Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, December 5

The 6th annual Georgia State Christian Harmony Convention was held at Hardeman Primitive Baptist Church on the first Sunday and Saturday before in December. Due to an electronic mishap, the lists of songs led are lost in cyberspace. Complete recordings were not obtained, so the minutes could not be reconstructed. All songs were from the 2010 Edition of the Christian Harmony.

The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Billy Hollingsworth; Vice Chairman—John Plunkett; Secretary—Judy Mincey; Treasurer—Shannon Primm.

Leaders on Saturday were Billy Hollingsworth, John Plunkett, Judy Mincey, Mike Richards, Leslie Booher, Michael Spencer, Steve Cackley, Eli Snyder, Andy Ditzler, Darrell Swarens, Helen Bryson, Robert Kelley, Jerry Mooney, Lauren Bock (302 in memory of Oliver Kindig-Stokes), Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg, David Brodeur, Ivey Houser, Matt Hinton, Erica Hinton, Shannon Primm, John Hollingsworth, Tony Hammock, Michael Walker, David Smead, Kathy Smith, Andy Morse, Lisa Bennett, and Jane Cannon.

Sunday, December 6

Leaders on Sunday were Billy Hollingsworth, John Plunkett, Judy Mincey, Mike Spencer, Steve Cackley, Shannon Primm, John Hollingsworth, Eddie Mash, Chris Wilhelm, Henry Johnson, David Smead, Darrell Swarens, Eli Snyder, Richard DeLong, Michael Walker, Leslie Booher, Tony Hammock, Mike Richards, Lisa Bennett, Jane Cannon, and John Kelso.

At the business meeting held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, the convention elected the following officers for 2016 and 2017: Chairman—John Plunkett; Vice Chairman—Mike Spencer; Secretary—Judy Mincey; Treasurer—Shannon Primm.

The memorial lesson was held after lunch on Sunday. Judy Mincey read the list of the homebound and ill, and spoke of the warmth and strength of the Sacred Harp community. She cited the 5th Chapter of the Book of James where the writer mentions prayer and anointing with oil for healing. She spoke of our singing as spiritual anointing, and led a song.

Michael Walker read the list of the deceased, and spoke of our tradition of calling their names for a year. He spoke of the ending of the calendar year, but not of our memories and love for the departed. He read Tennyson’s poem “Ring out Wild Bells” as an elegy. The memorial lesson was closed with a song and prayer.

The committee reports were given, and accepted by the class. Hardeman Primitive Baptist Church was especially commended for the warm hospitality and wonderful food. The convention will meet again the first Sunday and Saturday before in December, 2016, at Shiloh-Little Vine Church, south of Carrollton, Georgia.

Chairman—Billy Hollingsworth; Vice Chairman—John Plunkett; Secretary—Judy Mincey