Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 106th session of the South Georgia Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held on Saturday before the first Sunday in October at the Civic Center in Roberta, Georgia. President Bill DuPre called the class to order leading 34b. Elder Chris Robinson gave the opening prayer.

Leaders: Bill DuPre 32t; Jesse P. Karlsberg 31t, 27b; Oscar McGuire 229, 535; Chris Robinson 27t, 29b; Steven Taylor 86, 87; Tor Bejnar 163b, 178t.

RECESS

Shawn Taylor brought the class back to order leading 129. Leaders: Hattie Karlsberg 421; Rose Watson 347b, 503; Sandra Wilkinson 523, 274t; Laura Wood 461, 162.

The class entered into a business session in which the following officers were elected to serve: President—John Plunkett; Vice President—Sheri Taylor; Secretary-Treasurers—Jesse P. Karlsberg and Lauren Bock; Chaplain—Elder Chris Robinson. The new officers’ terms begin with the close of the convention. The class approved a resolution congratulating the Revision-Music Committee and the Sacred Harp Publishing Company for the success of the new Sacred Harp: 2025 Edition and the debut singing held at the United Sacred Harp Musical Association, which was the greatest and largest singing in our lifetime. The class reviewed the list of singings for 2025 and confirmed the list for 2026. Jesse P. Karlsberg presented the Treasurer’s Report for 2024-2025, which the class approved. The business session was closed.

Leaders: Faye Hollis 155, 340; Sheri Taylor 126, 56b; Carol Hanson 186 (for Elsie Hollingsworth); Shawn Taylor 357, 28b. Chris Robinson offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

Bill DuPre opened the afternoon session leading 56t. Leaders: Lilly Hooks 354b, 445; Mary Brownlee and John Brownlee 163t, 47b.

Bill DuPre and Oscar McGuire led the memorial lesson. Oscar spoke about Mike Hinton and Buell Cobb, noting Buell’s authorship of two books about Sacred Harp singing and recounting a singing at Holly Springs where Buell’s treble voice—a sound like a bell—caused the volume meter of a portable tape recorder to stick whenever it hit the loudest position. Oscar also spoke of Mike’s service as President of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company and his Denson family’s legacy. Bill read the poetry of “The Old Graveyard”, noting that we are united in singing and also in death and that we hope to be united again in the heavenly host where we can sing together again. Despite our differences, we have a lot in common, and our shared experience of death can help us understand this. The deceased remembered were Buell Cobb—Alabama; Alice Bejnar—Florida; Mike Hinton—Texas. The sick and shut-ins recognized were John Hollingsworth, Elsie Hollingsworth, Bill Hollingsworth, Angela Hollingsworth, Susan Ford, Jack Nelson, and Henry Johnson. Bill DuPre led 130 and closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

Leaders: Jesse P. Karlsberg 570; Steven Taylor 36b; Tor Bejnar 99; Chris Robinson 39t; Laura Wood 45t; Faye Hollis 318; Sheri Taylor 574; Shawn Taylor 437; Oscar McGuire and Barbara McGee 159; Lilly Hooks 569t.

President Bill DuPre took announcements of upcoming singings. Rose Watson and Lilly Hooks led 347t as the closing song as the class took the parting hand. Chris Robinson gave the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

President—John Plunkett; Vice President—Sheri Taylor; Secretary-Treasurers—Jesse P. Karlsberg and Lauren Bock