Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 28

The 147th session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention was hosted by Camp Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Lilburn, Georgia, on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in November. The class was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Scott DePoy leading 101t. Matt Hinton offered the morning prayer.

Matt Hinton directed the introductory lesson leading songs on pages 503, 330b, 284, 375, 174, 351, 313b, and 234. Leaders: John Hollingsworth 82t; Jeannette DePoy 31t; Jerusha Wheeler 333; John Plunkett 571; Tony Hammock 556; Tom Ivey 273; Bill Hollingsworth 461; Sharon Strong 573; Samuel Williams 372; Robert Kelley 318; Michael Walker 35; Daniel Williams 337; Giles Simmer and Dana Jago 63.

RECESS

Scott DePoy called the class to order leading 277. A business session was held with the following officers elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—John Plunkett; Vice Chairman—Daniel Williams; Secretary/Treasurer—Helen Bryson; Resolutions Committee—Scott DePoy and Jeannette DePoy; Memorial Lesson—Michael Walker.

Leaders: John Plunkett 52t; Daniel Williams 74t; Phillip Langley 385t; Debora Grosse 178; Erica Hinton 464; Karen Clark 70t; Anna Hinton 142; Karen Edwards 71; Margie Dietz 354b; Susan Firestone 475; Doug Allison 53; Jerusha Wheeler 193; Tony Hammock 83b; Tom Ivey 195; Bill Hollingsworth 466; Eli Hinton 99; Sharon Strong 306; Samuel Williams 269.

LUNCH

Daniel Williams called the class to order leading 401. Leaders: Helen Bryson 176t; Robert Kelley 131t; Michael Walker 205; Daniel Williams 320; Giles Simmer and Dana Jago 39t; Debora Grosse 186; Karen Clark 534; John Plunkett 501; Karen Edwards 203; Robert Kelley 66; Jeannette DePoy 328; Tony Hammock 138b; Doug Allison 145t; Scott DePoy 274t; John Hollingsworth 109; Susan Firestone 474; Tom Ivey 442; Karen Clark 569t; Daniel Williams 29t; Samuel Williams 163t; Tony Hammock 439; Bill Hollingsworth 207; Michael Walker 213t; Sharon Strong 113; Susan Firestone 504; Seth Langer and Michael Walker 30b; Giles Simmer and Dana Jago 376.

Announcements were made. John Plunkett led 46 as the closing song. John Hollingsworth offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, November 29

John Plunkett called the class to order leading 48t. John Kelso offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: John Plunkett 30t; Helen Bryson 312t, 568; Phillip Langley 180, 100; Andy Ditzler 547, 38b; Jeannette DePoy 89, 67; John Kelso 214, 447 (in memory of Bonnie Kiddle); Michael Spencer 393, 278t; Sandra Wilkinson 300, 159; David Brodeur 151, 150; Judy Mincey 213b, 369; B.M. Smith 101t, 512 (for Sid Caldwell).

RECESS

John Plunkett called the class to order leading 52b. Leaders: Reba Windom 36b, 82t; Faye Holbrook 455, 111b; Michael Walker 103, 169; Oscar McGuire 276, 287; John Hollingsworth 434, 36t; Scott DePoy 179 (in memory of Robert DePoy), 128; Helen Bryson 222, 223; Phillip Langley 517, 76b.

Michael Walker conducted the memorial lesson. He spoke of the subtleties of Thanksgiving and gratitude for the Sacred Harp family. Michael led 475 in memory of the deceased and for the sick and shut-ins. We remember the following deceased: Robert DePoy, Raymond Hamrick, Joyce Harrison, George Garner, C.W. Garner, Bonnie Kiddle, Bernice Thompson Steadman, and Dan Pattillo—Georgia; Oliver Kindig-Stokes—Pennsylvania; Loraine Bayer—Ohio; Evelyn Harris—Alabama. The following sick and shut-ins are remembered: Richard DeLong, Geneva Prichard, Jack Paulk, Tommie Spurlock, and Matt Jacobs. John Kelso closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

LUNCH

John Plunkett called the class to order leading 473. Leaders: Andy Ditzler 460; Jeannette DePoy and Reba Windom 542, 566; Judy Mincey 501, 279; Hayden Arp 177, 204; Sandra Wilkinson 334, 345t; Reba Windom 418, 186; Scott DePoy 47b; Michael Spencer 308, 166; Oscar McGuire 515; David Brodeur 44, 523; Michael Walker 135, 522; John Kelso 500, 423; B. M. Smith 72b; Faye Holbrook 77t, 392; Alice West 73t, 544, 565; Helen Bryson 162; Michael Walker 410b; John Kelso 225t (in memory of Loraine Bayer).

The convention entered into a business session for the purpose of hearing reports. The Resolutions Committee reported the following: The 147th session of Union Musical Sacred Harp Convention gives thanks to God for His many blessings given us, most especially for the gift of Sacred Harp, which fills our hearts with joy and love for one another. We give thanks for all those singers who have gone before us, and those who have kept this tradition alive and growing. We thank God for all the singers who participated, and came from near and far to join us in this fellowship. We are grateful to all whose work made for a wonderful weekend of singing. We hope to meet again in 2016 on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in October at a location to be determined (possibly Sweetwater Chapel). May God be with each of us and allow us to meet again. Ebenezer Primitive Baptist is to host the convention in 2016 with the location to be determined. The Finance Committee reported that convention expenses were met. The reports were approved. The business session was closed.

Announcements were made. John Plunkett led 347 as the closing song. Judy Mincey offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—John Plunkett; Vice Chairman—Daniel Williams; Secretary—Helen Bryson