The 141st Big Singing (Southern Harmony)

Old Marshall County Courthouse
Benton, Marshall County, Kentucky
Sunday, May 26, 2024

This year's singing was held in memory of Nancy King Paris. All selections were from The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint.

Access to the courthouse being delayed due to the weather and road conditions, Gene Gilliland called the practice session to order somewhat late by leading 103, Holy Manna.

The moderator then introduced our special guest, Bob Sparanese, a great-grandson of Big Singing founder James R. Lemon, who had traveled with his wife from Florida to attend the singing.

302, Long Sought Home - Gene Gilliland
165t, Ionia - Erin Fulton
49, The Good Physician
8t, New Britain - Kerry Lovett
89b, Happy Land
123, Disciple - David Killingsworth
305, When I am Gone
2, Invitation - Tim Gregg
59, Sweet Harmony
256, The Lone Pilgrim - David Carlton
16, Star in the East
38, Resignation - Raphael Finkel
56, Redeeming Grace
11, Jerusalem - Trent Hollinger
51, The Promised Land (by request of Amy Hollinger)
10b, Ortonville - Garret Herndon
181b, Eton

A tornado warning interrupted the singing just as Matt Meacham was requested to lead. The class therefore decamped to the basement of the courthouse, where they resumed singing.

83, Thorny Desert - Matt Meacham
312b, Condescension ?Wrong title for this page number?
64, Olney - William Ralph Paris
259, Sweet Affliction
332, Greenland - Erin Fulton

The Emergency Management Department advised that the singers dismiss to their dinner at the Woodman of the World building, a designated storm shelter, earlier than wonted. There, the singers whiled away the worst of the storm by listening to Bob Sparanese recount brothers James R. and George Lemons's roles in maintaining Southern Harmony singing in western Kentucky, and by admiring a program (recently uncovered by Kevin Byars's mother) for the 1949 Southern Harmony youth supper hosted by Benton's Church Grove Methodist Church. Gene Gilliland offered a blessing before the meal.

Once given the all-clear by Emergency Management, the singers returned to the upper floor of the courthouse for the afternoon session. Gene Gilliland led 213, David's Lamentation, and 324t, Remember Me, to bring the singing back to order.
William Ralph Paris then spoke in memory of Southern Harmony singers and their family members who had died during the past year, with particular reference to his wife, the late Nancy King Paris of Fredonia, Kentucky. Also mentioned fondly were Curtis Cook—Indiana; Sue Lovett—Kentucky; Travis Stein—Missouri; and Bill Tew—Virginia. William Ralph Paris led 288t, Hebron, in memory of Nancy King Paris and these other friends.

144, O Come, Come Away - Kerry Lovett
123, Disciple (by request of Lesa Lovett)
4t, Meditation - Tim Gregg
270, Zion's Light
46, Evening Shade - David Killingsworth
109, Welch
39t, Bozrah - Trent Hollinger
57, The Trumpet
89t, Dove of Peace - Garret Herndon
294, Come Ye Disconsolate
299, Coronation - Raphael Finkel
159b, New Haven
252, Wondrous Love - Matt Meacham (in memory of Travis Stein)
166, Sweet Rivers (in honor of John Meacham)
310, The Shepherd's Star - David Carlton
265, French Broad
80, Pisgah - Erin Fulton (in honor of Don, Pat, and Tom Waggener; in accordance with Don Waggener's taste, the assembly began by singing the second treble part in unison)
72t, Georgia
94t, Warrenton - Gene Gilliland
189, Easter Anthem
200b, Rose of Sharon - Raphael Finkel
308, The Young Convert - David Killingsworth
107, Hallelujah - Trent Hollinger
322, Samanthra
301, The Trumpeters - Erin Fulton
6b, King of Peace
276t, Dunlap's Creek - David Carlton
277, Willoughby - Gene Gilliland

Kevin Byars requested that we sing 133, Indian Convert, before Gene Gilliland led 334, The Christian's Farewell, as the closing song.
Garrett Herndon offered the parting prayer and dismissed the singers to their various homes in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Tennessee.

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