Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, January 23

The W.L. Green Memorial and Baldwin County Sacred Harp Convention was held on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in January. The class was called to order by Bill Hogan leading 87 and 36b. He then gave a warm welcome to all in attendance, and offered the opening prayer.

The following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Bill Hogan; Vice Chairmen—J.A. Mosley and Nicole Bowman; Secretaries and Arranging Committee—Nancy Hogan and Evie Eddins; Chaplain—Adam Brasich; Memorial Committee—Chris Noren and Rebecca Over.

Leaders: J.A. Mosley 373; Nicole Bowman 140; Evie Eddins 383; Nancy Hogan 464; Alice Mosley 484; B.M. Smith 31t; Judy Chambless 29t; Aubrey Barfield 214; Ryan Bowman 434; Ezra Eddins 82; Adam Brasich 522; Bea Aaron and Charlotte Walker 559; Edith Eddins 38t; Alice Sundberg 440b.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Nicole Bowman leading 282. Leaders: Russ Scholz 475; Henry McGuire 558b; Rebecca Over 567; Robert Chambless 95b; Judy Caudle 86; John Kelley 491; Charlotte Naylor 128; Gary Padgett 494; Tim Jones 553; Dawn Van Iderstine 500; Tim Taylor 52t.

RECESS

Bill Hogan brought the class back to order by leading 404. Leaders: Tommie Spurlock and Stanley Smith 574; Ken Sundberg 290; Karen Rollins 168; Michael Walker 582; Eli Eddins 50t; Ateven Snderson 192; Elam Eddins 142; Hubert Nall 264b; Ken Kelley 482; Kevin Eddins 210.

The Southwest Mobile County Vocal Choir led by Bro. Cleo Murphy sang “Lord Keep Me Humble” and “Walking with the Lord”. Singing with Bro. Murphy were Bro. Edward Mitchell, Sis. Hester Gray, Sis. Retie Moore, Sis. Lula Mae Ford, and Sis. Sandra Stewart.

The class sang 369, and Adam Brasich offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with J.A. Mosely leading 575. Leaders: Wayne Jones 54t; David Brodeur 272; Ewan Eddins 300; Stanley Smith 156; Chris Nicholson 293b; Elder Bobby Willis 497; Dana Eddins 49b (for Wynette Smith); Jackson Fleder 519; Emily Eddins 264t; Morgan Bunch 419; Eric Eddins 49t; Todd Derstine and Regina Derstine 380t (in honor of Nate and Norma Green); John Plunkett 320; Becky Briggs 129; Shannan McKenzie 220; Nancy Van Den Akker 324; Karen Clark 514; Andy Ditzler 202; Lloyd Jones and Loretta Jones 571; Erica Martinez 279; Angela Myers 478 (for Daphene Causey and Sharon DuPriest); Beverly Dayton 486; Jim Aaron 47b; Chris Noren 573; Sue Bunch 504t; Reagan Van Iderstine 65; Barbara Jones 276; Ethan Eddins 489; Elene Stovall and Cheyenne Ivey 137 (for Rebecca Over and Coy Ivey, and in memory of Virgil Phillips).

Bill Hogan, J.A. Mosely, Evie Eddins, Nancy Hogan, and Nicole Bowman led 323t as the closing song. Adam Brasich dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, January 24

The Sunday session of the W.L. Green Memorial and Baldwin County Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Bill Hogan leading 182. He welcomed everyone to the singing, remembering those who have been important to the singing over the years. Afterwards he gave a short devotional reading from Matthew 18. He reminded the class that God is always good and at work. Bill then led 77t. The opening prayer was offered by Adam Brasich.

Leaders: J.A. Mosley 478; Nicole Bowman 76b; Evie Eddins 458; Nancy Hogan 520; Alice Mosley 343; B.M. Smith 571; Judy Chambless 563; Barbara Jones 277; Ann Jett 515; Sue Bunch 516; Chris Noren 55; Mary Amelia Taylor 450; Beverly Dayton 421; Michael Walker 411, 45b.

RECESS

Nicole Bowman led 67 to bring the class together. Leaders: Henry McGuire 229; Crystal Minas 572; Danny Creel 98; Karen Rollins 127; Robert Chambless 73b; Angela Myers 552; Erica Martinez 39; Lloyd Jones and Loretta Jones 45t, 138t; Sierra Carvalho 61; Wanda Capps 505; Eric Eddins 348t; Andy Ditzler 174; Karen Clark 591; Perry Kiedel 159.

The memorial committee, Chris Noren and Rebecca Over, were recognized to present the memorial lesson. Rebecca Over spoke of the importance of kindnesses to both friends and strangers among those who can’t be with us. The notes written by those who don’t know us often mean even more than those from our friends. Rebecca Over read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Nate Green, Norma Green, Earlis McGraw, Wilburn Ellison, Wynette Smith, Floy Wilder, Adrian Nall, John Hollingsworth, Bill Windom, John Bayer, Mike Jones, and Elsie Moon. She then led 264b.

Chris Noren said that as we sit around the hollow square at each singing we see a constantly changing group of people, whether by day, place, or because of time. You’ll never find two squares just the same. We remember those who once were with us and now have gone on. Chris Noren read the following list of names of the deceased: George Garner and C.W. Garner—Georgia; Oliver Kindig-Stokes—Pennsylvania; Evelyn Harris, Robert DuPree, Sandra Spradlin, and Sammie Oliver—Alabama; Loraine Bayer—Ohio; Tom Robinson (father of Cheryl Foreman)—Texas. He especially remembered Oliver Kindig-Stokes, who had recently died in a car accident. He led 466 in their memory. Adam Brasich offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Leaders: Nancy Van Den Akker 489; Emily Eddins 114b; Shannan McKenzie 365; John Plunkett 577; Dana Lee, Halen Merritt, and Lucy Merritt 358, 392; Morgan Bunch 594; Jackson Fleder 448; Dana Eddins 133; Chris Nicholson 175.

After the class sang 369, Adam Brasich offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The class was called back to order for the afternoon session by Aubrey Barfield leading 96. Leaders: Bill Hogan 357 (in memory of Bill Green); Joe Nall 543; Ewan Eddins 507b; David Brodeur 42; Wayne Jones 86; Kevin Eddins 89; Stanley Smith 559 (in honor of Syd Caldwell); Hubert Nall 84; Todd Derstine and Regina Derstine 113; Ateven Snderson 504b; Elam Eddins 384; Tommie Spurlock 270; Eli Eddins 553; Tim Taylor 273; Rebecca Over 154t, 380b; Edith Eddins 82; Adam Brasich 165; Ezra Eddins 48t; Ryan Bowman 557; Aubrey Barfield 323; Perry Kiedel 107; Katlin Bailey 54t.

Announcements were made. Bill Hogan, J.A. Mosely, Evie Eddins, Nancy Hogan, Nicole Bowman, and Adam Brasich led 183 as the closing song. Adam Brasich offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—Bill Hogan; Vice Chairmen—J.A. Mosley and Nicole Bowman; Secretaries—Nancy Hogan and Evie Eddins