Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, August 24

The 85th annual session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention began with President Mark Davis calling the meeting to order and leading 37b. The opening prayer was offered by Chaplain Arlon Gardner. President Davis welcomed everyone to the convention and thanked Brother Alfred Bailey and Bro. Rogers for having us at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church.

President Mark Davis appointed Darlene Reynolds and John Van Horn to the Arranging Committee. Other officers are as follows: President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretary—Jean Gray; Assistant Secretary—Darlene Reynolds.

Leaders: Mark Davis 203; John Van Horn 379; Jean Gray 297; Darlene Reynolds 484 (CB); Arlon Gardner 277; Mary Ellen Schrock 180 (CH); Sister Susan Dickey 551; Matthew Dawson 269; John Plunkett 462t (CH); Robert Vaughn 80 (CH); Anne Steel 480; Billy Hollingsworth 318 (CH); Stanley Smith 378t; Drew McGuire 546; Amber Davis 142; Hugh Bill McGuire 298; Bobby Caldwell 82 (CB). President Mark Davis appointed Henry McGuire, Drew McGuire, and Hugh McGuire to the Business and Credentials Committee.

RECESS

The singing continued with John Van Horn leading 430. Leaders: Warren Steel 195; Lisa Geist 528; Amy Armstrong 440; William Savell 188 (CH); Wilma Mitchell 204t (CH); Hugh McGuire 12 (CH); Jane Armstrong 405; John Hollingsworth and Madison Busby 30b (CH); Regina Derstine 349; Mike McNeil 282; Henry McGuire 64 (CH); John Cash 214; Mark Davis 117 (CH) (for the people at Antioch Church); Barbara McNeil 51 (CH); Bruce Smith 303 (CH); Leona Smith 143 (CH). President Mark Davis appointed John Hollingsworth and Billy Hollingsworth to the Memorial Committee.

Arlon Gardner offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

After a delicious lunch and fellowship, singing continued with Mark Davis leading 106. Leaders: Madison Busby 354b; Lynn Dennis 109 (CH); Gay Beth Kelley 175 (CH); John Van Horn 300; Jean Gray and Warren Steel 196; Darlene Reynolds and Henry McGuire 490; Arlon Gardner 507; Mary Ellen Schrock 189 (CH); Sister Susan Dickey 128; Kim Vaughn 558 (CB); Matthew Dawson 254; John Plunkett 504 (WB); Robert Vaughn 334 (WB); Anne Steel 209; Billy Hollingsworth 111b (CH); Stanley Smith 567 (CB).

In a business session held at 2:00 p.m., the following business was attended: President Davis suggested we add Henry McGuire and Darlene Reynolds to the checking account, along with Jean Gray, and remove Junie McNeil (deceased). Motion and second to keep the same officers. Mark Davis led 236.

RECESS

Mark Davis led 126. Leaders: Drew McGuire 270; Amber Davis 559 (CB); Hugh Bill McGuire 273; Bobby Caldwell 129 (CH); Warren Steele 268 (CH); Lisa Geist 391; Amy Armstrong 112; Hugh McGuire 365 (CH); Jane Armstrong 335; Mike McNeil and Sharon McNeil 206 (CH); Mike McNeil 522 (CB); Regina Derstine 140 (CB); Henry McGuire 492 (WB); John Cash 184 (CH); Lynn Dennis 460. President Mark Davis thanked everyone who brought lunch.

Announcements were made. The class sang “The Drone”, led by Mark Davis, Henry McGuire, and Hugh McGuire. John Van Horn offered the closing prayer.

Sunday, August 25

President Mark Davis opened the Sunday session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention by leading 101t. Prayer was offered by Arlon Gardner.

Leaders: Mark Davis 107; John Van Horn 200, 448t; Jean Gray 68b; Darlene Reynolds 264 (CH), 511 (WB); Arlon Gardner 454, 163t; Matthew Dawson 455, 350; Billy Hollingsworth 103 (CH), 133 (CH); Mary Ellen Schrock 180 (CH), 432b (CH); Nikos Pappas 339, 99; Jackson Fleder 434, 400.

RECESS

Singing continued with John Van Horn leading 155. Leaders: Tom Gray 358, 268; Ken Tate 168b (CH), 497b (CH); Natalie Davis 145b, 146; Ann Jett 43 (CH), 149 (CH); Sarah Beasley 76b (CH), 45b (CH).

John Hollingsworth and Billy Hollingsworth conducted the memorial lesson. John spoke on behalf of the sick and shut-ins. He said it was important to not only remember them, but to go by and see them. He read the following list of names: W.M. Allen, Charles Porter, Emma Lou Rigdon, Ruth Wyers, Velton Chafin, Johnnie Chafin, Elsie Moon, and Fred Buesser.

Billy Hollingsworth said it is an important tradition to remember these people that are no longer with us. These people taught us to sing. We paused to reflect on the ones who passed away this year and also the ones in years past. He led 347 in memory of the following: Nellie Davis, Norman Hollingsworth, Mary Frances Jones, Emily Boswell, Virginia Carter—Mississippi; Charles Creel, Bud Oliver, Lessie Reed, Jeff Sheppard—Alabama; Evelyn Steinruck—Pennsylvania. Arlon Gardner closed the memorial service with prayer.

Leaders: Drew McGuire 258 (CH), 345b; Madison Busby 179 (CH), 277.

President Mark appointed Tim Gray and Mike McNeil to the Resolutions Committee. Mike McNeil offered the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session was brought to order by Mark Davis leading 430. Leaders: Hugh Bill McGuire, Hugh McGuire, and Henry McGuire 505 (WB), 155 (CH); Wanda Capps 172 (CH), 216; Erica Martinez 524 (CB), 450 (CB); Hugh McGuire 512 (WB), 240; Stanley Smith 503 (WB), 54 (CH); Amy Armstrong 182 (CB), 393 (CB); Andy Davis 318, 254.

A business meeting was held for the purpose of hearing reports. The Business and Credentials Committee presented the financial report. There was a motion and second for donation of money as follows: $250.00 to the Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association for Camp Fasola Scholarship; $40.00 to WCPC Sacred Harp Hour Radio Program; $60.00 to Sacred Harp Minutes; $65.00 for flowers in honor of Nellie Davis; and $300.00 to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church. Motion and second to accept financial report.

The Resolutions Committee submitted the following: We, the eighty-fifth meeting of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention, thank God for the ability and willingness to come together to sing. Thank you to Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for extending their hospitality and the use of this wonderful building. Thanks to people who came from near and far to sing together. Thank you to all who helped provide a graceful and bountiful lunch both days. We resolve to gather again a year from now to once again sing praises to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The report was accepted, and the business meeting was closed.

Leaders: Lynn Dennis 460, 341; Regina Derstine 273, 272; Seth Holloway 117 (CH), 85 (CH); Henry McGuire 40 (CB), 465 (CB); Tim Gray 222, 319; Mike McNeil 186 (CH), 573 (CB). Announcements were made.

Mark Davis, Hugh McGuire, and Henry McGuire led “The Drone”. The closing prayer was offered by Tim Gray.

President—Mark Davis; Vice President—John Van Horn; Secretaries—Darlene Reynolds and Jean Gray