Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 12

The 162nd 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 32t. The opening prayer was offered by Elder Robert Vaughn.

Leaders: John Morris 186; Ryan Ross 172; Craig Averill 268t; Linda Booker 38t; Vivian Rogan 559; Alex Forsyth 98; Winfred Kerr 36b; Kathy Williams 395t; Priscilla Wiggins 365; Seth Pedersen 505; Findley Ross 40; Catherine Rogan 192; Gaylon Powell 137; Rebecca Over 344; Gary Rogen 276; Lisa Matt 61; Troxel Ballou 148; Owen Ross 383; Leland Ross and Larkin Ross 277; Janie Short 140; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 536; Leon Ballinger 280; Clydene Pekrul 328; Jerry Ryan 274t; Bob McLemore 282; Aubrey Barfield 86. Mayor Pat Brack gave the singers a warm welcome from the city before recess.

RECESS

Sam Craig led 100 to bring class back to order. Leaders: Ellen Ray 39; Robert Chambless 508; Syd Caldwell 384; Brody Ross 183; Judy Chambless 165; Stanley Smith 380t; Sonny Erwin and Rodney Ivey 464; Judy Caudle 477; Ainsley Ross 59; Carter Cook 203; Karen Rollins 387; Evelyn Lamb 182; Michele Curran 416b; Rodney Ivey 133; Cory Winters 414; Vicki Cook 132; Sarah Huckaby 522; Scott Curran 269; Angela Myers 319; Silas Huckaby 217; Hoss Curran 60; Ellee Curran 367. Rev. Owen Ross asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Sam Craig led 57 to bring class back to order. Leaders: Cheryl Foreman 108b; Lloyd Wright 288; Sonya Kirkham 54t; Margaret Wright 53; Peggy S. Ray 571; Rick Foreman 50t; Chris Nicholson 293b; Joan Smith 395b; David Rousseau 159; Ron Bernucho 463; Kris Wiggins 30b; Robert Vaughn 343; Kristie Powell 514; Diane Ross 434; Jim Lazenby 361; Donald Ross 419.

RECESS

Sam Craig led 75 to bring class back to order. Leaders: Dennis George 392; Rodney Ivey 465; Karen Rollins 168; Evelyn Lamb 273; Cheyenne Ivey 511b; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 450; Donald Ross 28b; Judy Caudle 356; Rebecca Over 516; Stanley Smith 404; Chris Nicholson 264t; Diane Ross 95b; Kris Wiggins 163t; Angela Myers 220; Ron Bernucho 239; Cheryl Foreman 478; Alex Forsyth 138t; Janie Short 142; Rick Foreman 543. Sam Craig led 285t as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Rev. Charles Nunnally.

Saturday night, August 12

Approximately 25 singers enjoyed a meal of homemade TexMex food at the Civic Center. After the meal they sang two new compositions, “Starry Skies” (by Robert Vaughn) and “Sweet Fields” (by Cory Winters), as well as song selections from The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition. The evening was enjoyed by all in attendance.

Sunday, August 13

The Sunday session of the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Sam Craig leading 49t. The opening prayer was offered by Stanley Smith.

Leaders: Robert Vaughn 288; Alex Forsyth 416t; Clydene Pekrul 587; Crystal Meadows 99; Darlene Reynolds and Bentley Rose 282; Janie Short 230; Rodney Ivey 567; Corinne Ducey 30b; Karen Rollins 136; Linda Booker 107; Henry McGuire 540; Vicki Cook 155; Carter Cook 132; Drew McGuire 552; Judy Chambless 574; Brody Ross 53; Leon Ballinger 297; Robert Chambless 72; Porter James 286b; Ryan Ross 196; Kathy Williams 222.

RECESS

Sam Craig led 553 to bring class back to order. Leaders: Aubrey Barfield 594; Rebecca Short 159; Findley Ross 67; Dennis George 520; Winfred Kerr 146; Cheyenne Ivey 573; Linda Booker 393; Cory Winters 112; Syd Caldwell, Stanley Smith, and Bonnie Brunner Wood 575; Craig Averill 47b; Angela Myers 272; Rebecca Over 210; Judy Caudle 268b; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 31t; Evelyn Lamb 468; Cheryl Foreman and Abby Huckaby 392.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Gary Rogan, Gaylon Powell, and Donald Ross. Gaylon Powell read the poem “The Christian’s Hope”. Gary Rogan read the names of the following sick and shut-ins: Tammy Powell, Dale Redmon, Jr., Adelaide Vaughn, Curtis Owen, Edith Owen, Myrl Jones, Jo Redmon Miller, Frank Price, Dorothy Price, Chris Holley, Daphene Causey, Azalea Barnett, Tommie Spurlock, Nate Green, Norma Green, Marion Rousseau Grant, and Ron and Suzann Bernucho’s son. He led 45t in their honor.

Donald Ross read the following list of names of the deceased: Ruth Redmon, Jane Goforth, Ron Ryan, Casey Polk, and F.E. (Ab) Abernethy—Texas; Hugh McGraw, Johnny Lee, Delorese Lee, and B.M. Smith—Georgia; Gravis Ballinger, Eloise Wootten, and Caleb Allred—Alabama; John Bayer—Ohio; Lois Graney and Madean Lunsford—Arkansas; Bob Bonnell—Florida. He led 512 in their memory. Gaylon Powell closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Chris Nicholson 96; Rick Foreman 45b. Robert Vaughn asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Sam Craig brought class back to order leading 528b. Leaders: Ellen Ray 278b; Ainsley Ross 145t; Michele Curran 215; Henry McGuire 563; Diane Ross 299; Corinne Ducey 524; Crystal Meadows 142; Porter James 332; Sarah Huckaby 442t; Kristie Powell 131t; Drew McGuire 131b; Silas Huckaby 189; Scott Curran 64; Sonny Erwin 569; Gaylon Powell 370; Gary Rogan 558; Hoss Curran 274t; Ellee Curran 146; Lisa Matt 449; Vivian Rogan 508; Catherine Rogan 182; Donald Ross 507b; John Morris 463; Joan Smith 341; David Rousseau 447t; Sonya Kirkham 70b; Peggy S. Ray 199; Robert Vaughn 436b; Cory Winters 269; Craig Averill 276; Henry McGuire 171; Crystal Meadows 168; Evelyn Lamb 482; Drew McGuire 380t; Porter James 590; Corinne Ducey 271b; Sarah Huckaby and Silas Huckaby 216.

There were 282 people in attendance from thirteen states and one other country (England). During the convention, seventy-five leaders led 172 songs.

Sam Craig led 440b as the closing song. Syd Caldwell offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

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