Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 13

The 161st session of The East Texas Sacred Harp Convention met at the Henderson Civic Center in Henderson, Texas, on the second Sunday and Saturday before in August. The class was called to order by Sam Craig leading 108t. The opening prayer was offered by Robert Vaughn.

Leaders: John Morris 98; Tim McClain 239; Ryan Ross 406; Eddie Mash 563; Eddie Huckaby 63; Judy Chambless 30t; Chris Nicholson 293b; Linda Booker 107; Leon Ballinger 297; Janie Short 142; Bob McLemore 559; Robert Handel 41; Laura Pedersen 159; Charles Whitmer 574; Reed Coates 335; Stanley Smith 404; Brody Ross 45t; Jerry Ryan 274t; Aubrey Barfield 163t; Tammy Powell 137; Sarah Huckaby 421; Findley Ross 282; Darrell Swarens 341; Robert Chambless 32t; Ainsley Ross 183; Shannon Guinn 154b; Silas Huckaby and Rodney Ivey 464.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Sam Craig leading 503. Leaders: Karen Rollins and friend 387; Gaylon Powell 91; Catherine Rogan 155; Riley Owen 268t; Owen Ross 383; Bruce Coates 133; Judy Caudle 505; William Price 81; Beverly Coates 171; Troxel Ballou 299; Kris Wiggins 235; Tommie Spurlock 376; Jackson Owen 53; Nancy Price 203; Rodney Ivey 558; Tom Owen 395t; Donald Ross 591; Scott Curran 269; Priscilla Wiggins 365; Michele Curran 196; Sharon DuPriest 189; Lauren Owen 572; Mike Hinton 544.

LUNCH

Sam Craig brought the class together by leading 145t. Leaders: Syd Caldwell 39; Sonny Erwin 569; Gary Rogan 300; Cory Winters 222; Kristie Powell 224; Daphene Causey 192; Diane Ross 434; Marilyn Solomon 470; Barbara Smith 484; Vivian Rogan 395b; Dennis George 156; Kathy Williams 140; Tom George 301; Joan Smith 47b; David Rousseau 447t; Robert Vaughn 514; Tim McClain 47t; Bob McLemore 522; Robert Handel 511t; Stanley Smith 358.

RECESS

Sam Craig led 146 to bring the class together. Leaders: Charles Whitmer 218; Allison Miller, Anniston Miller, Jo Redmon Miller, and Sam Craig 40; Reed Coates 422b; Jerry Ryan 408; Owen Ross 588; Troxel Ballou 361; Eddie Mash 138t; Ryan Ross 276; Eddie Huckaby 323b; Judy Chambless 132; Leon Ballinger 424; Linda Booker 145b; Chris Nicholson 290; Silas Huckaby 99; Riley Owen 96; Darrell Swarens 49b; Robert Chambless 72.

Sam Craig led 225t as the closing song. The class was dismissed with prayer offered by Tim McClain.

Saturday night, August 13

Approximately 35 singers enjoyed a meal of homemade Tex-Mex food at the Civic Center. After the meal they enjoyed singing three new compositions from Cory Winters and Robert Vaughn, and songs from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition. The evening was enjoyed by all in attendance.

Sunday, August 14

The Sunday session of the East Texas Convention began with Sam Craig leading 285t. The morning prayer was offered by Gary Rogan.

Leaders: Kathy Williams 272; Rodney Ivey 590; Judy Caudle 477; Shannon Guinn 162; Tom George 433; Audrey Barfield 28b; Daphene Causey 304; Robert Chambless 573; Sharon DuPriest 229; Henry McGuire 454; Abby Huckaby and Lauren Owen 146; Judy Chambless 497; Eddie Mash 78; Leon Ballinger 507b; Ron Bernucho 571; Dennis George and Jarrod George 392; Brody Ross 183; Tommie Spurlock 112; Karen Rollins 38t.

RECESS

Sam Craig brought the class back together by leading 100. Leaders: Marilyn Solomon 174; Finley Ross and Jackson Owen 463; Cory Winters 182; Cheryl Foreman 465; Faith Riley and Cheyenne Ivey 540; Stanley Smith, Syd Caldwell, and Phil 539; Nancy Price 544; Ainsley Ross 449; William Price 60; Darrell Swarens 572; Eddie Huckaby 73t; Janie Short 198; Linda Booker 199; Barbara Smith 427; Diane Ross 230.

Mike Hinton, Donald Ross, and Bruce Coates conducted the memorial lesson. Mike Hinton opened with a few words of remembrance. The following list of names of the sick and shut-ins were read by Bruce Coates: Nate Green, Norma Green, Lavoy Smith, Eloise Wootten, Gayle Cowart, B.M. Smith, Margie Smith, Alfred Caldwell, Melanie Hauff, Clare Powell, Ruth Redmon, Curtis Owen, Edith Owen, Adelaide Vaughn, Marion Rousseau Grant, Dale Redmon, Myrl Jones, Charlotte Powell, Vickie Cook, Doug Webb, and Chloe Webb. Bruce led 563 in their honor.

Donald Ross read the following list of names of the deceased: Kathleen Doss Traywick, Toney Smith, Gary Smith, Elsie Moon, Kenneth Fannin, S.T. Reed, Steve Adams, Kermit Adams, and Hester Edwards—Alabama; John Schaffer—Colorado; Joe Nall—Florida; Earlis McGraw—Georgia; Janelle Davis—Illinois; Charlie Derleth—Missouri; Loraine Bayer—Ohio; Oliver Kindig-Stokes—Pennsylvania; Edward “Bill” Burns, Jerry Wright, Harold Hill, H.P. O’Mary, Russell Kangerga, Grady Bates, and Thomas Robinson—Texas; Ruth Steggles—United Kingdom. He led 541 in their memory. Mike Hinton spoke a few more words of remembrance, and Robert Vaughn closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Vivian Rogan 559; Kristie Powell and Gaylon Powell 524; Gary Rogan 418; Sarah Huckaby 48b. Tom Owen asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Sam Craig brought the class back with 528b. Leaders: Henry McGuire 486; Scott Curran 442t; Sonny Erwin 430; Ron Bernucho 408; Cheryl Foreman 108b; David Rousseau 348t; Priscilla Wiggins 444t; Michele Curran 140; Chris Nicholson 175; Joan Smith 49t; Tom Owen 95b; Kris Wiggins 338; Beverly Coates 504t; Catherine Rogan 120; Mike Hinton 567; Tammy Powell 217; Ryan Ross 168; Gaylon Powell 343; Syd Caldwell 36b; Robert Vaughn 212; John Morris 67; Donald Ross 373; Bruce Coates 264t; Jackson Owen 31t; Silas Huckaby 215; Lauren Owen and Abby Huckaby 96; Riley Owen 155; Syd Caldwell 518, 513t.

Sam Craig led 225t as the closing song. Robert Vaughn dismissed the class with prayer.

There were 296 people in attendance from twelve U.S. states and one country (Japan). Seventy-three leaders led 160 songs.

Chairman—Sam Craig; Vice Chairman—Robert Vaughn; Secretary—Carole Watts