Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, May 29

All song selections are from the B.F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), unless otherwise noted. The class was called to order by Chairman Elder Sonny Huckaby leading 68b. The opening prayer was offered by Elder Jeb Owen. The chairman led 558, followed by the Vice-Chairman Tom Owen leading 376. Leaders: Bruce Coates 31b; Beverly Coates 195; Riley Owen 543; Catherine Rogan 171; Seth Howard 507b; Vivian Rogan 282; Ellee Curran 367; Jeb Owen 411 (for Emily Quarrels); Kristie Powell 381t; Patrick Curran 421; Robert Vaughn 331b; Abby Huckaby, Weston Bowles, and Addison Bowles 159; Chris Nicholson 212; Abi Curran 274t; Gaylon Powell 406; Findley Ross 99; Scott Curran 464.

RECESS

Chairman Sonny Huckaby led 450 to bring the class back together. Leaders: Olivia Powell 235; Anna Hinton 142; Troxel Ballou 508; Kayleigh Moseley, Abby Huckaby, and Lauren Owen 47b; Janie Short 505; Matt Hinton 38t; Diane Ross 470; Eli Hinton 148.

A business meeting was held at this time. Mike Hinton presented a plaque from the Sacred Harp Publishing Company honoring the contributions and support of shareholder Sonny Erwin, who passed away in January, 2020. The plaque was presented to Sonny’s long-time friends and traveling companions, Rick and Cheryl Foreman. The following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Tom Owen; Vice Chairman—Riley Owen; Bruce Coates and Beverly Coates—Secretaries/Arranging Committee. Scott Curran moved that this session of the Southwest Sacred Harp Convention be named the Curtis K. Owen Memorial for this year only. The motion was seconded and carried.

Leaders: Addison Bowles 155; Tim Berman 81; Scott McCown 122; Lauren Owen 39; Rodney Ivey 133; Jackson Owen 200; Erica Hinton 438b; Silas Huckaby 365; Bridget Jamison 45b; Scott Ivey 380t; Cheryl Foreman 210; John Berendzen 163b. The blessing for the lunch was offered by Elder Luke Addison.

LUNCH

Chairman Tom Owen brought the singers together leading 106. Leaders: Tammy Powell 217; Mike Moseley 507t; Owen Ross 254; Luke Addison 168; Cassie Allen 422t; Rick Foreman 135; Michele Curran 224; Daniel Allcock 68t; Liz Owen 383; Donald Ross 588; Amanda Bowles 442t; Mike Hinton 544; Ryan Ross and Findley Ross 198; Garrett Powell 30b; Cooper Alkeson 299; Kevin Powell 300; Cheyenne Ivey and Rodney Ivey 416t; Levi Sizemore 45t; Greg Bowles 378t; Lottie Hinton 277.

RECESS

Riley Owen led 31t to begin the session. Leaders: Scott McCown 571; Erica Hinton 138b; Tim Berman 500; Bridget Jamison 319; Eli Hinton 63; Chris Nicholson 293b; Anna Hinton 203; Tom Owen 522 (at the request of Robert Vaughn); Abi Curran and Adeline Howard 146; Diane Ross 183; Troxel Ballou 268t; Cheryl Foreman 552; Matt Hinton 131b; Scott Ivey 515; Rodney Ivey and Cassie Allen 559. The officers led 527 as the closing song, and prayer was offered by Rev. Owen Ross.

Sunday, May 30

The Sunday session of the Southwest Texas Sacred Harp Convention and Curtis K. Owen Memorial began with Chairman Tom Owen leading 48t, followed by prayer offered by Matt Hinton. Tom read the preamble written when the Southwest Texas Sacred Harp Convention was organized in 1900. He led 49t, followed by Vice Chairman Riley Owen leading 68t. Leaders: Bruce Coates 587; Beverly Coates 511b; Zach Rogan 220; Kristie Powell 514; Seth Howard 395b; Matt Hinton 183; Vivian Rogan 215; Abi Curran 571; Jeb Owen 567; Findley Ross 40; Lynette Howard 393; Patrick Curran 388; Ellee Curran 319; Liz Owen 216; Addison Bowles 75; Ellen Ray 199; Ainslie Allen 112; Ryan Ross 137; Eli Hinton 299; Kayleigh Moseley 67.

RECESS

Riley Owen began this session leading 32t. Leaders: Sonny Huckaby 35; Mike Hinton 400; Diane Ross 140; Scott Ivey and Jeb Owen 138t; Bridget Jamison 273; Lauren Owen 463; Silas Huckaby 482; Cassie Allen 355; Owen Ross 384.

The memorial committee presented the memorial lesson. Sarah Huckaby read the following names of the sick and homebound: Gary Rogan, Leon Ballinger, Coy Ivey, Norma Green, and Lucy Heidorn. She led 380t for them.

Amanda Bowles read the following list of names of the deceased: Elder C.B. Anderson, Lorraine McFarland, Leola Love Perry, Burl Russell, Sonny Erwin, John Beard, Dorothy Price, Mac Hargrove, Marilyn Burkland, Myrl Jones, Margaret Rounsavall, Bob McLemore, Gloria Berendzen, Curtis Owen, Patricia Blevins, Dale Redmon, Jr., Margret Rowell, Tom Roberson, Max Berendzen, Floyd Nicholson, Lee Huckaby—Texas; Bill Stewart, Jerry Capps, Bill Windom, Margaret Spurlock, Velton Chafin, Mary Ruth Stiefel, Jewel Wootten, Faye Jones, and Ken Sundberg—Alabama; Bentley McGuire, Richard Delong, Rodney McBride—Georgia. In their memory, Amanda led “China” (page 232 in the Good Old Songs). Ryan Ross read Psalm 121 and added comments about the recent pandemic and its effect on singings. He, Amanda and Sarah led 442t, their granddad, Curtis Owen’s favorite song. Ryan closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Cheryl Foreman 478; Rodney Ivey 465; Anna Hinton 182; Abby Huckaby 99; Jackson Owen 212; John Berendzen 511t; Erica Hinton 324; Daniel Allcock 168; Catherine Rogan 392; Donald Ross 402. Prayer for the noon meal was offered by Elder Mike Moseley.

LUNCH

Tom Owen opened the afternoon session leading 179. Leaders: Gaylon Powell 240; Janie Short 464; Mike Moseley 144; Lottie Hinton 276; Cheyenne Ivey 98; Rick Foreman 117; Tammy Powell 558; John Baker 239; Scott Curran 192; Amanda Bowles 285t; Michele Curran 210; Greg Bowles 81; Matt Hinton 65; Ellen Ray 381t; Findley Ross 203; Cassie Allen 86; Scott Ivey 563; Erica Hinton 108t; Ryan Ross 404; Ainslie Allen 186; Mike Hinton 61; Cheryl Foreman 575; Rodney Ivey 414; Kayleigh Moseley 96; John Berendzen 444t; Bridget Jamison 441; Daniel Allcock 142; Diane Ross 434; Donald Ross 591. Announcements were made. The officers led Blissful Hope (page 6 in the Good Old Songs) as the closing song. The closing prayer was offered by Elder Sonny Huckaby, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Tom Owen; Vice Chairman—Riley Owen; Secretaries/Arranging Committee—Bruce Coates and Beverly Coates