Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, July 8

The 125th session of the Cullman County Sacred Harp Convention was held at the Cullman County Courthouse on the second Sunday and Saturday before in July. The class was called to order by Henry Guthery leading 59. James (Butch) White offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Richard Mauldin 36b; Bea Aaron 456; Carolyn Thompson 442; Lisa Geist 304; Reba Windom 216; Danny Creel 222; Christopher Mann 168; Delone Cobbs 40; Ann Jett 498; Jillian Parris 159; Robert Chambless 225t; Mike Hankins 527; Geraldine Sharpton 318; Sasha Hsuczyk 176b; Samuel Sommers 548; Charles McCravy 213t; Alvaro Witt Duarte 350; Cindy Mann 274t; Jim Aaron 47b.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Carolyn Thompson and Linda Thomas leading 42. Leaders: David Carlton 362; Henry Guthery 49t; Tom George and Tonya Edmundson 99; Justin Bowen 121; Nicholas Thompson 434; Glenn Keeton 349; Judy Chambless 390; Susan Allred 387; Marlin Beasley 406; Rachel Pirkey 504; Tom George 85; Bill Price 479; Theresa Westmoreland 276; Chris Parris and Jillian Parris 206; Mark Davis 534; Judy Caudle 500.

RECESS

Henry Guthery led 76b to bring the class to order. A business meeting was held and the following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Henry Guthery; Vice Chairman—Richard Mauldin; Secretary—Nicholas Thompson; Arranging Officer—Carolyn Thompson; Finance Officer—Bea Aaron; Chaplains—Jim Aaron and Butch White.

Leaders: Hazel Heinze and Linda Bailey 63; Greg Allred 452; Nancy Phillips 117; Dick Nail 454; Chris Green and Nedra Green 335; Earl Ballinger 530; Hubert Nall 186; Christina Holcombe and Anna Grace Sipe 196; Chris Ballinger 145t; Don Keeton 489; Alex Forsyth 380; Nancy Price 441; Aldo Ceresa 392; Eugene Forbes 203. Jim Aaron asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Henry Guthery leading 151. Leaders: Monica Robledo and family 45t; Calum Woods 189; Rob Bahler 181; Beth Anne Clay and Garrett Sipe 542; Nancy Thompson and Brittany Thompson 345b; David Saylors and Teresa Saylors 215; Sierra Saylors and Gus Carter 388; Mark Davis 236; Jennifer Lee 142; Gail Doss 148; Buell Cobb 77b; Beth Branson 426b; Jubal Schultz 426t; Larry Ballinger 528; Richard Mauldin 446; Wanda Capps 546; Sonya Sipe and Christopher Mann 31b; Justin Bowen 371; Billy See and Vickie See 480; David Carlton 496; Sasha Hsuczyk 560; Gus Carter and Sierra Saylors 30b; Aldo Ceresa 182; Samuel Sommers 368; Nancy Price 120; David Saylors and Teresa Saylors 332; Rob Bahler 481; Alvaro Witt Duarte 327; Alex Forsyth 462; Gail Doss 547; Jubal Schultz 482; Craig Mann 282; J.C. Rutledge 568; Justin Bowen 522; Mark Davis 211; Bill Price 133; Loretta Whitman 372; Richard Mauldin and Chris Parris 358.

Announcements were made. Henry Guthery led 521 as the closing song. Jim Aaron offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, July 9

The Sunday session of the Cullman County Sacred Harp Convention began with Henry Guthery leading 31b. Butch White offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Henry Guthery 101t; Richard Mauldin 100; Bea Aaron 475; Butch White 278t; Carolyn Thompson 455; Nancy Price 146; Delone Cobbs 354t; Nicholas Thompson 200; Amber Davis 142; Sadie Bailey 277; Alvaro Witt Duarte 377; Susan Allred 384; Winfred Kerr 500; Linda Sides 564; Vickie See and Billy See 33b; Geraldine Sharpton 542; Samuel Sommers 524; Riley Lee 203; Marlin Beasley 270; Sonya Sipe and Anna Grace Sipe 32t.

RECESS

Aldo Ceresa led 82t to bring the class together. Leaders: Bill Price 139; Rebekah Gilmore 168; Buell Cobb 467; Aldo Ceresa 466; Philip Gilmore and Grace Gilmore 282; Gail Doss and Janie Guthery 35; Tom Booth 287; Hazel Heinze 43; Elene Stovall 558 (in memory of Preston Crider); Theresa Westmoreland 192; Linda Booth 163b; Jubal Schultz 318; Jennifer Lee 383; Susan Cherones 300; Chris Parris and Jillian Parris 421; Dick Nail 53.

RECESS

The class was brought to order by Henry Guthery leading 97. The memorial lesson was conducted by Lisa Geist and Jennifer Allred. Jennifer spoke and read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Karen Rollins, Velton Chafin, Johnnie Chafin, Ottis Sides, Anne Chalker, Margaret Thacker, Chris Holley, Eloise Wootten, Louise Holland, and Martha Moody. She led 285t.

Lisa Geist spoke in memory of the deceased and read the following list of names: Gary Smith, Bill Davis, Levon Wootten, Toney Smith, Lavoy Smith, Johnnie Parker, Kenneth Fannin, Margie Lee, and Gravis Ballinger—Alabama; Hugh McGraw and B.M. Smith—Georgia; Janelle Davis—Illinois; Erin Harris—Tennessee; John Bayer and Loraine Bayer—Ohio. Lisa led 472 in memory of the deceased. Butch White closed the memorial service with prayer.

Leaders: Jamey Wootten 39t; Beth Ann Clay 448t; Justin Bowen 422; Kathy Williams 448b; Mary Holcombe 65; Jared Wootten 89; Juanita Beasley 61; Terry Wootten 34t. Butch White asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Henry Guthery led 273 to begin the afternoon session. Leaders: Ethan McNerny and Carolyn Thompson 324; the Brock family and Alvaro Witt Duarte 45t; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 276; Nicholas Thompson and Leigh Ann Courington 408; Nancy Price 105; Christopher Mann 178; Samuel Sommers 180; Riley Lee 182; Bill Price 569b; Aldo Ceresa 411; Jared Wootten, Jamey Wootten, and Terry Wootten 441; Jubal Schultz 131b; Vickie See and Billy See 503; Justin Bowen 129; Alvaro Witt Duarte 171; Winfred Kerr 36b; Gail Doss 222; Sarah Trumbore 217; Kathy Williams 151; Susan Cherones 564; Beth Anne Clay 344; Hazel Heinze 68b; Elene Stovall 436; Chris Parris 268; Rebekah Gilmore 426b; Dick Nail 430; Philip Gilmore and Grace Gilmore 47b; Buell Cobb 128; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 391; Theresa Westmoreland 432; Larry Ballinger and Rita Birdsong 119; Jennifer Lee 183; Tom Booth 309.

Henry Guthery and Richard Mauldin led 323t as the closing song. Butch White offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Henry Guthery; Vice Chairman—Richard Mauldin; Secretary—Nicholas Thompson