Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, March 25

The 59th session of the Georgia State Sacred Harp Convention was held at Emmaus Primitive Baptist Church, south of Carrollton, Georgia, on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in March. Michael Spencer called the class to order at 10:00 a.m. leading 59. The opening prayer was offered by Bill DuPre. Michael Spencer welcomed the class and mentioned that the last Georgia State Convention was held in 2019 in Athens, Georgia. The covid-=19 virus prevented the convention from being held during the years 2020 through 2022.

Leaders: Michael Spencer 420; Kathy Williams 49t; Donna Garner Bell 225t; Anna Hinton 182; John Plunket 319; Nathan Rees 64; Denny Rogers 318; Glenda Collins and Hollis 32t; Winfred Kerr 36b; Jeannette DePoy 475; Karen Rollins 171; David Smead 76b (in memory of George Burnette, III); Judy Chambless 29t; Oscar McGuire 515; Bert Collins 542; Sheri Taylor 162; Charles Woods 283; Lisa Bennett 472 (for Hannah Land); Scott DePoy 201 (for Cindy Preece and Lynn Hanna); Cecil Roberts 312b; Robert Chambless 34b; Judy Mincey 473.

RECESS

Kathy Williams brought the class to order leading 222. Leaders: Cathy Bonk 159; Matt Hinton 39t; Gail Doss 66; Pam Nunn 411.

A business session was held, and the following officers elected: Chairman—Kathy Williams; Vice Chairman—Matt Hinton; Secretary/Treasurer—Donna Garner Bell. Anna Hinton was appointed to Arrange.

Leaders: Kathy Williams 208; Bill DuPre 448t; Thomas Begley 313t; Dave Farmer 454; Wyatt Denney 38b; Cassie Allen 214; Reba Windom 176b; Rodney Ivey 176t; Fred Eady 178.

Kathy Williams announced the following committee assignments: Memorial Committee—Jeannette DePoy and Scott DePoy; Finance Committee—Oscar McGuire and Cecil Roberts; Locating Committee—John Plunkett and Faye Holbrook; Resolutions Committee—Nathan Rees and Erica Hinton; Chaplain—Saturday—Dave Farmer; Chaplain—Sunday—Bill DuPre.

John Plunkett thanked the Philip Denney Family for allowing the Georgia State Convention to continue to be held at Emmaus Primitive Baptist Church considering Philip’s recent passing. John expressed gratefulness on behalf of the singers to have such a fantastic place to sing. The Georgia State Convention is a singing that moves to various locations. John said the singing could move to North Fulton County next year, but it has not been confirmed yet.

Leaders: Barbara Brooks 410t; Jacob Acton 457. Dave Farmer offered the blessing of the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session of singing began with Matt Hinton leading 327. Leaders: Jeannette DePoy 328; Gail Doss 512; Pam Nunn 507; Oscar McGuire and Cassie Allen 485; Judy Mincey 191; Thomas Begley 228; Dave Farmer 455; Karen Rollins and Denny Rogers 540; Cassie Allen 272; Glenda Collins and Bert Collins 445 (in memory of Ann Simpson); Rodney Ivey 87; Sheri Taylor 183; Reba Windom 418 (for Nate and Norma Green); Bill Denney and granddaughters 73t; Winfred Kerr 314; Nathan Rees 217; Barbara Brooks 385b; Scott DePoy 179; Bill DuPre 74b; Lisa Bennett 388 (in memory of Ann Simpson); Michael Spencer 393; David Smead 392 (for Hannah Land); Cathy Bonk 349; John Plunkett 120; Cecil Roberts 285t.

Kathy Williams thanked everyone for coming. Announcements were made. Kathy Williams led 46 as the closing song. Dave Farmer offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, March 26

The Sunday session of the Georgia State Convention convened with Kathy Williams leading 47t. Bill DuPre offered the opening prayer. Leaders: Matt Hinton 42; Donna Garner Bell 52t; Karen Rollins 153 (in memory of her grandfather, who was clerk of Emmaus Primitive Baptist Church in 1906); Lisa Bennett 217; Jeannette DePoy 111b; Nathan Rees 157; Michael Spencer 386; Helen Bryson 176b; John Plunkett 175; Erica Hinton 37b; Winfred Kerr 146; Sheri Taylor 280; Jesse P. Karlsberg 185; Bill DuPre 195; Judy Mincey 538; Oscar McGuire 530 (in memory of E.C. Bowman); David Smead 517; Thomas Begley 275t; Lucey Rose Karlsberg 196; Judy Chambless 340 (in honor of Gayle Denney); Susan Cherones 349.

RECESS

Rodney Ivey brought the class together leading 89. Leaders: Lauren Bock 498; Cassie Allen 316; Phillip Langley 430; Tammy Heinsohn 155; Rodney Ivey 389; Sasha Hsuczyk 227; Danny Creel 269; Ken Tate 475; Riley McKibbin 46; Kristofer Ilex 129; Lisa Webb 200; Elene Stovall 500; Don Bowen 283; Christian Webb 547; Maddy Mullany 573; Reba Windom 216.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Jeannette and Scott DePoy. Jeannette began, “Who would have thought in 2019 that it would be 2023 before we would meet again?” She mentioned things we can do for someone on the sick and shut-ins list such as write them a letter and tell them about the singing or ask what song they would like sung for them. Jeannette spoke about attending the funeral of a friend recently where the minister in his eulogy told the story of a lamplighter who walked the streets each night and lit each individual lamp one by one. A little five-year-old boy stares out the window watching. One night the little boy’s dad asked, “Son, what are you doing?” The little boy says, “I’m watching the man punching holes in the darkness.” Jeannette said she wanted to be that person who cracks the light open for someone on this list. The sick and shut-ins honored were Cathy White, Jean Toole, Lucy Garner, Clay Kierbow, Margie Smith, Mary Crowder, Henry Guthery, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Cindy Preece, Lynn Hanna, Mary Ellen Wilkerson, and Hannah Land. Thomas Begley led 330b for the sick and shut-ins.

Scott DePoy read from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, “Oh Lord, support us all the day long until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and a peace at the last.” Scott said, “When I think of people that are on this list they are at peace at the end and yet we that are left here still feel the sting of loss whether it has been a day, a week, or three years. I look around this room and in my mind’s eye I can see people on this list. I can see Philip Denney running around; I can see Charlene Wallace unloading (someone shouts Carmel Cake) food—they are gone but we carry on. I drove up yesterday and saw Michael Spencer running around making sure coffee was made; Kathy Williams unloading food. We carry on because that is what the Sacred Harp community does.” Scott stated that one of his favorite lines of Sacred Harp contains the words “and when from death I’m free I’ll sing on”. “Sing on y’all.” The list of names on the deceased list is prodigious. It contains names for the past three years. Those remembered were Philip Denney, Eula Webb, Virginia Dyer, George Burnette III, Jacque Phillips, Susan Brand Roberts, Robert “Robby” Rivers, Charlene Wallace, Edna Garst, Bentley McGuire, Richard L. DeLong, David Grant, Mildred Patterson, Harry Eskew, Mary Lee, Tom Hanson, Mack Langley, Kay Langley, Eris Denney Muse, Irene Kerr Snow Leigh DuPre—Georgia; Hubert Nall, Marlon Wootten, Ann Simpson, Roy Nelson, Jane Tate, Ruth Daniel, Ottis Sides, John Earle Beasley, Martha Joyce Norris Hubbert, Wilda M. Holmes, Mildred Ruth Wyers, Bill Windom, Margaret Barfield Spurlock, Velton Chafin, Johnnie Chafin, Jewel Wootten, Geraldine Sheppard Rice, Kenneth Sundberg, Helen Louise Parker Price, Jeremiah Lance Phillips, Jerry Capps, Eunice Kimbrell, Renae Markis, Coy Ivey, Boyd Scott, J.L. Hopper, Lois Kerr Bowman, Joan Aldridge, Juanita Beasley, Edna Graves—Alabama; Gayle Cowart—Arkansas; Stephen O’Leary—California; Katheryn Bowers—Colorado; Thomas Aubrey Barfield, Sue Bunch—Florida; Ted Mercer, Karen Hajnacki—Illinois; Tierre Quantrell Williams—Kentucky; Dorothy Crawford Conner, Peter Golden—Maine; Roy Monroe Davis—Mississippi; Mary Chrestman, Bill Beverly—Michigan; Lydia Lewallen, Ruth Partain—North Carolina; Cheryl Foreman, Claude M. “Sonny” Erwin III, Myrl Smith Jones, Curtis Owen, Landis Powell—Texas; Mary Wright—Virginia; Dave Cooper and Rebecca Over—United Kingdom. Eli Hinton led 122 for the many deceased remembered. Bill DuPre closed the memorial lesson with prayer. Bill DuPre blessed the noon meal at the tables.

LUNCH

The final session of singing began with Matt Hinton leading 48t. Leaders: Erica Hinton 324; Danny Creel 314; Maddy Mullany 294; Thomas Begley and Barbara Ramey 292; Lottie Hinton 47b; Reba Windom and Rodney Ivey 384; Nathan Rees 464; Lauren Bock 477; Wyatt Denney and Weston Denney 383; Kari Stofer Ilex 215; Don Bowen 39t; Dan Edwards 148; Elene Stovall 30b; Daniel Lee 489; Fred Eady 178; Sasha Hsuczyk 542; Scott DePoy 277; Jesse P. Karlsberg 402; Ken Tate 399b; Lottie Hinton 472; Cassie Allen 435; Susan Cherones, Jim, and Emily 500 (in memory of Philip Denney).

The convention went into a business session to hear the committee reports. Nathan Rees and Erica Hinton, Resolutions Committee, gave the following resolution: We, the 59th session of the Georgia State Convention, resolve to thank God for bringing us together in union and harmony.

We resolve to remember the founders of this convention and those who have sustained and supported it for decades since. We especially thank the Denney family and their dedication to this singing over the years. We resolve to thank all those that have brought food and to those who have served as officers and on committees—who have kept the singing running smoothly.

We give thanks for this opportunity to reconvene after three years and pray that this absence will continually remind us of God’s graciousness in providing us this gift of singing together. We resolve to meet again Lord willing in 2024. Donna Garner Bell gave the finance report stating that all expenses had been met and thanked everyone for their contributions. Anna Hinton, Arranging Committee, stated that the convention had eighty-seven leaders during the convention. John Plunket and Fay Holbrook, Locating Committee, announced that the convention could move to North Fulton County next year, but it has not been confirmed. A motion was made and carried to accept the reports as read and to be added to the convention minutes.

Announcements were made. Kathy Williams led 62 as the closing song, while those who wished took the parting hand. Bill DuPre offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Kathy Williams; Vice Chairman—Matt Hinton; Secretary—Donna Garner Bell; Assistant Secretary—Karen Rollins