Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 2nd session of the Valdosta All-Day Singing met at the Lanier County Union “Burnt” Church on Saturday before the second Sunday in October. The class was called to order by José Camacho-Cerna leading 55. John Crowley offered the opening prayer.

Leaders: José Camacho-Cerna 32t; Kevin Juarez 159; Will Johnson 63; Maygan Barker 135; Gail Doss 107; Judy Mincey 50b; Shawn Taylor 523; Nathan Calvert 244; Vik Slen 66; Andy Ditzler 50t; David Brodeur 460; Morgan Bunch 544; Rachel Speer 256; Dorothea Maynard 442; Jane Cannon 484t; Shannon Primm 83t; Basil Blake 192.

RECESS

José Camacho-Cerna led 105 to bring the class together. Recognition for the Eagle Scouts’ work on the church’s renovation followed the call-back song. Leaders: Erick Rubio and José Camacho-Cerna 47t; Danarieza Villa 126; Anna Strickland 29t; Beverly Dayton 452t; Will Johnson 163b; Maygan Barker 45t.

The memorial lesson was conducted by John Crowley. John, as the last living member and clerk of the Union “Burnt” Church, read the church constitution, established on October 1, 1825. The following names were on the sick and shut-ins list: John Hollingsworth, Elsie Hollingsworth, Steve Taylor, Jody Calvert, Anna Maria Schaer, and David Boyd. The following names were on the memorial of the deceased list: Raymond Hickox, Alice Morrill Bejnar, W.N. Redding, Esther Redding, J.G. Crowley, Lillian Crowley, Cathy Newsome Douglas, Mike Hinton, and Buell Cobb. José Camacho-Cerna led 381 to close out the memorial lesson.

Kevin Juarez led 457. Leaders: Gail Doss 222; Judy Mincey 223; Shawn Taylor 118; Nathan Calvert 417; Vik Slen 479; Andy Ditzler 476; David Brodeur 94; Morgan Bunch 503; Rachel Speer 255; Dorothea Maynard and José Camacho-Cerna 487; Jane Cannon 546; Shannon Primm 99; Basil Blake 547; Anna Strickland 311; Beverly Dayton 504; Danarieza Villa 300; Erick Rubio and José Camacho-Cerna 106; José Camacho-Cerna 318. John Crowley asked a blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Kevin Juarez leading 354b. Leaders: Danarieza Villa 203; Beverly Dayton 49t; Jane Cannon 515; Shawn Taylor 41; Rachel Speer 367; David Brodeur 197; Gail Doss and Dorothea Maynard 196; Will Johnson 334; Basil Blake 84; Vik Slen 236; Anna Strickland 274t; Maygan Barker 128; Dorothea Maynard 478; Nathan Calvert 171; Shannon Primm 497b; Andy Ditzler 78; Judy Mincey 561; Morgan Bunch 500; Erick Rubio 122.

RECESS

Rachel Speer led 81t to bring the class together for the final session. Leaders: Andy Ditzler 256; Dorothea Maynard and Andy Ditzler 516; Basil Blake 472; Shannon Primm 112; Shawn Taylor 27b; Jane Cannon 64; Vik Slen 95; Rachel Speer 528 (for Beverly Dayton); David Brodeur 534; Morgan Bunch and Marja Millard 420t; Maygan Barker 452b; Judy Mincey 502; Will Johnson 312b; Gail Doss and Jeronimo Rico 191; Nathan Calvert 43; Kevin Juarez 30t. Announcements were made. Co-chair Kevin Juarez gave the secretary’s report stating that twenty-one leaders representing three states led eighty-three songs with a crowd of fifty-six attendees.

José Camacho-Cerna led 62 as the closing song. The class was dismissed with prayer offered by John Crowley.

Chair—José Camacho-Cerna; Vice Chair—Kevin Juarez