Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The Rogers Memorial Sacred Harp singing was held at Ephesus Elementary School on the first Sunday in March. Denney Rogers called the class to order at 10:00 a.m. by leading 47t. The opening prayer was led by Cecil Roberts. Scott Ivey led 134. Karen Rollins led 46. A business session was held, and the same officers were reelected. Judy Chambless was chosen as Arranger. Mayor Denney Rogers welcomed the singers to Ephesus.

Leaders: Judy Chambless 37t; Lee Denney 45t; Winfred Kerr 36b; Kacey Cook 84; Abigail Cannon 31b; Bill DuPre 512; Donna Bell 40; Erica Hinton 105; Robert Chambless 225t; Judy Mincey 311; Buell Cobb 71; Sherry Lovvorn 454; Donna Wootten 56t; David Smead 103; Bridge Kennedy 82t; Cassie Allen 53; Jack Nelson 518.

RECESS

Scott Ivey called the class back together by leading 136. Leaders: Blake Sisemore 556; Elene Stovall 99; Glenda Collins 76b.

The memorial lesson was then held. Karen Rollins talked about how singing and music binds our group together and that we would likely not have known each other without our shape-note music. She quoted Willie Nelson. Then, with the assistance of her siblings (Paige Harrod, Sherry Lovvorn, and Denney Rogers), she led 119 for the lesson. The list of names of the sick and shut-ins were as follows: Judy Henry, Beverly Rollins Thompson, Karleen Williams, Lucy Garner, Nora Parker, Margaret Thacker, Ed Thacker, Earl Ballinger, William Futral, Virginia Futral, Barry Rollins, Henry Guthery, Lucy Hiedorn, Nate Green, Liz Patton, and Jacob Breedlove.

The list names of the deceased included the following: Newman Denney, Kay Denney Hubbard, Gwen Caldwell, Wilma and Gary Brandenburg, David Griffin, Jimmy Pollard, Peggy McCormick, Will Hardin, George Burnette, Cathy White, and Ted Huddleston—Georgia; Richard Mauldin, Marlon Wootten, Jerry Kitchens, Norma Green, Pearl Guier, Tommy Spurlock, Elder Sydney Louis Culver, Bill Tyson, Clyde Avery, Hubert Nall, and Boyd Scott—Alabama; P. Dan Brittain, Lloyd Caldwell, and Mary Ellen Wilkinson—Arkansas; Cheryl Foreman—Texas; Scott Swanton and David Wilson—North Carolina; Charlotte Ehrman—New York; Melanie Hauff—Illinois; Eva Striebeck—Germany.

Leaders: Wyatt Denney 39t; Kathy Williams 191; Sarah George 421; Rodney Ivey 298; Joe Lovvorn and Susan Rice 143; Karis Askin 300; Nathan Rees 348b; Shane Wootten 97; Judy Caudle 183; Cecil Roberts 491; Stanley Smith 104. Shane Wootten asked the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Denney Rogers leading 345t. Leaders: Tom George 172; Kathy Williams 472 (for Dan Akin and Lisa Akin Wilson, who were present); Lisa Bennett 534; Gene Duke and Donna Duke 217; Anna Hinton 182; Nicholas Thompson 269 (in memory of Shelbie Sheppard and B.M. Smith); Rogers grandchildren (Beverly Thompson, Randa Harris, Kayla McWhorter, Laura Robinson, and Joe Lovvorn) 268; Cheyenne Ivey 222; Bert Collins 542; Matt Hinton 389; John Plunkett 224; Shane Brown 440; Barbara Brooks 274b; Stanley Smith and Judy Caudle 430 (in memory of Tommie Spurlock); Abigail Cannon 500; Judy Mincey 468; Elene Stovall 30b; Sarah George 447; Shane Wootten and Donna Wootten 270; Jack Nelson 399b; Lisa Bennett, David Smead, and Kathy Williams 273 (in memory of Louise Holland); Cassie Allen and Nathan Rees 475; Bridge Kennedy and Blake Sisemore 411; Shane Brown and Cheyenne Ivey 313t; Matt Hinton, Erica Hinton, and Anna Hinton 112; Nicholas Thompson and Elene Stovall 316. Announcements were made. Denney Rogers and Karen Rollins led 373, and Judy Chambless closed the singing in prayer.

Chairman—Denney Rogers; Vice Chairman—Scott Ivey; Secretary—Karen Rollins