Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Sacred Harp singing at Edwardsville Baptist Church, Edwardsville, Alabama, was held on the first Sunday in April. The class was called to order by Cecil Roberts leading 60. Robert Chambless offered the opening prayer. Cecil welcomed everyone, and then led 35.

Leaders: Henry Johnson 164, 289; Donna Bell 101t (for Glenda and Bert Collins), 68b (in memory of her daddy, George Garner); Judy Chambless 462, 472; Winfred Kerr 314, 89; Jack Nelson 32t, 480; Rene Greene 500, 186.

A business session was held with the following officers retained or appointed: Chairman—Cecil Roberts; Vice Chairman—Henry Johnson; Secretary—Donna Bell; Arranging Officer—Judy Chambless. A motion was made to change the start time of the singing from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. CST. The motion carried, and Cecil Roberts reiterated the start time.

Leaders: Virginia Dyer 61 (for Robby Rivers, whose mother passed away on April 1), 225t; Tony Hammock 131t (in memory of Elder Neal Prichard), 105; Sherrell Cleino 135 (in memory of her aunt, Nellie Mae White), 335.

RECESS

The class resumed singing with Henry Johnson leading 88t. Leaders: Richard DeLong 374, 375; Andy Ditzler 96; 121; Samuel Williams 326, 196; Charlene Wallace 155, 299 (for Earlis McGraw); Dalton Lewis 63, 354b; Pearl Guier 303, 448b; Isaac Green and Sadie Wicker 133, 176t; Robert Chambless 176b, 274t; Karen Rollins 283 (for Earlis McGraw), 213b; David Brodeur 52t, 54; Oscar McGuire 276, 441; Chance Cook 192.

Judy Chambless conducted the memorial lesson. Judy stated, “What we can be thankful for is that if we keep the faith, regardless of the outcome God will see us through, whether it be through sickness or whether we be facing death.” She reminded us that God will see us through these times and our families through these times if we will wake up each morning realizing that for one more day we have been blessed with this beautiful world. The sick and shut-ins honored were Susan Harcrow, Earlis McGraw, Janelle Davis, Jeannette DePoy, Glenda Collins, Eloise Wootten, Lois Bowman, James Hughes, Mona Nelson, Virginia Futral, Hester Edwards, and Lucy Garner. The deceased remembered were Elder Neal Prichard, Nellie Mae White, Bill Cleino, George Garner, C.W. Garner, and Curtis Hamrick. Judy led 544. Cecil Roberts offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Leaders: Johnathon Kelso 177 (in memory of Oliver Kindig-Stokes); Fallon Cook 548 (by request), 142. Reverend Jeff Layton, pastor of the church, offered the blessing of the noon meal.

LUNCH

Cecil Roberts brought the class back to order leading 399b. Leaders: Jason Stanford 97, 568; Ann Simpson 452, 445; Samuel Williams 428; Karen Rollins 227; Tony Hammock 284 (for Earlis McGraw); Fallon Cook 358; Henry Johnson 418; David Brodeur 530; Robert Chambless 163b; Andy Ditzler 156; Jack Nelson 236; Isaac Green 85; Richard Delong 395; Oscar McGuire 515; Sherrell Cleino 127; Jason Stanford 46.

Announcements were made. Cecil Roberts, Henry Johnson, and Donna Bell led 47b as the closing song. Jason Stanford offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Cecil Roberts; Vice Chairman—Henry Johnson; Secretary—Donna Bell