Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The annual Labor Day Sacred Harp Singing met at Shoal Creek Church, Talladega National Forest, ten miles north of Heflin, Alabama on September 2, 1996. The singing was called to order by Jeff Sheppard leading song on page 61. The morning prayer was led by Harvey Austin. Josephine Denney led songs on pages 45t and 145b, and Mary Florence Smith led songs on pages 146 and 186. The class was organized, and the following officers were elected or appointed: Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—B. M. Smith; Secretary—Mary Florence Smith; Arranging Committee—Hester Edwards and Josephine Denney. B. M. Smith led songs on pages 104 and 182. Leaders called were: Harvey Austin 566; Lou Cotney 218; Don Bowen 178; Florence Williams 569b; Bobby Bailey 87; Frances Jones 127; Sam Sommers 368; Leola Smith 234; Jimmie Denney 313t; Debbie Hartman 48t; Milton Oliver 224; John Plunkett 34t; Liz Bryant 270; Alice Edwards 73b.

RECESS

The class was called to order by B. M. Smith leading song on page 335. Leaders: Lewis Norton 39b; Buddy Davis 166b; Pearl Guier 31t; Alan Jones 84; Margie Smith 503; Felton Denney 299; Louise Holland 58; Louis Hughes 480; Evelyn Harris 155; Everette Denney 489b; I. V. McWhorter 371; Roy Nelson 434; Bud Oliver 73t; Charlene Wallace 225t; Jeff Sheppard 289 (in memory of Lee Jones and Henry Kerr); Judy Jones 323b; B. M. Smith 294. Joe Jones of Huntsville, Alabama, a member of the committee to preserve Shoal Creek Church, spoke of the plans the committee has for the church, and a short history of the church. A collection of two hundred twenty dollars was presented to the committee by the singers. Huston Jones of Heflin, Alabama, has been elected as chairman of this committee.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Jeff Sheppard leading song on page 103. Leaders: Reba Norton and Karen Reeves 341, 275b; Henry Johnson 68b; Barbara Swetman 168; Phillip Langley 142; Ginnie Prater 492; Kenneth Mize 496; Judy Mincey 475; Shelbie Sheppard 528; Richard DeLong 422; Sonja Randall and Alice Edwards 104; Jacob Griffin 277, 454; Buddy Davis 31b; Roy Nelson and Louise Nelson 35; Judy Jones 334; Sam Sommers 362; Louis Hughes 189; Barbara Swetman 358; Don Bowen 198; Liz Bryant 384; Judy Mincey 523b; Henry Johnson 495; Bud Oliver 30t; Phillip Langley 196; John Plunkett 189; Joan Plunkett 49t; Lewis Norton 292; Charlene Wallace 410 (t? b?); Felton Denney 318 (for Lonnie Rogers and Vivian Rogers); Richard DeLong 522; Lou Cotney 300; B. M. Smith 127. After the announcements, Jeff Sheppard and B. M. Smith led song on page 46 for the closing song. The class was dismissed with prayer by Sam Sommers.

Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—B. M. Smith; Secretary—Mary Lambert Smith.