Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, November 22

The 124th session of the Alabama Sacred Harp Association convened on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November. The class was called to order by Butch White leading the song on page 196. Tom George offered the opening prayer. Butch White welcomed both singers and visitors.

Leaders: Rodney Ivey 81t; Ainslie Allen 475; Tom George 32t; Nicholas Thompson and Pam Nunn 276 (for Judy and Randy Caudle); David Ivey 50t; Blake Sisemore 516; Reba Windom 36b; Robert Chambless 163b; Cindy Tanner 280; Anna Hinton 430; Wayne Wootten 48t; Meredith Ivey 47b; Bill DuPre 484t; Jeannette DePoy 89; Larry Brasher 385b; Donna Wootten 274t; Everett Ivey 569b; Winfred Kerr 517.

RECESS

Butch White began the second session leading 178t. A business session was held and the following officers and committee members were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chairman—Rebekah Gilmore; Secretary—Ainslie Allen; Chaplain—Sarah George; Arranging Committee—Cindy Tanner; Finance Committee—Pam Nunn, Blake Sisemore, and Alex Forsyth; Resolutions Committee—Tom and Sarah George; Memorial Committee—Abigail Cannon, Cassie Allen; Locating Committee—David Ivey, Shane Wootten.

Leaders: Terry Wootten 378b; Cassie Allen 385t; Bridge Hill Kennedy 82t; David Carlton 130; Andy Ditzler 356; Kelsey Ivey 255; Grace Holleran 499t; Adrian Eldridge 434; Matt Weaver 277; Abigail Cannon 500; Rebekah Gilmore 40; Sarah George 460; Bert Collins 542; Jeremiah Ledbetter 121; Erica Hinton 527.

RECESS

Rodney Ivey led 76b to begin the next session. Leaders: Shane Wootten 420t; Jonathan Wood 501t; Theresa Westmoreland 234; Kathy Williams 318; Daniel Lee 209; Haley Rodgers 59; Peter Trumbore 203; Gillian Inksetter 217; Karen Rollins 347b; Shawn Taylor 257; Paul Figura 469; Michael Thompson 508; Linda Thomas and Larry Brasher 39t. Shane Wootten gave a prayer of blessing for the dinner.

LUNCH

Rebekah Gilmore opened the afternoon session leading the song on page 272. Leaders: Sam Sommers 544; Matt Hinton 470; Maygan Barker and Jonathan Smith 448b; Jonathan Smith 451; Levi Trumbore 228; Robert Handel 563; Susan Lee 507 (led by Andy Ditzler); Richard Ivey 355; Philip Gilmore 183; Shirley Figura 213t; Alex Forsyth 138b; David Brodeur 263; Nathan Rees 116; Judy Mincey 55; Rene Greene 29t; John Gilmore 92; Glenda Collins 105; Shane Brown 379; Elene Stovall 436; Jackie Tanner 42; Michael Rodgers 531; Amy Waksmonski 282; Cheyenne Ivey 222; Christian Houser 176b; Sharon DuPriest 556; Nicholas Thompson 216.

Rodney Ivey, Rebekah Gilmore, and Sarah George 323t as the closing song. Chaplain Sarah George led the closing prayer.

Sunday, November 24

The 2025 Alabama Sacred Harp Musical Association Sunday session was begun by Rodney Ivey leading 171. Sarah George led the opening prayer. Leaders: Rebekah Gilmore 187; Sarah George 37b; Pam Nunn 186; Shane Wootten 219; Blake Sisemore 445; David Ivey 566 (for Randy and Judy Caudle); Alex Forsyth 514; Tom George 161; Caleb Ledbetter 408; Mamie Sisemore 45t; Nicholas Thompson 218; Karen Rollins 334; Robert Handel 68b; Jonathan Smith 80t; Amy Waksmonski 274t; Anna Oliver 421; Stuart Ivey 472; Garrett Morton and Rodney Ivey 299; Judy Mincey 50t; Anna Hinton, James George, and Lottie Hinton 300.

RECESS

Rebekah Gilmore brought the class back to order leading 101t. Leaders: Oscar McGuire 461; Elene Stovall 442; Dolan Wolfe 211; Rene Greene 528; Ken Tate 242; John Plunkett 243; Jamey Wootten 499t; David Brodeur 244; Maygan Barker 223; Sam Somers 386; Paul Figura 27b; Matt Hinton 453.

RECESS

Rodney Ivey led the song on page 170 to begin the session. Leaders: Levi Trumbore and Peter Trumbore 410t; Adrian Eldridge 411; Nathan Rees 258; Gillian Inksetter 570; Theresa Westmoreland 501t; Reba Windom 208; Bridge Hill Kennedy 471; Shawn Taylor 254; Jonathan Wood 518.

The Memorial Lesson was led by Cassie Allen, who stressed how important it is to support those who are unable to attend due to illness. Cards, phone calls, and visits are deeply appreciated. This list includes Darrell Parker, Ernestine Parker, Margaret Keeton, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Joyce Walton, Betty Shepherd, Wanda Capps, Randy Caudle, Judy Caudle, Joyce White, Don Bowen, Anne Drexler, Cornelia Van Den Doel, Karleen Williams, Sherry Lovvorn, Phil Summerlin, Terry Hogg, Jimmie Gilmore, Leon Ballinger, Linton Ballinger, and Nate Green. Cassie led the song on page 123t in their honor.

The names of the deceased were read aloud as follows: Theresa Bethune, Bill Greeson, Jeanene Franklin, Lucy Heidorn, Keith Tolbert, Jeanette Dollar, Deb Morton, Buell Cobb, Peter Amidon, Bob Morris, Tashi Alford, Bryan Thompson, Helen Lambert, Mike Hinton, Pauline Oliver, Greg Garner, Andy Hornsby. Cassie spoke in honor of the deceased, and led 146 in their memory. Shane Wootten offered a prayer for those that have been lost and those who could not attend.

Leaders: Danie Lee 28t; Philip Gilmore 76b; Shirley Figura 229; Jeremiah Ledbetter 558; Kathy Williams 501b.

LUNCH

Rebekah Gilmore began the afternoon session by leading 270. Leaders: Bill DuPre 51; Wayne Wootten 99; Cheyenne Ivey 182; Erica Hinton 391; Andy Ditzler 494 (in memory of his father); Winfred Kerr 77b; Michael Rodgers 81t; Peter Trumbore 155; Donna Wootten 314; Butch White 344; Susan Lee and Shawn Taylor 423b; Shane Brown 383; Haley Rodgers 358; Hayden Arp 269; Cassie Allen 169; Matt Weaver 49t; Cindy Tanner, Ainslie Allen, Cassie Allen 544, 498; Rodney Ivey and Cheyenne Ivey 384.

The following committee reports were given: Secretary Ainslie Allen reported that one hundred fifty songs were led by seventy-three leaders; Finance Committee member Pam Nunn reported that all expenses were met; Resolutions Committee Tom and Sarah George resolved to thank everyone and to meet again next year; Locating Committee member David Ivey announced that the 125th session of the Alabama Sacred Harp Muscial Association would be held again at the Southside Community Center on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in November, 2026.

Following announcements, Rodney Ivey and Rebekah Gilmore led 62 as the closing song, and those who wished took the parting hand. The closing prayer was given by Philip Gilmore, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chair—Rebekah Gilmore; Secretary—Ainslie Allen