Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

Saturday, June 9

The 72nd annual Hopewell Homecoming Sacred Harp singing was held at Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church in Oneonta, Alabama, on the second Sunday and Saturday before in June. Terry Hullett called the class to order by leading 59. Henry Johnson offered the morning prayer.

Leaders: Terry Hullett 166; Nate Green and Norma Green 549, 317; Bobby Watkins 33b; Rebekah Gilmore 101t, 32t; Daniel Bearden 295, 93; Jack Nelson 560, 461; Robbie Hooper 303; Lori Graber 122, 278t; Judy Caudle 448b (in memory of Herby Bailey), 460; Gillian Inksetter 531, 368; Jamie Yeats 39t, 169; Idy Kiser 312b, 313b.

RECESS

Terry Hullett brought the class back together by leading 81t. Leaders: Danny Creel 145t; Danny Creel and Sharon DuPriest 269; April Watkins 53, 354b; Dwight Phillips 290 (in memory of Ruby Phillips), 137 (in memory of Virgil Phillips); Wayne Jones 30b, 496; David Carlton 385b, 198; Cindy Tanner 155, 436; Doyle Alexander 36b, 68b; Taylor Watkins 445; Helen Brown 475; Helen Brown and Sharon DuPriest 212.

RECESS

Philip Gilmore brought the class back together by leading 411. Leaders: Philip Gilmore 47b; Larry Ballinger 391, 291; J.L. Hopper 402, 403; Donna Johnson, Kelly Evers, and Charlotte Cobb 358, 282; Margaret Gillanders 225t, 314; Tommie Spurlock 146; Ted Brown 179, 119; Grace Gilmore 208, 542; Richard Mauldin 446, 43 (in memory of Josie Hyde); Kerry Cullinan 565, 66; Stanley Smith 318 (in memory of Leona Smith), 418 (in memory of Nettie Green).

LUNCH

Bobby Watkins brought the class back together by leading 56t. Leaders: Mary Huffman 183, 48b; Hubert Nall 176b, 566; Barbara Jones 276; Ed Thacker 528, 530; Henry Johnson 288; Reba Windom 546; Waylon Blakeley 283 (in memory of Doug Conn); Waylon Blakeley and Judy Caudle 306 (in memory of Glenda Hopper); Roberta Strauss 536, 203; Tiffany Hooper 107, 551; Dennis George 550; Lisa Geist 273, 272; Margaret Thacker 503; Chris Green 170; Shane Brown 267; Mary Ruth Stiefel 234; Chita Blakeley 498; Molly Bagley 344; Anne Drexler and Roberta Strauss 277; Ken Green and Nate Green 322, 418; Stephen Huffman 131b.

Terry Hullett led 31t as the closing song. Elder J.L. Hopper dismissed the class with prayer.

Sunday, June 10

The Sunday session of the Hopewell Homecoming Sacred Harp singing was called to order by Terry Hullett leading 59. The morning prayer was offered by Doyle Alexander.

Leaders: Terry Hullett 36b; Nate Green 49t, 123t; Bobby Watkins 37b, 49b; Doyle Alexander 143, 146; Philip Gilmore 30t, 77t; Robbie Hooper 76b, 480; Rebekah Gilmore 144, 67; Marty Wootten 31t; Philip Denney 129, 120; Grace Gilmore 47b, 542; Tiffany Hooper 38b, 68b; April Watkins 322, 79; Jamey Wootten 32t.

RECESS

Bobby Watkins brought the class back together by leading 101t. Leaders: Buell Cobb 317, 105; Taylor Watkins 274t, 388; Susan Cherones 300 (in memory of Dr. Bill O’Byrne), 349; Donna Johnson, Charlotte Cobb, and Kelly Evers 119, 571 (CB); Karen Rollins 371, 373.

The memorial lesson was conducted by Philip Gilmore and Paula Gilmore. They led 48t for the following deceased: Audrey Reeves, Lester Reeves, Doug Conn, Everett Dailey, Joan Lowe, Glenda Hopper, Gene Wootten, Eloise Wootten, Marion Phillips, Johnnie Chafin, Floy Wilder, Daphene Causey, Caleb Allred, Ralph Tidwell, Gravis Ballinger, Arthur Gilmore, Bonnie Bailey, J.C. Brothers, Verlon Stiefel, Sherry Tanner, and Joycie Wootten—Alabama; Darrell Swarens—Indiana; Linda Domholt—California; Ann Sleeva—Illinois; Julie Vea—Wisconsin; Edith Owen—Texas; Steve Helwig—Oregon; Louise Holland, Florice Akin, and Ruth Ayers—Georgia.

Philip and Paula then led 45t for the following sick and shut-ins: Marie Hyatt, Hazel Brothers, Jimmie Gilmore, Jimmy Wadsworth, and Virginia Lowe. Linda Thomas, Teresa Ratliff, and Jordan Sullivan then sang “It Is Well” in memory of Lester Reeves, Audrey Reeves, Everett Dailey, and Doug Conn. Elder Philip Gilmore closed the memorial lesson with prayer.

LUNCH

Terry Hullett brought the class back together by leading 99. Leaders: Chita Blakeley 142, 434 (in memory of Doug Conn); Marlin Beasley 318, 61 (for Juanita Beasley); Shane Brown 100; Alex Makris 84, 312b; Linda Thomas, Jordan Sullivan, and Marty Wootten 472; Linda Thomas 345b; Deborah Rich 168, 200; Ken Green and Nate Green 358, 314; Daniel Lee 489, 28t; Waylon Blakeley 172 (for Johnny Blakeley and Marie Hyatt), 76t (in memory of Enis Wall); Terry Hullett 82t; Jordan Sullivan “Sweet Beulah Land.”

Terry Hullett, Nate Green, and Philip Gilmore led 159 as the closing song. Marty Wootten dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—Terry Hullett; Vice Chairman—Nate Green; Secretaries—Paula Gilmore and Rebekah Gilmore