Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, September 12

The 112th session of The United Sacred Harp Musical Association met at Church of Our Savior, Atlanta, Georgia, on the second Sunday and Saturday before in September. The class was called to order by Danny Creel leading 47t. He offered the morning prayer, and then led 217.

Leaders: Jesse P. Karlsberg 48t; Angela Myers 63; Darrell Swarens 36b; Richard Mauldin 126; David Brodeur 486; Rodney Ivey 421; Eddie Mash 411; David Ivey 83b; Cindy Tanner 155; Warren Steel 163t; Justin Bowen 436; Eli Hinton 146; Jenna Strizak 270; Zilpha Cornett 480; Clarissa Fetrow 50t; Jason Stanford 500; Jonathan Smith 419; Sandra Wilkinson 215; Rachel Rodgers 68b; Robert Raymond 368; the Silva family 56b.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Danny Creel leading 170. Leaders: Tim Reynolds and Cindy Marshall 128; Wyatt Denney 67; Gillian Inksetter 181.

A business session was held. The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Jesse Karlsberg; Vice Chairman—Kathy Williams; Secretary/Treasurer—Angela Myers; Arranging Committee—David Brodeur, Anna Hinton, and John Plunkett; Chaplain—Jim Neal; Finance Committee—Mike Spencer, Ellen Culpepper, and Wyatt Denney; Location Committee—Amy Wells, Danny Creel, and Eddie Mash; Resolutions Committee—David Wright, Sarah West, and Nathan Rees; Memorial Committee—David Ivey and Helen Brown.

Leaders: Richard DeLong 123b; Nathan Stewart 193; Jim Neal 84; Charles Woods 330b; Anne Steel 318; Nathan Rees 208; Kathy Williams 142; Matt Hinton and Eddie Mash 365; Helen Brown 422; Mike Spencer 433; Karen Clark 234.

RECESS

Jesse Karlsberg called the class back to order leading 103. Leaders: Malinda Snow 191; Philip Denney 120; John Plunkett 492; Ellen Culpepper 212; George Burnette 129; Cecil Godfrey 40; April Watkins and Taylor Watkins 388; Fred Eady 236; Anna Hinton 209; Caleb Silva 51; Sarah Trumbore 179; Zachary Silva 317; Mary Amelia Taylor 55.

LUNCH

The class was called back to order by Amy Wells leading 335. Leaders: Mike Richards 362; Karen Edwards 378b; Andy Ditzler 329; Sarah West 568; Mark Godfrey 542; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 110; Ted Mercer 431; Kevin Beirne 532; Judy Caudle 428; Judy Whiting 472; Gwen Gethner 77t; Anna Pfau 485; David Wright 397; Robert Stoddard 80t; Lynne deBenedette 426b; Leigh Cooper 292; Chris Noren 112; Elizabeth Stoddard 124; Ted Brown 81t; Phillip Langley 522; Chris Brown 498; Erica Martinez 349; Elene Stovall 200 (dedicated to Kermit Adams); Laura Hodges 151; Rose Yntema 183.

RECESS

Lauren Bock called the class to order leading 145t. Leaders: Karen Freund 271t; Lela Crowder 29t; Jerusha Wheeler 53; Debora Grosse 198; Anders Wells 99; Roberta Strauss 384; Kate Agnew and Clay Henry 300; Judy Mincey and Marsha Drone 468; Tammy Heinsohn and Samantha Seifert 178; Cheyenne Ivey 172; Alex Smith 312b; Ellie Snyder 74t; Kay Huener 269; Lisa Bennett 501; Faith Riley 148; Erica Hinton 332; David Smead 369; Bobby Watkins and David Ivey 440; Henry Johnson 82b; Chris Coughlin 512.

Jesse Karlsberg led 521 as the closing song. Jim Neal offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, September 13

The Sunday session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association was called to order by Jesse Karlsberg and Father Zachary Thomas, from the Church of Our Savior, Atlanta, Georgia, leading 31t. Father Thomas offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Kathy Williams 47t; Jim Neal 111b; Angela Myers 345b; David Brodeur 396; Anna Hinton 142; Matt Hinton 131b; Helen Brown 475; Nathan Rees 435; David Ivey 90; John Plunkett 231; Ellen Culpepper 567; Eddie Mash 283; Amy Wells 299; Mike Spencer 191; Jessica Kelso 285t; Andy Ditzler 449; Chris Coughlin 123t; Erica Martinez 76b; Henry Johnson 326; Richard DeLong 116; Tammy Heinsohn 547; Jonathan Wood 348t; Kay Huener 344; Robert Chambless 303; Louis Hughes 512.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by John Kelso leading 101t. Leaders: Rodney Ivey 227; Bridgett Hill Kennedy and Judy Caudle 564; Glenn Keeton 365; Ann Jett, Wanda Capps, Danny Creel, and Cindy Tanner 340 (in honor of their great-aunt, Edna Graves); Roberta Strauss 456.

The memorial lesson was conducted by David Ivey and Helen Brown. David began by reading Hebrews 4:15-16. He spoke about infirmities, mentioned in verse 15, that we have in our bodies, minds, and souls. Referring to verse 16, he spoke about boldness and how we can go with confidence to our Heavenly Father with our petitions. He read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Doug Webb, Sharon DuPriest, Daphene Causey, David Strother, Toni Strother, Sister Pippa, Charlie Derleth, John Hopkinson, Melanie Hauff, Toney Smith, Lavoy Smith, Ottis Sides, Linda Sides, Anne Mauldin Chalker, S.T. Reed, Wayne Reed, Floy Wilder, Kermit Adams, Geneva Prichard, Cath Tyler, Velton Chafin, and Johnnie Chafin. David Ivey led 70t in their honor.

Helen Brown spoke about the moment our lives begin, we all begin to die, and how we sing songs about going home. Helen said she has a picture of Jesus in her mind, who is standing to welcome those to rest and we that are still living have God’s promise of eternal life and will see our loved ones again and sing around the throne. She read the following list of names of the deceased: Robert DuPree, Elder Lewis Norton, Dawson Adams, Stella Pratt, Johnny Humber, Sammie Oliver, Eldagene Roberson, Charles Kitchens, Betty Wright—Alabama; Caroline Bonnet—California; Dan Adams—Connecticut; Raymond Hamrick, Joyce Harrison, Dennis Valdez, Robert DePoy, Inez Chandler, James Jordan, George Garner, Josephine Denney—Georgia; Bob Sullivan—Illinois; David Rust—Indiana; Kate Davis—Ireland; Danny Arms—North Carolina; David Wampler—Pennsylvania; Kerene Ezell Box, Henry Cobb, Reuben Summerlin—Tennessee; Joan Mattock—United Kingdom. Helen Brown led 338 in their memory. Ted Brown offered prayer to close the memorial service.

Leaders: David Smead 413; Emma Hayden Calvert 388; Kate Agnew 268; the Silva family, Ellen Culpepper, and Sam Culpepper 117; April Watkins and Taylor Watkins 354b; Erica Hinton 464; Andrew Royappa 128; Linda Thomas 474; Darrell Swarens 186; Judy Chambless 318.

LUNCH

The class was called to order by Richard Ivey leading 298. Leaders: Ted Mercer 275t; Clarissa Fetrow 392; Cecil Godfrey 288; Sarah West 367; Dennis George, Jarrod George, and Tom George 119; Buell Cobb 423; Kevin Beirne 454; Gwen Gethner 192; David Wright 171; Robert Stoddard 556; Elene Stovall 430; Chris Noren 168; Laura Hodges 550; Mark Godfrey 83t; Judy Whiting 176t; Eli Hinton 65; Anna Pfau 505; Lynne deBenedette 383 (in memory of Jerry Enright); Leigh Cooper 432; Elizabeth Stoddard 312t; Chris Brown 447; Gillian Inksetter 195; Ted Brown 460; Zachary Silva 169; Lauren Bock 156.

RECESS

Jonathon Smith brought the class to order leading 382. Leaders: Anders Wells and Bill Hall 502; Robert Raymond 122; Kelsey Ivey 215; Tim Reynolds 91; Richard Mauldin 446; Mike Richards 441; Phillip Langley 542; Judy Mincey 415; Bobby Watkins 546; Karen Freund 30b; Janet Shepherd 114; Lisa Bennett and Jerusha Wheeler 47b; Ellie Snyder 106; Cheyenne Ivey 389; Hubert Nall 176b; Faith Riley and Rose Yntema 501; Karen Edwards 282.

A business session was held to hear committee reports. The Secretary reported that all expenses were met with a positive balance going forward. The Arranging Committee reported that 204 leaders representing eighteen states, two Canadian Provinces, and the United Kingdom, led 189 songs. The Location Committee reported that a request was made, by letter, that the 113th session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association be held at Camp McDowell located in Double Springs, Alabama. The committee recommended the request, and it was accepted.

The Resolutions Committee offered praise and thanksgiving to God for His gifts and blessings upon us. Gratitude was expressed to the Church of our Savior, officers, singers, guests, and all those who made contributions and support to make a smooth and joyous time of singing and fellowship. Encouragement was offered to continue to support local singings and conventions. It was resolved to meet again for 113th session, 2016, at Camp McDowell. All reports were accepted, and the business session was closed.

Jesse Karlsberg led 62 as the closing song. Jim Neal offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Jesse Karlsberg; Vice Chairman—Kathy Williams; Secretary—Angela Myers