Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Thursday, June 15

The 42nd session of the National Sacred Harp Convention was held on Thursday and Friday before the third Sunday in June. The class was called to order by Glenn Keeton leading 59. Randy Weber offered the opening prayer. The group was welcomed by Larry Holcomb, Mayor of Fultondale.

Leaders: Glenn Keeton 36b; Buell Cobb 52t; Dorothea Maynard 373, 30t. A business meeting was held and the following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Glenn Keeton; Vice Chairman—Buell Cobb; Secretary—Dorothea Maynard; Arranging Committee—Nicholas Thompson and Tom Booth. The business meeting was closed.

Leaders: Tom Booth 460, 309; Nicholas Thompson 129, 482; Mark Davis 65, 440; Emily Stutzman 179, 153; Robert Chambless 75, 77b; Linda Booth 110, 481; Nathaniel Brown 178, 377.

RECESS

Buell Cobb led 52b to bring the class back together. Leaders: Warren Steel 185, 211; Carolyn Thompson 280, 53; David Ivey 210, 271t; Karen Rollins and Denny Rogers 225t, 222; Marlin Beasley 99, 144; Judy Chambless 318, 454; Elene Stovall 411, 564; Sarah Beasley 340, 354b; Julia Zaffarano 430, 215; Randy Weber 236, 107; Emily Stutzman and Nadia Bolz-Weber 361, 277; Nathaniel Brown 66, 128; Warren Steel 126, 157. Marlin Beasley offered the prayer for lunch.

LUNCH

The class was brought back to order by Glenn Keeton leading 159. Leaders: Bea Aaron 441, 438; Mark Davis 371, 198; Becky Briggs 384, 388; Karen Rollins and Denny Rogers 120; Nathaniel Brown 117, 35; Nicholas Thompson 217; Julia Zaffarano 216, 106; Emily Stutzman 337; Warren Steel 296, 297; Randy Weber 163b, 195; Beasley family 176t, 146; Glenn Keeton 339; Linda Booth 269, 196. Announcements were made.

Glenn Keeton led 323t as the closing song. Tom Booth dismissed the class with prayer.

Friday, June 16

The Friday session of the National Sacred Harp Convention was called to order by Glenn Keeton leading 32t and 349. Danny Creel offered the morning prayer. Leaders: Mark Davis 448t, 234; Buell Cobb 50t, 32b; Henry Guthery 543; Dorothea Maynard 442, 383; Tom Booth 348b, 480; Beth Branscome 155, 217; Bridge Hill Kennedy 276, 82t; Danny Creel 215, 498; Jack Nelson 399b, 30b; Karen Ivey 208, 569b; Bill Denney 47b, 40; Julia Zaffarano 500, 28b.

RECESS

The class was called to order by Randy Weber leading 87 and 547. Leaders: Linda Thomas and Larry Brasher 47t, 176b; Bea Aaron and Susan Boling 456, 568; Emily Stutzman 167, 45t; Elene Stovall 432, 470.

RECESS

Mark Davis led 101t to bring the class together. Leaders: Butch White 313b, 535; Marlin Beasley 457, 39t; Judy Chambless 29t, 472; Nadia Zaffarano and Julia Zaffarano 178, 277.

Buell Cobb read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Melissa Sparks, Barbara Thompson, Jerry Kitchens, Margaret Keeton, Karleen Williams, Barry Rollins, David Carlton, Ozella Blackmon, Richard Mauldin, Wanda Capps, Cora Jones, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Gaston White, Julia Poston, Darrell Parker, Ernestine Parker, Nate Green, Chita Blakeley, and Jim Darden. Buell led 66 (Gaston’s favorite song) for the sick and shut-ins.

Buell spoke of Hubert Nall being a front man for this singing for so long and giving us a place to sing at the First Christian Church on Valleydale Road for over twenty years. Mark Davis read the following list of names of the deceased: Hubert Nall, Marlon Wootten, Ann Simpson, Boyd Scott, Doug Ivey, Norma Green, Elder J L Hopper, Ellen Brasher Harris, Juanita Beasley, Hazel Brothers, Glenn Conn, Renee’ Makris, Claudene Townson—Alabama; Philip Denney, Virginia Dyer, Cathy White—Georgia; Cheryl Foreman and Charlotte Powell—Texas; Ted Mercer—Illinois; Lydia Lewallen—North Carolina; Solomon Ossa—Oregon, and Brenda Pena—New York. Mark led 345b in memory of the deceased. Butch White closed the memorial service with prayer.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Glenn Keeton leading 270. Leaders: David Ivey 225b, 232; Sharon DuPriest and Bridge Kennedy 546, 212, 269; Sarah Beasley 61, 318; Becky Briggs 400, 313t; Linda Booth 137, 220; Marlin Beasley 336, 512; Karen Ivey and David Ivey 112; Emily Stutzman 436, 100; Warren Steel 213t, 254; Seth Holloway 388; Seth Holloway and Dorothea Maynard 354b; Buell Cobb asked Mark Davis to lead 236 as a longstanding tradition at the National Convention.

A business meeting was held to hear the committee reports. The Resolutions Committee, Dorothea Maynard and Marlin Beasley presented the following report: We thank the officers of the 42nd annual National Convention for their efforts, as well as everyone who brought food, served drinks, set up tables, and cleaned. We especially thank those who traveled near and far to sing songs of praise; without all of you this would not have been possible. We thank the Birmingham Square Dance Association and the City of Fultondale for the use of this building and their help shuttling us to our vehicles. We also recognize Glenn Keeton for his tireless efforts in putting everything together to make this convention possible. Respectfully submitted by Dorothea Maynard and Marlin Beasley.

Buell Cobb gave the financial report, and the business meeting was closed. Julia Zaffarano and Nadia Bolz-Weber led 532. Announcements were made.

Glenn Keeton led 62 as the closing song. Danny Creel offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Glenn Keeton; Vice Chairman—Buell Cobb; Secretary—Dorothea Maynard