Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Sacred Harp singing held at State Line Church, Cleburne County, Alabama, on Saturday before the second Sunday in April was called to order by Rodney Ivey. A business session was held and the following officers were elected or appointed to serve: Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chairman—Hayden Arp; Secretary—Judy Caudle; Arranging Officer—Judy Chambless. Henry Johnson presented a motion before the class to dedicate the singing today to the memory of B.M. Smith. The motion was approved, and the business session closed.

Rodney Ivey led 101t. Dennis George offered the opening prayer. Leaders: Rodney Ivey 186 (in memory of Jeff Sheppard); Hayden Arp 345t, 345b; Judy Caudle 336; Judy Chambless 472 (for Karen Rollins); Winfred Kerr 516 (for Hugh McGraw); Philip Denney and Karis Askin 168, 100; Henry Johnson 213b; Rene Greene 200; Loyd Ivey 213t; Cassie Allen 517; Robert Chambless 303; Cheyenne Ivey 182; Angela Myers 122; Dennis George 183; Rob Dunn 385b; Reba Windom, Rene Greene, and Pam Nunn 216 (in memory of Shelbie Sheppard and Willa Mae, and for Betty Shepherd); Pam Nunn, Rene Greene, and Reba Windom 269.

RECESS

The class was brought back together by Rodney Ivey leading 67. Leaders: Jack Nelson 300; Nate Green and Norma Green 283; Will Fitzgerald 153; Sherrell Clieno 335; Lauren Bock 464; Paul Figura 415; Jesse P. Karlsberg 492; Lydia Lewallen 109.

Helen Bryson conducted the memorial lesson. She expressed her thoughts on the heart: a full heart, a heart of joy, and a heart of grief, and read the following: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart.” (Helen Keller, 1880-1968).

Helen read the following list of names of the sick and shut-ins: Karen Rollins, Hugh McGraw, Eugene Forbes, Skip Trout, Joan Trout, and Andy Worthington. She reminded everyone to remember to send cards, make phone calls, and offer prayers. She then read the following list of names of the deceased: Elizabeth Faye Smith, George Snyder, B.M. Smith, Earlis McGraw, Patti McGraw, Johnny Lee, and Delorese Lee—Georgia; Edna Ruth Phillips, Steve Adams, Kermit Adams, Gravis Ballinger, Elsie Moon, and Wallace Creel—Alabama; John Lewallen—North Carolina; Janelle Davis and Les Sontag—Illinois; Charlie Derleth—Missouri; Colette Miller—Minnesota. Helen led 475. Dennis George offered prayer to close the memorial lesson.

Leaders: David Smead 329; Anna Hinton 142; Alex Forsyth 411; Tom George 546; Sarah Trumbore 192; Sasha Hsuczyk 208.

RECESS

Hayden Arp led 166 to bring the class together. Leaders: Justin Bowen 64; Sandra Wilkinson 155; Laura Densmore 456; Andy Ditzler 392; Roberta Strauss 474; Tony Hammock 389 (for Karen Rollins); Shirley Figura 299; Erica Hinton and Lottie Hinton 534; Helen Bryson 112; Kathy Manning 436; Samuel Williams 272; John Plunkett 297.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Rodney Ivey and Loyd Ivey leading 426t. Leaders: Lisa Bennett 227 (for Karen Rollins); Karen Swenson 217; Oscar McGuire 556; Eli Hinton and Lottie Hinton 99; Jamey Wootten 111b; Greta Edwards 77t; Jerry Creason 501; Margie Smith 225t (in memory of B.M. Smith); Loretta Whitman 176b; Isaac Green 419; Matt Hinton and Rodney Ivey 365 (for Karen Rollins and Charlene Wallace); Susan Cherones 564; Karen Edwards 430; Donna Bell 434; Jeannette DePoy 460; David Brodeur 542; Nathan Rees 448b (in memory of B.M. Smith); Johnathon Kelso 24b (in memory of Johnny Lee); Fred Eady 178; Dan Edwards 29t; Paul Figura, Shirley Figura, Roberta Strauss, and Anne Drexler 282; Laura Densmore and Karen Swenson 228; Kathy Manning 440 (in memory of Jeff Sheppard); Lydia Lewallen and Rob Dunn 165; Alex Forsyth and Sasha Hsuczyk 348b (in memory of B.M. Smith); Justin Bowen and Sarah Trumbore 120; Will Fitzgerald 532 (in memory of Janelle Davis). Pam Nunn gave the financial report for State Line Church. Announcements were made.

Rodney Ivey and Henry Johnson led 521 as the closing song. Henry Johnson offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Chairman—Rodney Ivey; Vice Chairman—Hayden Arp; Secretary—Judy Caudle