Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 26

The 117th session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Musical Convention met at Jefferson State College on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November. The class was called to order by Ken Tate leading 85. Eddie Mash offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Rodney Ivey 129 (for the Wootten family); Eddie Mash 30t; Mary Amelia Taylor 36b; Henry Johnson 337; Linda Thomas 32t; David Ivey 316 (in memory of Toney and Lavoy Smith); Sharon DuPriest 40; Cheyenne Ivey 186; Elene Stovall 411; Cindy Tanner 498; Charles McCravy 428; Adrian Eldridge 472; Sarah Beasley 340; Larry Ballinger 217; Tim Taylor 228; Karis Askin 192; Daniel Lee 566; Linda Sides 82b; Darrell Swarens 335; Jim Aaron 47b; Philip Denney 73t; Nikos Pappas 195; Nate Green and Norma Green 287.

RECESS

Ken Tate led 56t to bring the class together. Leaders: Daniel Williams 400; Richard Ivey 556; Judy Caudle 134; James Eldridge 220; Eugene Forbes 299.

A business session was held at this time, and the following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chairman—Judy Caudle; Secretaries—Elene Stovall, Linda Thomas, and Cheyenne Ivey; Chaplain—Barrett Patton; Arranging Committee—Cindy Tanner and Sharon DuPriest; Finance Committee—Alex Forsyth, Nicholas Thompson, and Tom George; Memorial Committee—Shane Wootten and Danny Creel; Resolutions Committee—Kelsey Ivey and Cassie Allen. The business meeting was closed.

Leaders: Rick Cunningham 276; Gavin Blakeley 196; Buell Cobb 81b; Jerusha Wheeler 208; Nathan Rees 374; Ann Riley Gray 142; Alex Forsyth 182; Larry Brasher 385b; Sasha Hsuczyk 286; Marlin Beasley 455; Roberta Strauss 209; Dennis George 573; Karen Rollins 328; Gedney Barclay 378t; Danny Creel 112.

RECESS

The class was brought to order by Rodney Ivey leading 389. Leaders: Justin Bowen 406; Becky Strickland 68b; Louis Hughes 448b (in memory of B.M. Smith); Cassie Allen 273; Tom George 370; Barrett Patton 456; Daphene Causey 269; Keillor Mose 200; Ruth Wampler 158 (in memory of children killed in Chattanooga bus wreck); Ines Luttgen 506; Matt Hinton 436; Nicholas Thompson 392; Brian Harris 500; Kelsey Ivey 421; David Brodeur 545; Judy Chambless 527; Kathy Williams 419; Scott DePoy 448t; Carolyn Thompson 53; Susan Allred 183; Susan Cherones 564; Ethan Hardy 133; Robert Chambless 560; Sandie Scott 408; Hubert Nall 168. Barrett Patton asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Rodney Ivey and Keillor Mose leading 309. Leaders: Bea Aaron 475; Jeannette DePoy and Lynn Allen 89; Andy Ditzler 380; Wanda Capps 546; David Carlton 424; Jonathon Smith 422; Judy Mincey 116; Richard Mauldin 99; Marilyn Burchett 29t; Ann Jett 327; Reba Windom 216 (in memory of Shelbie Sheppard); Gary Glover and Elene Stovall 548 (in memory of Levon Wootten); Pam Nunn 362; Lynn deBenedette 383 (in memory of Jerry Enright); Karen Ivey 440; Karen Freund 95 (for Laura Clawson); Anne Drexler 277.

Rodney Ivey and Alex Forsyth led 521 as the closing song. Barrett Patton dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, November 27

The Sunday session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Musical Convention was called to order by Rodney Ivey leading 82t. Barrett Patton offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Judy Caudle 138t; Barrett Patton 177; Linda Thomas and Buell Cobb 81b, 131b; Elene Stovall 172; Nicholas Thompson 171; Cheyenne Ivey 432; Tom George 466; Cassie Allen 218 (for Eugene Forbes); Shane Wootten 222 (for Eloise Wootten); Alex Forsyth 329; Danny Creel 215; Cindy Tanner and Sharon DuPriest 327; Linton Ballinger 306; Jenny Acton 112; John Plunkett 495; Louis Hughes 512; Daniel Lee 542; Jacob Acton 168; Justin Bowen 80b; Ellen Ray 76b; Roberta Strauss 441; Hayden Arp 204; Winfred Kerr 388; Donna Wootten 314; Gavin Blakeley 145t.

RECESS

Judy Caudle led 57 to bring the class to order. Leaders: Brandon Acton 373; Karen Rollins 213b; Stanley Smith 442; Matt Hinton 503; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 31t; Anslie Allen 29t; Gedney Barclay 568; Jack Nelson 180; Brian Harris 280; Gail Doss 86; Isaac Green 411; Kathy Williams 151; Henry Johnson 55; Loyd Ivey 34b; Sasha Hsuczyk 426t; Ines Luttgen 416; Richard Ivey, Grace Whitener, and Karen Ivey 354b; Richard Ivey 227; Judy Mincey 169; Ethan Hardy 179; Gary Glover and Justin Bowen 480; Jeannette DePoy and Bridgett Hill Kennedy 276; Richard Mauldin 446; Judy Chambless 501; Allison Whitener 430; Keillor Mose 293; Yancey Jett 440; Chita Blakeley 396; Kelsey Ivey 214; Dennis George 110; Lynn deBenedette and Reba Windom 30b; Andy Ditzler 359; Ruth Wampler 207; Marilyn Burchett 551. Barrett Patton asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Rodney Ivey and Barrett Patton began the afternoon session by leading 111t. Leaders: Ken Tate 300; Linda Sides 170; Nate Green and Norma Green 438; Daphene Causey 434; Eddie Mash and Barrett Patton 365.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Shane Wootten and Danny Creel. Danny Creel spoke on behalf of the following sick and shut-ins: Ann Chalker, Bill Horvitz, Chuck Beasley, Holly Mixon, Douglas Conn, Jewel Wootten, Eugene Forbes, William Futral, Virginia Futral, Wendy Anderson, Jim Cheek, Rachel Rogers, Betty Shepherd, Ben Price, Ottis Sides, Velton Chafin, and Johnnie Chafin. He led 490 in their honor.

Shane Wootten spoke about anchors. He mentioned the many anchors that have passed away, and the future anchors that are coming along to carry on the tradition of Sacred Harp singing. He read the following list of names of the deceased: Toney Smith, Lavoy Smith, S.T. Reed, Sam Chalker, Levon Wootten, Garlan McCarn, Gary Smith, Kermit Adams, Steve Adams, Azilee Adams, Kathleen Traywick, Elsie Moon, Sandra Spradlin, Hester Edwards, Bernice Williams Harvey, and Kenneth Fannin—Alabama; Oliver Kindig-Stokes—Pennsylvania; Pauline Oliveros and Mildred Bouwman—California; Earlis McGraw, B.M. Smith, Johnny Lee, and Geneva Prichard—Georgia; Charlie Derleth—Missouri; Janelle Davis—Illinois; Ruth Steggles—United Kingdom; Helen Beauchamp—Tennessee; Tony Conrad—New York. He led 176t in memory of the deceased. Barrett Patton offered prayer to close the memorial service.

Leaders: Reba Windom 436; David Ivey 292; Wanda Capps 298; Pam Nunn 454; David Brodeur 377; Scott DePoy 106; Ann Jett 319; Sandie Scott and Eddie Mash 268 (in memory of Bob Meek); Nathan Rees 371; Susan Cherones 460; Hubert Nall 176b; Bea Aaron 426b; Jonathon Smith 382; Allison Davis, Gresham Davis, and Cheyenne Ivey 217; Dan McSavage, Alex Forsyth, and Rodney Ivey 270; Coy Ivey 384.

A business session was held for the purpose of hearing committee reports. The Resolutions Committee (Cassie Allen and Kelsey Ivey) presented the following report: We, the Resolutions Committee for the 117th session of the Alabama State Convention, resolve to thank God for allowing us to come together in this season of Thanksgiving to sing praises to God. We would like to thank Jefferson State College for the use of the facilities, along with those who helped prepare our meals. Thanks to the officers of the convention, and to all of you for making the convention a success. We cherish the memories of the singers who have come before us, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share these songs and this community with future generations. Finally, we resolve to meet again next year on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November for the 118th session of the Alabama State Convention.

The Finance Committee reported that expenses were met. The Secretary reported that during the two-day convention, 177 songs were led by 175 leaders representing thirteen states. The reports were accepted, and the business meeting was closed. Announcements were made.

Rodney Ivey and Judy Caudle led 62 as the closing song. Barrett Patton offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chairman—Judy Caudle; Secretaries—Elene Stovall, Linda Thomas, and Cheyenne Ivey