Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, October 29

The 152nd session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held at the Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia, on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in October. The class was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Faye Holbrook leading 49t. Oscar McGuire offered the opening prayer. Helen Bryson conducted the introductory lesson. She asked that we remember the following singers from the area that worked tirelessly to keep this convention going over the years: Hazel and Kimsey Cagle, Hoyt and Mary Lou Cagle, Velma Johnson, Leola Wright, Daniel Hudson, Loy and Dorothy Garrison, Dolly Hudgins, Aunt Eva Reeves, Jack Corley, Richard DeLong, Horace and Doris DeLong, Violet Thomason. She led the following introductory lesson: 77b, 494, 182, 105, 225b.

Leaders: Kathy Smith 159; Lisa Bennett 378b; Judy Mincey 311; Stefani Priskos 48t; Jerusha Wheeler 133; Don Bowen 59; Bill Dupre 101t; Jesse Roberts 297; David Smead 223; Oscar McGuire 34b; Faye Holbrook 111b.

A business session was held and the following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Faye Holbrook; Vice Chairman—David Smead; Secretary/Treasurer—Helen Bryson; Chaplains—Jesse Roberts and Faye Holbrook; Arranging Committee—Faye Holbrook; Memorial Committee—John Plunkett; Locating Committee—Oscar McGuire and John Plunkett; Finance Committee—Helen Bryson; Resolutions Committee—Lisa Bennett.

RECESS

Helen Bryson called the class to order by leading 101b. Leaders: Kathy Smith 277; Lisa Bennett 345b; Judy Mincey 501; Allie Dudley 30b; Stefani Priskos 131b; Paige Davis and Stefani Priskos 29b; Jerusha Wheeler 99; Don Bowen 39b (for Ed and Margaret Thacker); Bill Dupre 383; Jesse Roberts 107; David Smead 81b; Oscar McGuire 171. Jesse Roberts offered the lunch blessing.

LUNCH

David Smead called the class to order leading 289. Leaders: Helen Bryson 522; Kathy Smith 300; Lisa Bennett 332; Judy Mincey 540; Allie Dudley 209; Stefani Priskos 208; Jerusha Wheeler and Paige Davis 142; Don Bowen 549; Bill Dupre 472; Jesse Roberts 203; David Smead 198; Oscar McGuire and Sara Lilly 276; Faye Holbrook 455; Helen Bryson 313b; Kathy Smith 47b; Lisa Bennett 473; Judy Mincey 464; Allie Dudley 282; Stefani Priskos 375; Jerusha Wheeler 191; Don Bowen 56t; Bill Dupre 49b; Jesse Roberts 163t; David Smead 175; Oscar McGuire 515; Faye Holbrook 542. Announcements were made. Faye Holbrook led 69t as the closing song. Jesse Roberts offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, October 30

Faye Holbrook called the class to order leading 59 and 67. She then offered the morning prayer. Leaders: David Smead 28t, 152; Helen Bryson 38b, 91; Jeannette Depoy 501, 148; Lisa Bennett 204, 512; John Plunkett 494, 465; Oscar McGuire 283, 163b; Cathy Bonk 277, 288; Jesse Karlsberg 122, 111t; Lucy Rose Karlsberg 196.

RECESS

Faye Holbrook called the class to order by leading 290. Leaders: David Smead 184; Helen Bryson 492; Jeannette DePoy 300; Lisa Bennett 38t; John Plunkett 54; Oscar McGuire 441; Matt Hinton 168, 162, 77t; Jesse Karlsberg 450; Cathy Bonk 475; Erica Hinton 464, 108t. Faye Holbrook offered the lunch blessing.

LUNCH

David Smead called the class to order leading 424. Helen Bryson led 299.

The memorial lesson was conducted by John Plunkett. The names of the deceased are as follows: Richard DeLong, Harry Eskew, David Grant, Agnes Todd, Susan Roberts—Georgia; Rebecca Over—United Kingdom; Ted Mercer—Illinois; Sue Bunch—Florida; J.L. Hopper, Bill Windom, Kathleen Robbins—Alabama. John Plunkett led 459. The sick and shut-ins list is as follows: Jack Paulk, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Virginia Dyer, Philip Denney, Cecil Roberts, and Mary Ellen Wilkinson. John Plunkett led 32b. Matt Hinton closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Lisa Bennett 27; Erica Hinton 138t; Jerusha Wheeler 146, 85; Jesse Roberts 142, 178; Oscar McGuire 344; Matt Hinton 430; Jesse Karlsberg 209; Cathy Bonk 117; Judy Mincey 474, 538; Faye Holbrook 318; David Smead 484; Helen Bryson 569b; John Plunkett 394; Lisa Bennett 461; Judy Mincey 504; Erica Hinton 111b; Jerusha Wheeler 110; Jesse Roberts 155; Oscar McGuire 229; Matt Hinton 36b; Jesse Karlsberg 45b; Cathy Bonk 131b; Faye Holbrook 112; Laura Patterson and Jesse Karlsberg 198.

The convention entered into a business session for the purpose of hearing reports. Lisa Bennett of the Resolutions Committee reported the following: We, the singers and members of the 152nd session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention thank God for the many blessings he has given to us. We are filled with gratitude for Sacred Harp, for the joy of singing and for the opportunity for fellowship with friends from near and far. We give thanks for all those singers who have gone before us and those who have kept this tradition alive and growing. We thank all the singers who participated and joined us in the fellowship. We are grateful to all whose work made for a wonderful weekend of singing. We are thankful to the congregation of Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church for hosting us. We resolve to meet on the fifth Sunday and Saturday before in October, 2023, for the 153rd session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention at a location to be determined. The Treasurer reported that the convention expenses were met. The locating committee reported that the following venues are being considered for the 2023 convention: The Alpharetta Municipal Building and The Sweetwater Chapel. Final determination will occur next week. The reports were approved, and the business session was closed. Announcements were made.

Faye Holbook led 45t as the closing song. Jesse Roberts offered the closing prayer.

Chairman—Faye Holbrook; Vice Chairman—David Smead; Secretary/Treasurer—Helen Bryson