Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Thursday, June 15

The sixteenth session of the National Sacred Harp Singing Convention met at Trinity United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Alabama. The convention was called to order on Thursday, June 15, by Chairman Buell Cobb leading song on page 316. The morning prayer was led by Elder Donald Smith. Leaders: Mark Davis (MS) 129; Kathy Williams (FL) 101t; Dennis O’Brien (MA) 297; Bob Parr (MA) 475; Helen Bryson (GA) 89; Don Bowen (GA) 354t; Cindy Franklin 146; Noel Rush (GA) 454; Cassie Franklin 344; M. H. Creel 342; Elvin Morris 490; Donald Smith 343b; Nora Parker 317b; Flarce Creel 270; George Cox 303b; Leola Smith 348b; Ann and Julianna Jett 56t; Sherry Guthery 340; Toney Smith 392; Pauline Childers (MI) 212; Ola Meadows 432.

RECESS

The class was called to order by Mark Davis (MS) leading song on page 213t; Dave Collett, Minister of Music, Trinity United Methodist Church 45t. A motion was made and seconded to go into business session. The following officers and committees were elected and appointed: Chairman—Buell Cobb; Vice Chairman—Mark Davis; Secretary—Kathy Williams; Chaplain—Gaylon Powell; Arranging Committee—Dennis O’Brien, Cindy Franklin, and Paula McGray; Finance Committee—Don Bowen, Bob Parr, and Dorothea McCowan; Memorial Committee—Helen Bryson, Cora Sweatt, and Jesse Roberts; Resolutions Committee—Judy Mincey, Ginnie Ely, and Warren Steel. The business session was closed and singing resumed with H. J. Jackson singing song on page 400; Ruth Daniel 378t; Gaylon Powell (TX) 546; Lora Cargo 74b; Cecile Cox 282; Ed Snell 30t; Pauline Griggs 43; Delores Canady 85; Cora Sweatt (TN) 72b; Daryl Mayberry (IL) 492; Henry Guthery 507; Ann Ballard 278t; Tom Harper 530; Mary Gardner 189.

RECESS

Buell Cobb called the singing together by recognizing Rosa Hughes. Leaders: Hilda Morrison 35; Ginnie Ely (MA) 446; Dorothea McCowan 196; Paul Gauthier (MA) 428; Lisa Davis (MS) 528; Ruby Bowen 269; Carrol Lunsford (CA) 176b; Herman Smith 101b; Joel Cohen (MA) 495; Ila Ingle 335; Gary Smith 34b; A. C. McGough 274t; Barbara Moore (TX) 117; Travis Keeton 161; Marilou Jolly (CA) 128. The blessing for lunch was led by Gaylon Powell.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was called together by Gaylon Powell (TX) leading song on page 312b. Leaders: Chris Bell 385b; Justin Keeton 384; Daphene Causey 200; Willie Israel (NC) 66; Sharon Kellam (NC) 69 (t? b?); Nancy Van Den Akker (LA) 480; Evelyn Harris 47t; Jesse Roberts (FL) 316; Lee Rogers (GA) 474; Eloise Avery 426b; Becky Briggs (FL) 460; Jessica Roberts (FL) 352; Lou Cotney 300; Ashley Roberts (FL) 419; Sarah Smith 354b; Susan Roberts (FL) 383; W. L. Green 287; Walter Wade (TN) 64; Margaret Keeton 276; Noel Rush (GA) 273; Donald Smith 319.

RECESS

The afternoon session continued with M. H. Creel leading song on page 111b. Leaders: Cindy Franklin and Julianna Jett 108t; Toney Smith 444; Elvin Morris 49b; Flarce Creel 497; Leola Smith 113, Ed Snell 401; Ann Jett 327; Jesse Swindal 290. The closing song, 46, was led by Mark Davis and Buell Cobb. The closing prayer was led by Chaplain Gaylon Powell.

Friday, June 16

The Friday session of the convention was called to order by Chairman Buell Cobb leading song on page 52t. The opening prayer was led by Chaplain Gaylon Powell. Leaders: Mark Davis (MS) 38b; Kathy Williams (FL) 485; Gaylon Powell (TX) 328; Don Bowen (GA) 503; Bob Parr (MA) 272; Dorothea McCowan 234; Judy Mincey (GA) 180; Ginnie Ely (MA) 373; Warren Steel (MS) 74 (t? b?); Helen Bryson (GA) 436; Jesse Roberts (FL) 442; Cora Sweatt (TN) 127; Dennis O’Brien (MA) 126; Paula McGray (MA) 377; Susan Roberts (FL) 146; Cindy Franklin 198; Freeman and Jewel Wootten 37b; Virgil Phillips 475; Carla Smith (CA) 421.

RECESS

Mark Davis (MS) called the morning session back together by leading song on page 345 (t? b?). Leaders: Tom Harper 434; Julietta Haynes 200; Ginnie Prater (GA) 460; Anne Steel (MS) 39t; John Hocutt 236; David Lee (GA) 565b; Terry Wootten 47t; Julianna Jett 56t; Jerry Schreiber (CA) 66; Pam Keeton 142; Ed Houghton 290; Kelly House (MA) 456; Mel Kersey (TN) 461; John Green 170; Regina Clark 217.

RECESS

The class was called to order by John Hocutt leading song on page 317. Leaders: Erskine Van Der Grift 59; Bob Bonnell (FL) 235b; Pauline Childers (MI) 269; Lucille Foreman 496; Ruby Phillips 39b; Coy Ivey 454; Joshua Keeton 30t; Estelle Napier 225t; Jeff Colby (RI) 148; Alice Hochstetler (FL) 231; Jenny Wootten 84; Mark Davis (MS) 294. The blessing was led by H. J. Jackson, and the class was dismissed for lunch.

LUNCH

Terry Wootten began the afternoon session by leading song on page 101t. Leaders: David Lee (GA) and Charles Kitchens 326; Louise Holland (GA) 61; Richard DeLong (GA) 426 (t? b?); Lois Bonnell (FL) 63; Pennie Bosarge 183; Syble Adams 171; John Etheridge (FL) 337; Riley and Mary Elizabeth Lee (GA) 354b; Hannah Roberts (FL) 348t; Myra Dalton 547; Clark Lee (GA) 354b; Glenda Jones 378b; John Plunkett (GA) 102; Bill and Nathan Green 176b; Marilou Jolly (CA) 369; Travis Keeton 371; Mary Gardner 280; Joel Cohen (MA) 133; Daphene Causey 304; Daryl Mayberry (IL) 564; Cassie Franklin 546.

RECESS

The afternoon session resumed with Cindy Franklin leading song on page 542. Leaders: Willie Israel (NC) 178; H. J. Jackson 185; Lora Cargo 480; Gary Smith 569 (t? b?); Nancy Van Den Akker (LA) 445; Lee Rogers (GA) 99; A. C. McGough 340; Delores Canaday 455; Evelyn Harris 100; Ann Ballard 57; Eloise Avery 35; Becky Briggs (FL) 336; Buell Cobb and Mark Davis 323t. The closing prayer was led by Charles Kitchens.

Saturday, June 17

Buell Cobb assembled the Saturday session of the Convention by leading song on page 75. Chaplain Gaylon Powell led the morning prayer. Leaders: Mark Davis (MS) 36t; Kathy Williams (FL) 501; Gaylon Powell (TX) 500; Bob Parr (MA) 224; Don Bowen (GA) 347; Warren Steel (MS) 320; Ginnie Ely (MA) 228; Helen Bryson (GA) 319; Jesse Roberts (FL) 329; Dorothea McCowan 196; Paula McGray (MA) 39t; Dennis O’Brien (MA) 212; Susan Roberts (FL) 40; Ashley Roberts (FL) 474; Nora Parker 299; Mattie Townsel 124; Peter Pate (VA) 543; Nell Estes 192; Walter Wade (TN) 159; Liz Bryant (CA) 32b; Carrol Lunsford (CA) 141; Cora Sweatt (TN) 145 (t? b?); Judy Mincey (GA) 410t; Tom Harper 441; Sharon Kellam (NC) 145t; Gary and Sarah Smith 146.

RECESS

The morning session resumed with Buell Cobb leading song on page 138b. Leaders: Lisa Davis (MS) 220; Paul Gauthier (MA) 68b; Kacy Pate (VA) 171; Kathy Robinson 186; Jim Carnes 339; Barbara Moore (TX) 312b; Lora Boosinger (NC) 61; Hilda Morrison 31b; Charles Whitmer (TX) 49 (t? b?); Lou Cotney 189; Joe Nall (FL) 430; Ila Ingle 32t; Harold Hammock, Jr. (TX) 84; Jeff Sheppard 454.

RECESS

Mark Davis recalled the class by leading song on page 240. The session was then turned over to the Memorial Committee. Helen Bryson introduced the memorial lesson by saying that all whose names we would remember had touched someone here in a special way. Cora Sweatt spoke about Sacred Harp singers being like a bouquet of flowers. Some are hardy, some are weak, some are simple, and some are bright and bold. They all will die but will one day be a beautiful, complete bouquet before God. Jesse Roberts read the names on the list: Alabama—Leon Price, Ervin Brothers, Lois Green, Lindsey Crider, Ted Godsey, Henry “Doc” Jackson, Dessie Jackson, Bertha Henson, Arville Hyatt, Josie Gibson, Lessie Cates, Elvadie Wallace, Erma Jones, Sam Fowler, Winford Watts, Wallace Watts, and Helen Ivey Cordell. Texas—Elder Pete Walker, Ethel Clark, Dale Redmon, Lewis Vaughn, and Arnevis Norton. Georgia—Harry Dumas, Carlton Hitchcock, Junurs Hudgins, and Velma Kelly. Mississippi—Bennie Rigdon, Lillian Burt, and George W. Boswell. Connecticut—Mark Ely. Florida—Doris Shiners. Others—Milvia Gray. Jeff Sheppard led 147t for the Alabama deceased. Gaylon Powell led 235 for those from Texas. Warren Steel led 133 for those from Georgia, Mississippi, Connecticut, Florida, and others. Jim Carnes led 67 for the sick and shut-ins: Alabama—Halie Armstrong, Mae Seymour, Elsie Beasley, Charlie Ballard’s mother, Mrs. Robinson, Hazel Cagle, and Robert McCowan. Georgia—Jerry and Mozell Sheppard, Eva Reeves, Dollie Hudgins, and Gertrude Bateman. Mississippi—Cleo Hawkins and Janice Nelson. Massachusetts—Stephen Hayzeltyne. Florida—Phillip Lee. New Mexico—Carol Sellech. California—Patricia Pate. The memorial lesson was ended with prayer by Chaplain Gaylon Powell. The blessing was led by Peter Pate, and the class was dismissed for lunch.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought together by Richard DeLong leading song on page 434. Leaders: Anne Steel (MS) 268; Kelly House (MA) 179; D. J. Lee (GA) 166b, 566; Jessica Roberts (FL) 215; Amanda Denson 195; Bob Cook (MS) 46; Herman Smith 139; Ginnie Prater (GA) 87; Herb Bailey 34b; Pennie Bosarge 142; Lois Bonnell (FL) 59; Susan Brock (NC) 65; Jeff Colby (RI) 416; Glenda Jones 401; John Plunkett (GA) 53; Julietta Haynes 64; Peter Pate (VA) 335; Louise Holland (GA) 58; Delta East (GA) and Arlene Strickland 323b; Bob Bonnell 47b; Terry Hogue (LA) 155; Willie Israel (NC) 209; Sharona Nelson (MA) 36b; Hannah Roberts (FL) 408; Gary Reid (VA) 31t; Ann Ballard 204; Jayne Fulmer 300. The convention entered a business session to hear committee reports. The Finance Committee reported contributions of $919.39, which will cover the expenses of the Convention. Don Bowen, Bob Parr, Dorothea McCowan, Finance Committee. Resolutions Committee Report—Resolved: That we offer thanks to Almighty God for a heart to praise and a tongue to sing; to Trinity United Methodist Church for the exceptional facilities and hospitality; to the officers and committees for planning and executing their duties faithfully and well; to all who brought food for the convention, expecially Sarah and Gary Smith, and the rest of the Beasley Family, who also hosted the Friday night social; to all singers, listeners and guests who came from far and near to make the Convention a success. Further resolved: to keep in touch through mutual visits and correspondence; to attend and support local singings and singing schools; and, to meet next year at the seventeenth annual National Sacred Harp Convention on June 13, 14, and 15, 1996, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Respectfully submitted, Resolutions Committee: Ginnie Ely, Judy Mincey, and Warren Steel. Secretary’s Report: This year, 306 people from 17 states and one foreign county registered over the three-day period of the Convention. During the three days, 195 leaders led 245 songs. State distribution of registrants is: Alabama-218; Georgia-30; Florida-17; Massachusetts, North Carolina, and California-9 each; Mississippi-7; Texas-6; Illinois, Virginia, and Louisiana-3 each; Arizona, New York, and Tennessee-2 each; Missouri, Rhode Island, and Utah-l each; England-l. Kathy Williams, Secretary. All reports were accepted as presented to the convention, and the business session was closed. Buell Cobb, Mark Davis, Kathy Williams, and Gaylon Powell led the traditional closing song on page 62, and singers took the parting hand. The convention was closed with prayer by Chaplain Gaylon Powell. Following the convention, a group of singers made the traditional trip to Alabama Folk Life Festival’s City Stages in downtown Birmingham where they presented a program of Sacred Harp Music.

Chairman—Buell Cobb; Vice Chairman—Mark Davis; Secretary—Kathy Williams.