Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Decoration Day Sacred Harp singing was held at Cane Creek Primitive Baptist Church, near Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama, on the third Sunday in May. David Brodeur called the class to order promptly at 9:30 a.m. leading 146. Cecil Roberts offered the morning prayer. David Brodeur welcomed everyone, and then led 425.

Leaders: Glenda Collins 322, 101t; Donna Bell 68b (in memory of her aunt, Audrey Ruth Garner), [323 (t? b?)] (in memory of Louise Holland); Judy Chambless 340 (in memory of her daddy, Samuel McCullars), 82t.

A business session was held with the following officers retained: Chairman—David Brodeur; Vice Chairman—Glenda Collins; Secretary—Donna Bell; Arranging Officer—Judy Chambless.

Leaders: Cecil Roberts 58, 48t; Robert Chambless 70t (for Coy Ivey and Doug Webb), 225t (in memory of Hugh McGraw); Pam Nunn 155 (in memory of Evelyn Harris); Esther Williams 481; Bert Collins 63, 97; Winfred Kerr 59, 500; Sherrell Cleino 127, 335.

RECESS

David Brodeur brought the class back to order leading 141. Leaders: Oscar McGuire 276, 336 (in memory of J.T. Pruitt); Kathy Williams 186, 273 (in memory of her mother, Louise Holland and her grandparents, Jim and Dessie Fields); Richard DeLong 272, 123b; Samuel Williams 474, 547; Amber Davis 402, 391; Jack Nelson 475 (in memory of B.M. Smith), 187; Virginia Dyer 454, 436; John Plunkett 33b, 88b; Isaac Green 279; Isaac Green and Fallon Cook 269; Chance Cook 192; Fallon Cook 358 (by request), 294.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Cecil Roberts. He spoke about saints at rest along with a passage of scripture from Thessalonians in the Bible. The sick and shut-ins honored were Michelle Kennedy, Lucy Garner, Danny Hutcheson, Coy Ivey, Doug Webb, Eric Scott, John Hollingsworth, and Harvey Sanders. The deceased remembered were Audrey Ruth Garner, Hugh McGraw, Darrell Swarens, Louise Holland, Daphene Causey, Floy Wilder, Judy Owens, Agnes Laminack Roberts, Glenda Hopper, Julia Laverack, Houston Jones, and Anna Napper. Cecil Roberts led 403. Jack Nelson offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Charlie Norton gave a report on the church and cemetery funds. He thanked everyone for coming to clean the cemetery. Charlie welcomed Dennis Bragg to the Cemetery Committee. Charlie Norton reported the collections and asked that someone stay and verify the amount. The money collected is used for the upkeep of the church and cemetery. The church only has two members. Charlie thanked the singers and told them how much he appreciated them coming to sing from long distances in the name of God. Cecil Roberts offered the blessing of the noon meal at the tables.

LUNCH

The afternoon session of singing began with David Brodeur leading 274t. Leaders: Daniel Williams 318, 376; Ruth Daniel 378t, 47t (in memory of her sister, Evelyn Harris); Winfred Kerr 314; Kathy Williams 37b; Robert Chambless 317 (for Houston Jones’s grandfather); Esther Williams 61; David Brodeur 134; Cecil Roberts 56t (in memory of Elder Homer Benefield and Stanly Edwards); Sherrell Cleino 457 (in memory of her uncle, Billy Joe Harris); Oscar McGuire 485; Isaac Green 483; Samuel Williams 572; Bert Collins and Glenda Collins 300, 282; Donna Bell 292 (in memory of Elder Lewis Norton); Jack Nelson 224; John Plunkett 345b; Fallon Cook 176t; Daniel Williams 133.

Announcements were made. David Brodeur led 549 as the closing song. Cecil Roberts offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—David Brodeur; Vice Chairman—Glenda Collins; Secretary—Donna Bell