Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The United Convention offered three bonus sessions in which to participate. A singing from the Christian Harmony was held on Friday evening, September 8, directed by Cassie Allen. On Saturday afternoon, September 9, approximately forty singers, led by Ken Tate, sang on the courthouse steps at the Double Springs Inaugural City Fest. On Saturday evening, a church hymnal singing was held, directed by Danny Creel with piano accompaniment by Samuel Wright.

Saturday, September 9

The 114th session of The United Sacred Harp Musical Association met at Camp McDowell, Double Springs, Alabama, on the second Sunday and Saturday before in September. Kathy Williams called the class to order by welcoming those in attendance for the convention, guests, and visitors. Kathy led 49t. Danny Creel offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Linda Sides 328; Angela Myers 63; David Brodeur 191; Eddie Mash 326; Danny Creel 485; Rick Cunningham 112; Cindy Tanner 269; Len VanderJagt 105; Tom Booth 123t; Emily Stutzman 317; Bea Aaron 456; Daniel Lee 411; Pamela Rosser 146; Janie Short 280; Eugene Forbes 218; Mark Davis 272; Nicholas Thompson 187; Anne Steel 348b; Jerry Schreiber 66; Nathan Rees 374; Reba Windom 182.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Kathy Williams and Linda Sides leading 276. A business session was held and the following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Linda Sides; Vice Chairman—Nathan Rees; Secretary—Angela Myers; Arranging Committee—Cindy Tanner and Eddie Mash; Finance Committee—Richard Ivey and Don Bowen; Memorial Committee—Bridgett Hill Kennedy and Rick Cunningham; Resolutions Committee—Darrell Swarens and Gillian Inksetter; Chaplain—Cornelia Stanton; Location Committee—David Ivey and Cheyenne Ivey.

Leaders: Brenda Chafin 434; Cornelia Stanton 171; Daphene Causey 304; Carolyn Thompson 203; Ainslie Allen 460; Gail Doss 137; Emma Calvert and Amelia Jett 388; Ann Riley 186; Robert Chambless 77b; Dennis George 527; Hazel Heinze 99; Don Bowen 494 (dedicated to Judy Mincey); Jesse P. Karlsberg 422; Judy Chambless 472 (dedicated to weather victims); Tom George 82b; Gillian Inksetter 151.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Linda Sides leading 215. Leaders: Kelsey Ivey 142; Leslie Booher 331; Cornelia van den Doel 277; Grace Whitener and Karen Ivey 354b; Jonathon Smith 426b; Dick Nail 53; Andy Ditzler 431; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 70b; Mike Hinton 475; Carla Smith 296; Cheyenne Ivey 166; Warren Steel 327; Linda Booth 198; Darrell Swarens 36b; Zilpha Cornett 535; Jim Aaron 47b.

LUNCH

Linda Sides called the class back to order leading 170. Leaders: Isaac Green 541; Samuel Wright 278t; Karen Rollins 222; Mary Wright 312t; Daniel Bearden 461; Ann Jett 546; Sharon DuPriest 189; Martha Beverly 504; Cassie Allen 444; Ken Tate 129; Richard Ivey 176b (in memory of Edith Owen); Barbara VanderJagt 155; Judy Caudle 518; Wanda Capps 216; Susie Denson 477; Theresa Westmoreland 470; Susan Cherones 564; Nancy Novotny 455; Pat Temple 232; Tammy Powell 454; Richard Mauldin 446; Allison Whitener 383; Tammy Heinsohn 178; Gary Glover and Cornelia van den Doel 335; Sandie Scott and Eddie Mash 420.

Linda Sides led 448t as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Cornelia Stanton.

Sunday, September 10

The Sunday session of the United Sacred Harp Musical Association was called to order by Linda Sides leading 335. Cornelia Stanton offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: Linda Sides 319; Nathan Rees 313t; Angela Myers 110; Eddie Mash 87; Don Bowen and Richard Ivey 283; Gillian Inksetter 530; Cornelia Stanton 318; Rick Cunningham 276; Bridgett Hill Kennedy 82t; Cheyenne Ivey 106; Darrell Swarens 507 (in memory of Josie Hyde); David Ivey 517; Winfred Kerr 516; Emily Stutzman 399b; Elene Stovall 392; Buell Cobb 439; Roma Rice 162; Hubert Nall 64; David Jackson 499; Isaac Green, Sharon DuPriest, and Daphene Causey 242; Ottis Sides 530.

RECESS

The class was called back to order by Nathan Rees leading 35. Leaders: Gary Glover and Cornelia van den Doel 480; Leslie Booher 163b; Karen Rollins 347; Allison Whitener and Grace Whitener 146; Ainslie Allen, Amelia Jett, and Emma Calvert 132; Kathy Williams 365; SuNell Ellis and Ken Tate 498; David Brodeur 353 (in memory of Hugh McGraw).

LUNCH

Linda Sides called the class to order leading 148. Leaders: Mike Hinton 373; Janie Short 196; Theresa Westmoreland 396; Daniel Bearden 293; Tammy Powell and Reba Windom 216; Andy Ditzler 560; Susan Cherones 65; Carla Smith 170; Susie Denson 388; Nancy Novotny 315; Danny Creel 428; Pat Temple 33t; Jerry Schreiber 538; Martha Beverly 377; Tammy Heinsohn 155; Jonathon Smith 440; Gail Doss 547; Dick Nail 314; Judy Caudle 500; Jesse P. Karlsberg 511; Mary Wright 495; Sandie Scott 512; Eugene Forbes 299; Linda Thomas, Brenda Chafin, and Wanda Capps 546; Nicholas Thompson 528; Robert Raymond 290; Cassie Allen 506; Reba Windom 208; Cornelia van den Doel 89; Judy Chambless and Robert Chambless 549 (in memory of Hugh McGraw); Kelsey Ivey 389; Sadie Bagley and Cassie Allen 344; Daniel Lee 147t.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Rick Cunningham and Bridgett Hill Kennedy. Rick began by saying that he had been on the sick list in recent weeks from having back surgery and how much he appreciated the prayers, cards, and well wishes he had received from singers. He said he was reminded that God is faithful and He will do what He says He will do. He talked about how hard it is to see good people suffer, but we never know how much impact the smallest act of kindness may have on those dealing with sickness. Rick stated that if you notice a need, it may be that you are the one to do something. Rick encouraged singers to take the time to do a small act of kindness. Rick read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Velton Chafin, Ozella Blackmon, Ottis Sides, Jewel Wootten, Julie Poston, Andy Worthington, Norma Mincey, Louise Holland, Melanie Hauff, Chris Holley, Sarah Wheatley, Concetta Branson, and Laurens Blankers.

Bridgett began saying that the older she gets, the more she thinks about childhood. She thinks about how much has changed and how much has stayed the same. She talked about her childhood paranoia that had carried on into her adult life. Her mother always told her that when someone had died in her family that they’re watching you. She is thankful that scripture teaches, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, that those who have gone on before us are not looking back. For us, we are left with what to do in the meantime. Bridgett said that we weep, we mourn, and we move slowly on, working through our suffering and grief. Bridgett read the following list of names of the deceased: Johnnie Chafin, Caleb Allred, Eloise Wootten, Gravis Ballinger, Lavoy Smith, and Toney Smith—Alabama; Lois Grany and Steve Ludlow—Arizona; Bob Bonnell—Florida; Hugh McGraw, B.M. Smith, Loyd Landrum, Johnny Lee, Delorese Lee, and Edna Vickers—Georgia; Les Sontag—Illinois; Collette Miller and Charles Wells—Minnesota; John Bayer—Ohio; Aline Summerlin and Daniel Summerlin—Tennessee; Jane Goforth and Edith Owen—Texas; Lila Williams—Virginia. Bridgett led 119 in memory of the deceased. Cornelia Stanton offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Leaders: Hazel Heinze 86; Karen Ivey and Richard Ivey 567; Ann Jett 88t; Coy Ivey 384; Amber Davis 454 (in honor of Ozella Blackmon and Willodean Barton); Richard Mauldin 551; Cindy Tanner 436.

A business session was held to hear committee reports. The Secretary reported that all expenses were met. The Arranging Committee reported that there were one hundred sixty-two leaders for both days with fourteen states and two countries represented. The Resolutions Committee offered thanks to the organizers, committees, volunteers, Camp McDowell, singers, and thanked God for the gift of amazing music and all blessings it brings to us. The Location Committee read a letter from the Sacred Harp singing classes of West Georgia and Atlanta requesting to host the 115th session of The United Sacred Harp Musical Association at Holly Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Bremen, Georgia. The recommendation of the Locating Committee was approved. All other reports were accepted, and the business session was closed.

Linda Sides and Nathan Rees led 225t as the closing song. Linda Sides offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Linda Sides; Vice Chairman—Nathan Rees; Secretary—Angela Myers