Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, January 21

The W.L. “Bill” Green Memorial and Baldwin County Sacred Harp Convention was held at Galilee Primitive Baptist Church on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in January. Bill Hogan called the class to order by leading 101t. He gave a warm welcome to all in attendance, and then led 36b. The opening prayer was offered by Danny Creel.

Leaders: J.A. Mosley 373; Nicole Bowman 514; Alice Mosley 484; Nate Green and Norma Green 95b; Evie Eddins 482; Nancy Hogan 392; Rodney Ivey 515; Ken Kelley 559; Gary Padgett 494; Robert Chambless 31b; Edith Eddins 196; Sue Bunch 504t; Lloyd Jones 463; Angela Myers 464; Eric Eddins 304.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by Nicole Bowman leading 54t. Leaders: Scott Ivey 98; Judy Chambless 29b; Jackson Fleder 38t.

Bill Hogan thanked the people of Galilee Primitive Baptist for their hospitality, making special mention of Bobby Willis’s desire for the singing to be held at the church.

Leaders: Cindy Tanner 486; Perry Kiedel 107; Reba Windom 505; Ezra Eddins 277; Danny Creel 404; Tim Jones 424; Sonny Erwin 569; Anne Royappa 42; Henry McGuire 582; Jamira Jackson and Regina Derstine 361; Kevin Eddins 83t.

RECESS

Ken Kelley led 108t to bring the class together. Leaders: Judy Mincey 273; Russ Scholz 283; Regina Derstine 408; Tim Taylor 148; Charlotte Naylor 155; Tommie Spurlock 183; Ewan Eddins 53; Ann Jett 503; Tim Royappa 28t.

The class sang 369, and Aubrey Barfield offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Bill Hogan and Perry Kiedel leading 96. Leaders: Judy Caudle 380t; Ryan Bowman 418; Mary Amelia Taylor 35; Andrew Royappa and Stanley Smith 370; Eli Eddins 52t; Becky Briggs and Danny Creel 522; Beverly Coates 416b; Nancy Van Den Akker 311; Ateven Anderson 93; Georgeanna Presnell and Sylvia Zurko 59; Elizabeth Royappa and Morgan Bunch 516; Loretta Jones 384; Drew McGuire 552; Aubrey Barfield 276; Hubert Nall 572; Bruce Coates 563; Chris Nicholson 95t; Stanley Smith 567; Sam Wright 315; Coy Ivey 465; Cindy Tanner, Ann Jett, and Danny Creel 355; Reba Windom 478; Charlotte Naylor 388; Crystal Menas and J.A. Mosley 282; Tim Royappa, Anne Royappa, Andrew Royappa, and Elizabeth Royappa 274t; Henry McGuire 578; Tim Taylor and Mary Amelia Taylor 189.

Announcements were made. Bill Hogan and Nancy Hogan led 140 as the closing song. Hubert Nall offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, January 22

The Sunday session was called to order by Bill Hogan leading 224. He thanked everyone for coming, and the church for welcoming the convention. Bill then led 225t. The opening prayer was offered by Tim Jones.

Leaders: J.A. Mosley 273; Nicole Bowman 47b; Evie Eddins 297; Alice Mosley 45t; Nate Green and Norma Green 336t; Nancy Hogan 309 (in memory of Edd Bass); Ethan Eddins 31b; Rodney Ivey 138t; Kevin Eddins 268b; Tim Jones 120; Ateven Anderson 163t; Stanley Smith 213; Chris Nicholson 264t; Robert Chambless 72; Henry McGuire 524; Lloyd Jones 571.

RECESS

Rodney Ivey brought the class back to order by leading 440b. Leaders: Bruce Coates 32t; Drew McGuire 222; Judy Chambless 29t; Hubert Nall 422; Tim Taylor 391; Loretta Jones 520; Nancy Van Den Akker 511b; Eli Eddins 157; Beverly Coates 591; Becky Briggs 395b; Judy Caudle 477; Chris Parris 559; Ewan Eddins 553; Tommie Spurlock 574; Regina Derstine 156; Judy Mincey 411; Jamira Jackson 511t; Ezra Eddins 113; Jackson Fleder 45b.

The memorial committee was recognized to present the memorial lesson. Sonny Erwin said that the mixture of backgrounds among the singers was particularly notable to him as he began singing. He noted that the memorial lesson was unique. This year it became very personal because of his friend, who had been sick and unable to sing for months. He asked the class to remember those who are unable to be with us, and encourage them with phone calls or cards. He read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Todd Derstine, Curtis Owen, Edith Owen, Mike Jones, Wilburn Ellison, Velton Chafin, Johnnie Chafin, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Virginia Glass, Richard Mauldin, Syble Adams, Eloise Wootten, and Pauline Oliver. Sonny led 447t in their honor.

Nancy Hogan remembered J.D. Morris, who passed away recently. She and Bill were asked to sing for him while he was sick. Up until then, she said, she had thought of Sacred Harp songs as being about death and dying, but singing for Brother Morris showed her that they are really songs of perfect healing. She then read a poem about how our loved ones are very near us, and read the following list of names of the deceased: Joe Nall—Florida; Edd Bass, Elder Bobby Willis, Elsie Moon, Gary Smith, Donnie Feagin, Toney Smith, Lavoy Smith, Elder J.D. Morris, and Levon Wootten—Alabama; Ruth Redmon—Texas; Earlis McGraw, B.M. Smith, and Johnny Lee—Georgia. She led 30b in their memory. Tim Taylor offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Leaders: Morgan Bunch 30t; Ryan Bowman 274b; Scott Ivey 292b; Eric Eddins 132 with Stanley Smith; Sonny Erwin 199; Angela Myers 421. After the class sang 369, Hubert Nall offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The class was called back to order for the afternoon session by J.A. Mosley leading 572. Leaders: Sue Bunch 54t; Edith Eddins 77t; Gary Padgett 594; Chris Nicholson 38t; Bruce Coates 264b; Regina Derstine 497; Nancy Van Den Akker 288; Chris Parris 463; Beverly Coates 270; Jamira Jackson 573; Sonny Erwin and Judy Caudle 86; Ateven Anderson 154; Judy Mincey 494 (in memory of Lee Rogers); Jackson Fleder 448; Chris Nicholson 293b; Emily Eddins 336b.

Announcements were made. Bill Hogan, Nicole Bowman, Nancy Hogan, and Evie Eddins led 171 as the closing song. Gary Padgett offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

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