Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Alewine-Laminack Memorial Sacred Harp singing was held at St. Michael Lutheran Church, in Cleburne County, Alabama, on the fourth Sunday in April. Cecil Roberts brought the class to order by leading 59. Ed Thacker offered the opening prayer. Cecil Roberts led 35, and then welcomed everyone to the singing.

Leaders: Donna Bell 290 (in memory of Corene Laminack), 47t (in memory of Evelyn Harris); Henry Johnson 88t, 289; Judy Chambless 37b, 318; Charlene Wallace 63, 155 (in memory of Evelyn Harris); Robert Chambless 452, 225t; Margaret Thacker 31b, 68b; Virginia Dyer 472, 358 (for Avis Kilgore), 294 (by request).

A business session was held with the following officers retained or appointed: Chairman—Cecil Roberts; Vice Chairman—B.M. Smith; Secretary—Donna Bell; Arranging Officer—Judy Chambless; Memorial Lesson—Judy Chambless.

Leaders: Wyatt Denney 32t, 347; Karis Askin 146, 457.

RECESS

David Brodeur brought the class back to order leading 39t. Leaders: Ed Thacker 500, 54; Ken McElroy 340 (in memory of the Kilgore family, and in honor of his granny, Lucille McElroy), 274t; Dalton Lewis and Chance Cook 192, 401; Philip Denney 84, 140; Fallon Cook 47b, 216; John Plunkett 50b, 467; Samuel Williams 168, 271t; Rene Greene 373, 217; Oscar McGuire 336, 276; Richard DeLong 74t (in memory of I.V. McWhorter), 431; Pam Nunn 365, 186; David Brodeur 131b, 163t.

Cecil Roberts thanked the class for $383.63, and asked that the amount be noted in the minutes. The money will be used for the upkeep of the church and cemetery. Lutheran services have not been held at the church for approximately 80 years. Cecil Roberts and singers thanked the McElroy family for their faithfulness in maintaining the church and cemetery.

Judy Chambless conducted the memorial lesson. Judy stated that as she was preparing today’s lesson, she looked at the minutes book from last year. There were six names on the sick and shut-ins list that are now deceased. Judy said that we should enjoy life while we’re living. Robert Chambless read the names of the sick and shut-ins and those of the deceased.

The sick and shut-ins honored were James Hughes, Larry Keaton, George Garner, Lucy Garner, B.M. Smith, Margie Smith, Hester Edwards, and Joan Collins. The deceased remembered were Inez Chandler, Evelyn Harris, Raymond Hamrick, and Stanly Edwards. Judy Chambless and Robert Chambless led 549 in honor of the sick and shut-ins, and in remembrance of the deceased. John Plunkett closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Daniel Williams 332, 110; Earlis McGraw 475 (for B.M. Smith), 312t; Winfred Kerr 282, 45t; Jason Stanford and Iris Stanford 49t, 377. Jason Stanford offered the blessing of the noon meal at the table.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Cecil Roberts leading 119. Leaders: Donna Bell 383; Henry Johnson 341; Cindy Gray 76b; David Brodeur 350; Charlene Wallace 283; Mary Morris 100; Samuel Williams 285t; Karis Askin 268; Jason Stanford 512; Oscar McGuire 441; Rene Greene 270; Daniel Williams 442; Ed Thacker 77t; Wyatt Denney 82t; Robert Chambless 176b; Earlis McGraw 56t (in memory of Elder Homer Benefield); Winfred Kerr 89; Richard DeLong 36t; Philip Denney 535.

Following announcements, Cecil Roberts led 48t as the closing song. Henry Johnson offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Cecil Roberts; Vice Chairman—B.M. Smith; Secretary—Donna Bell