The 139th Big Singing (Southern Harmony)

Old Marshall County Courthouse
Benton, Marshall County, Kentucky
Sunday, May 22, 2022

Gene Gilliland brought the class to order for the practice session by leading 103, Holy Manna.
He made introductory remarks concerning the history of The Big Singing and welcomed singers joyfully back after a two-year absence from the Courthouse.
All songs were from The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint.

181t, Azmon - Gene Gilliland
8t, New Britain - Don Waggener (in memory of Van Buren Lincoln Miller of Paducah, Kentucky)
123, Disciple
38, Resignation - Tom Waggener (in memory of Glenn C. Wilcox)
39t, Bozrah
89b, Happy Land - Kerry Lovett
144, O Come, Come Away
165t, Ionia - David Killingsworth
51, The Promised Land
288t, Hebron - William Ralph Paris (in memory of Raymond Lay Nichols)
71, Green Fields - Raphael Finkel
299, Coronation
256, The Lone Pilgrim - David Carlton
16, Star in the East
10b, Ortonville - Tim Gregg
59, Sweet Harmony
11, Jerusalem - Matt Meacham
312t, Condescension
90, Garden Hymn - Trent Hollinger (by request of Joy R. Dunn)
107, Hallelujah (by request of Amy Hollinger)
325, Fount of Glory - Erin Fulton
296, Newburgh
252, Wondrous Love - Gene Gilliland
305, When I am Gone
302, Long Sought Home - David Killingsworth
159b, New Haven - Kerry Lovett
306, All is Well - Tim Gregg
265, French Broad - David Carlton
83, Thorny Desert - Matt Meacham
R. Kevin Byars offered a blessing on the meal.

LUNCH

Gene Gilliland called the class back to order by leading 103, Holy Manna, and welcoming those who had joined the afternoon session following church.

332, Greenland - Gene Gilliland
31t, Idumea - Don Waggener
322, Samanthra - Don Waggener and Erin Fulton

The memorial session was led by William Ralph Paris, who spoke regarding Southern Harmony singers who had died during the past year. The deceased, all from Kentucky, included Kerry Lay Nichols of Symsonia, Mildred Nichols of Benton, and Carl Turner of Paducah. He led 259, Sweet Affliction, in their memory.

166, Sweet Rivers - Tom Waggener and David Killingsworth and Erin Fulton
213, David's Lamentation
275, Rock of Ages - Trent Hollinger
189, Easter Anthem
77, Lenox - Raphael Finkel
50, Captain Kidd
277, Willoughby - Erin Fulton
154t, Kambia
154b, Lisbon - Tim Gregg
318, Jordan's Shore
276t, Dunlap's Creek - Matt Meacham
299, Coronation (by request of John Meacham)
133, Indian Convert - Kerry Lovett
89b, Happy Land
276b, China - Tom Waggener and David Killingsworth and Erin Fulton
11, Jerusalem - Don Waggener (by request of Trent Hollinger)
123, Disciple (by request of Lesa Lovett)
20, The Family Bible (in honor of Bill Tew, who was unable to attend this year's singing due to an injury)
155, Sweet Solitude - David Carlton
307, Eltham - William Ralph Paris
165t, Ionia
48t, Windham - Leigh Murray
46, Evening Shade - David Killingsworth
95, Christian Soldier - Erin Fulton

Sixty songs were led today by thirteen leaders out of forty-seven singers from Marshall County and elsewhere in Kentucky; Wilmington, Delaware; Chester and Edwardsville, Illinois; Clinton, Massachusetts; Clinton Township, Oxford, and Romeo, Michigan; Canton, Missouri; and Nashville, Stantonville, and Selmer, Tennessee. Gene Gilliland led 334, The Christian's Farewell, the traditional parting song.
Gary Clark dismissed the class with prayer.

Moderator—Gene Gilliland; SPSHS vice-president—Gary E. Clark; SPSHS secretary/treasurer—Lesa Lovett; SPSHS directors—Don Waggener, William Ralph Paris, Kerry Lovett, Nancy Paris; Secretary—Erin Fulton