Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

The 19th annual Jack Smith Memorial Singing was held on Memorial Day at Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. John Plunkett led 59. Malinda Snow offered the opening prayer.

John welcomed the class and explained that, though this singing does not have a separately scheduled memorial lesson, participants are invited to remember those who have died. Accordingly, throughout the day, leaders remembered various people—singers, military personnel, other friends and relatives—sometimes telling a brief story or explaining why a certain song was chosen for the person remembered. Among those remembered was Jack Smith, a member of Oakhurst Baptist Church and a Sacred Harp singer who encouraged many others to become singers.

Leaders: John Plunkett 155 (in memory of Susan Roberts and for the Roberts family); Joan Durdin 479, 178 (in memory of Andrew Gee); Malinda Snow 52t, 494 (in memory of Fleming Begay); Tony Hammock 105, 30b (in memory of Jeff Sheppard); Bert Collins 542, 340; Jerusha Wheeler 335, 107; Helen Bryson 91, 475 (in memory of Sarah Brennan and in honor of Judy Mincey); Samuel Williams 171, 80t; Laura Densmore 315, 370 (in memory of her father-in-law Raymond Densmore, who survived the Bataan Death March and was a POW in Japan); Guy Bankes 120, 481 (in memory of Air Force Lt. Col. James G. Novakoski).

RECESS

Joan Durdin called the class together leading 47t. Leaders: Carol Buche 547, 86 (for her mother, Helen Buche); Robert Kelley 100, 122; Glenda Collins 99, 124; Anna Hinton 203, 455; Daniel Edwards 168, 39t; Jim Neal 30t, 84; Laura Densmore 201 (for Chris Holley); Guy Bankes 549 (for Wayne Wylie); Carol Buche 421. Amy Wells asked the blessing before the noon meal.

LUNCH

John Plunkett reconvened the class leading 145t. Leaders: Jesse Karlsberg and Lucey Rose Karlsberg 392, 186; Erica Hinton 204, 440; Karen Edwards 196, 430; Lauren Bock 212, 129 (in memory of Travis Fuller); Anders Wells 274t, 47b; Nathan Rees 422, 353; Lisa Bennett 208 (in memory of Allan Jenkins), 487 (in memory of her father, Lewis Bennett); Laura Akerman 176b, 436; Henry Slack 114 (in memory of Genia Cayce), 300; David Smead 320, 166; Amy Wells 567, 349.

RECESS

Joan Durdin led 29t to reconvene the class. Leaders: Samuel Williams 534; Malinda Snow 569t; Helen Bryson 313b; Tony Hammock 212 (in memory of Stanly Edwards); Jerusha Wheeler 40; Amy Wells and Hayley Robb 187; Jim Neal 270; David Smead 80b; Lisa Bennett 108b; Jesse Karlsberg and Lauren Bock 407. After announcements, John Plunkett led 56t (as Jack Smith liked to lead it), as the closing song. Jim Neal dismissed the class with prayer.

Chairman—John Plunkett; Vice Chairman—Joan Durdin; Secretary—Malinda Snow