Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 43rd annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing, which is hosted by the Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers (AASHS) was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Ron Pen, who also offered prayer. Song selections were from The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition and The Southern Harmony.

Leaders: Ron Pen 73b; Nicholas Thompson 112; Levi Trumbore 186; Randy Webber 322 (SoH); Mary Brinkman 178; Don Waggener 58; Peter Trumbore 300; Inga Buckland 319; Adrian Eldridge 400; Derek Buckland 348t; Amy Pemberton 59; Tim Morton 101t; Fr Philaret Farley 455; Judy Taylor 457; Tom Morton 49b; Greg Creech 33b; Bill McNiece 70t; Ray Rechenberg 40; Darrell Lahm 551.

RECESS

The session was reconvened by Ron Pen. Leaders: Barbara Lehr 448t; Donna Kwon 547; Tom George 311; Sarah George 373; Tim Gregg 59 (SoH); Alana Boltz 504; Joy Dunn 84; Laura Lee Earles 569b; Rachael Geary 318; Alex Forsyth 460; Dariya Simpkins 16 (SoH); Charles Coulston 344; Ron Pen 146.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Randy Webber. He explained how the memorial lesson works and what it included, then asked if there were any names that should be added to the sick and shut-ins list. Amy Pemberton led 159 in honor of her father, Robert Pemberton. Her mother also lost power during the recent storms (her mother is his primary caretaker.) Ray Rechenberg led 285t in honor of Ed Walton, a singer from the Cincinnati group. He told us about the shape note singings they attended together, and how Ed had had a stroke while driving back from San Antonio and had run into a pole. Don Waggener led 196 in honor of his brother, Tom Waggener, who sang in the Benton singing for over seventy years. Tom had Parkinson’s and was described as fading.

Derek Buckland started the memorial list by leading 267 in memory of Rob Mahoney. Mahoney was a surveyor and shape note singer who Buckland knew in London, known for his kindness and high professional standards. Buckland stated that he (Mahoney) was a strong Methodist and would sometimes quote John Wesley as saying “Live every day as if the last.” Nicholas Thompson led 439 in memory of Earl Ballinger, who was a singer in the Alabama group. He recounted driving fourteen hours with Ballinger to get to the Texas State Singing in San Antonio and mentioned that Ballinger was married to his late wife for fifty years. Inga Buckland requested memorializing Buell Cobb. Don Waggener memorialized Evelyn Kemper, a friend of his wife who attended school with her, by singing 58.

Randy memorialized Buell Cobb, who he met at the National Convention in Alabama. He recounted how they met at a large disciples church, and that the National Convention was a very expensive endeavor. Cobb managed the money for the convention in a personal but separate account. After the National Convention ended, he gave the money back to the organization. Cobb died this past April 26th, and Webber stated that he was a talented singer who wrote two books on shape note singing. Several people from the Alabama group said that he was also known as “Bugle Cobb” because of his treble voice. He later became a bass. Ron Pen discussed the importance of Cobb’s two books on shape note, one of which was Like Cords Around My Heart, an oral history of shape note singing. Laura Lee Earles mentioned Cobb’s kindness and welcoming nature. Alana Boltz said that Cobb wrote one of the books she cited in the college research paper that was her first introduction to shape note singing. The class sang [313b-1991-1991] (Cobb) in memory of Buell. Randy Webber gave some concluding thoughts, including discussing black funeral traditions and the idea of having a repast where one could consider the next steps after the estate planning. He also quoted a non-shape note song by A.P. Carter and concluded by leading 236. Fr Farley offered the blessing before lunch.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Tim Gregg. Leaders: Ray Rechenberg 148; Michele Cull 515 (in honor of her mother, who was in memory care); Amy Pemberton 117; Alana Boltz 135; Levi Trumbore 82t; Don Waggener 183; Leesa Eason 45t; Joy Dunn 543; Tim Binkley 133; Fr Philaret Farley 209; Bill McNiece 163b; Tim Morton 181 (in honor of his father, who will be eighty years old in August); Judy Taylor 312b; Randy Webber 19t (SoH); Tom Morton 496; Inga Buckland 544; Greg Creech 74b; Dariya Simpkins 39t (SoH); Derek Buckland 341; Peter Trumbore 76b. Announcements were made.

RECESS

Leaders: Adrian Eldridge 550; Barbara Lehr 270; Darrell Lahm 354b; Rachael Geary 271t; Tom George 416; Alex Forsyth 326; Sarah George 428; Nicholas Thompson 411; Tim Morton 69b.

Ron Pen led 267 as the singers shared the parting hand. Randy Webber gave the closing prayer at 2:35 p.m.

Chairman—Ron Pen; Secretary—Alana Boltz