Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, July 22

The 125th session of the Mt. Zion Memorial Sacred Harp singing was held at Mt. Zion Methodist Church on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in July. Charles Woods and Jason Stanford called the class together by leading 284. Henry Johnson offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Jason Stanford 460; Judy Chambless 478; Lela Crowder 32t; Charles Woods 283; Donna Bell 33b; Winfred Kerr 500; Samuel Williams 547; Helen Bryson 175; Bill Hollingsworth 354t; Glenda Collins and Bert Collins 100; Gary Davis and Karen Flagg 565; Judy Henry 225t; Steve Daniel 178; Karen Rollins 153; Richard DeLong 109; Mike Hieber 276; Jeannette DePoy 87; Virginia Dyer 217, 61; Faye Hollis 340.

A motion was made to go into a business session. The following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Richard DeLong; Vice Chairman—Gary Davis; Secretary—Lela Crowder; Arranging Officer—Judy Chambless; Memorial Committee—Rebecca Over and Donna Bell; Chaplains—Daniel Williams and John Plunkett. There was a motion made to change the Mt. Zion Memorial Singing from a two-day singing to one-day singing. The class decided to resume the discussion on Sunday.

RECESS

Gary Davis brought the class back together leading 426t. Leaders: Jack Nelson 399b; Fallon Cook 146; Robert Chambless 68b; Rebecca Over gave a short talk to remember the charter members and led 271t; Daniel Williams 201; John Hollingsworth 220; Isaac Green 494; Henry Johnson 539; John Plunkett 544; Oscar McGuire 336; Dalton Lewis 40; Chance Cook 192.

LUNCH

Richard DeLong brought the class back to order by leading 406. Leaders: Tony Hammock 83 (t? b?); Donna Duke and Gene Duke 114; Gary Davis and Karen Flagg 99; Fallon Cook 155; Mike Hieber 37b; Lela Crowder 138t; Jeannette DePoy 339; Jason Stanford 323t; Rebecca Over 386; Steve Daniel 282; John Plunkett 325; Bill Hollingsworth 495; Charles Woods 149; Oscar McGuire 163b; Isaac Green and Richard DeLong 541; Daniel Williams 48t; Donna Bell 300; Glenda Collins and Bert Collins 45t; Henry Johnson 164; Faye Hollis 318; Jack Nelson 269; Samuel Williams 230; Winfred Kerr 36b; Robert Chambless 84; Dalton Lewis 354b; Tony Hammock 111b; Donna Duke and Gene Duke 312b.

Announcements were made. Richard DeLong led 75 as the closing song. Daniel Williams offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, July 23

Richard DeLong called the Sunday session of the Mt. Zion Memorial Sacred Harp singing to order by leading 81t. John Plunkett offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Richard DeLong 60; Gary Davis 35; Lela Crowder 171; John Plunkett 52t; Taylor Watkins 388; Cecil Roberts 48t; Malinda Snow 544; Scott DePoy 65; April Watkins 53; Michael Thompson 32t; Susan Cherones 564; Winfred Kerr 516; Nicholas Thompson 392; Pam Nunn 280; Oscar McGuire 556; Amber Davis 391; Jenna Frey 358; Rebecca Over 353.

A motion was made to go into a business session. The class resumed the discussion of making the Mt. Zion Memorial singing a one-day singing. The class agreed in favor of this motion, and decided that the singing should occur on the fourth Sunday in July. The next session of the Mt. Zion Memorial singing will be held on the fourth Sunday in July, 2018.

RECESS

Gary Davis brought the class back together leading 335. Leaders: Judy Henry 117; Donna Bell 489; Bobby Watkins 512.

John Plunkett presented a plaque to the family of Earlis McGraw on behalf of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company. Judy Henry and Ricky McGraw received the plaque in memory of Earlis McGraw’s tireless work and dedication to Sacred Harp singing and to the Sacred Harp Publishing Company.

Leaders: Karen Rollins 446; Calum Woods 212; Reba Windom 72b (in memory of B.M. Smith); Robert Chambless 73b; Faye Hollis 299; Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg and Lucey Rose Karlsberg 298; Sheri Taylor 78; Jeannette DePoy 187; Bryan Black 495; Lisa Bennett 295; Rene Greene 47t.

Rebecca Over and Donna Bell conducted the memorial lesson. Rebecca reminded the class that, while we pause to recognize the sick and shut-in singers, there may be singers among us who are also unwell. She spoke of the importance of the encouragement that people get through emails, phone calls, and visits when they are unable to attend a singing. Rebecca and Donna led 70t in honor of the following sick and shut-ins: Eugene Forbes, Eloise Wootten, Tommy McGraw, Agnes Roberts, Susan Roberts, Chris Holley, and Concetta Branson.

Rebecca spoke about the singers who passed away in the previous year, and talked about how they continue to be special to someone today. Notably, Hugh McGraw was a singer special to the Mt. Zion singing community. She spoke about how Mt. Zion was his first Sacred Harp singing in 1952, his contribution as long-time chairman to the singing, and his charisma as a leader, teacher, mentor, father, grandfather, and friend. Rebecca and Donna led 549 to honor the deceased who included Caleb Allred, Gravis Ballinger, Calvin Phillips, Gary Smith—Alabama; Harold DeLong, James Hughes, Gail Jackson, Elder Larry Keeton, Lynn Swafford Key, Hugh McGraw, Geneva Prichard, B.M. Smith, and Glenda Yancey—Georgia. Cecil Roberts closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Michael Spencer 420; David Smead 395.

LUNCH

Richard DeLong brought the class back to order leading 399b. Leaders: Isaac Green 419; Karen Flagg and Gary Davis 348b; Laura Frey 87; Kathy Williams 107; Jason Stanford 225t; Rebecca Over 197 (for Wawena Entrekin Miles); Calum Woods 234; Amber Davis 454 (for Willodean Barton); Pam Nunn and Rene Greene 528; Reba Windom and Nicholas Thompson 216; Bobby Watkins, April Watkins, and Taylor Watkins 146; Jeannette DePoy, Scott DePoy, and Margaret Black 274t; Oscar McGuire and Karen Rollins 327; Lisa Bennett and Jesse Pearlman Karlsberg 558; David Smead and Bryan Black 500; Michael Spencer and Michael Thompson 196; Susan Cherones, Isaac Green, and Cecil Roberts 349; Faye Hollis, Donna Bell, and Malinda Snow 276; Lela Crowder, Kathy Williams, and Judy Henry 472; Winfred Kerr and Jason Stanford 318; Richard DeLong and John Plunkett 155 (in memory of Carlene Griffin); Rebecca Over 548; Calum Woods 36t; Judy Chambless and Robert Chambless 475 (in memory of Earlis McGraw, B.M. Smith, Hugh McGraw, and Ronald Chambless).

Announcements were made. Richard DeLong, Gary Davis, and Lela Crowder led 62 as the closing song. John Plunkett offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—Richard DeLong; Vice Chairman—Gary Davis; Secretary—Lela Crowder