwards, Sammie Oliver, and Joyce Harrison. The sick and shut-ins remembered were Evelyn Harris, Eugene Forbes, Floy Wilder, Bill Windom, George Garner, Lucy Garner, Lucille Gunnels, and Mary Fox. Karen Rollins then led 340. Philip Denney closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Gary Keaton 64, 507; B.M. Smith 155 (for Evelyn Harris), 204 (in memory of J.T. Pruitt); David Smead 111b, 310; Michael Spencer 289, 308; Cecil Roberts 229, 285t; Fred Eady 192; Rachel Rudi, Erin Johnson-Hill, and Henry Johnson 382; Susan Klinefelter and Faith Riley 448t; Daniel Williams and Samuel Williams 123b; Mary Morris and Gary Keaton 65; Karen Rollins, Denney Rogers, and Philip Denney 153; Earlis McGraw, Charlene Wallace, and Cecil Roberts 146; Lisa Bennett, David Smead, and Richard DeLong 211; Oscar McGuire, B.M. Smith, and John Plunkett 384; Sheri Taylor, Donna Bell, and Fred Eady 63; Marilyn Bradley, Robert Chambless, and Judy Chambless 176b (for Dr. Bill Davis and in memory of Lonnie Rogers).

A business session was held to change the starting time of this singing to 10:00 a.m. Next year’s singing will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Following announcements, Myron House and Jan House led 323t as the closing song. Henry Johnson offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Myron House; Vice Chairman—Jan House; Secretary—Donna Bell