Mississippi State State Sacred Harp Singing Convention

Antioch Primitive Baptist Church
Forest, Scott County, Mississippi
Saturday, August 23, 2025 and Sunday, August 24, 2025

Saturday, August 23

The 95th session of the Mississippi State Sacred Harp Singing Convention was held on the fourth Sunday and Saturday before in August.
President Mark Davis welcomed the class, and extended thanks to the members of Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for hosting the convention.

Song selections were from:
The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition,
The B. F. White Sacred Harp (Cooper Book), 2012 Revision,
The Christian Harmony, 2010 edition, and
The Sacred Harp, J. L. White 4th Edition with Supplement, 1911, republished 2007.

Mark Davis led 37b (SH), Liverpool.
208 (SH), Traveling On.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer.
Leaders:
126 (SH), Babel's Streams - Drew McGuire
486 (SH), Beneficence
505 (CB), Cleansing Fountain - Darlene Reynolds
410 (CB), Willie
455 (SH), Soar Away - Arlon Gardner
481 (SH), Novakoski
203 (CH10), Cumberland - Danny Creel
493b (CH10), Day-Star
512 (SH), The Spirit Shall Return - Ann Steel
378b (SH), Never Turn Back
372 (CH10), I Won't Turn Back - Jeff James
168b (CH10), Sunrise
422t (CB), A Song of Texas - Warren Steel
494 (CB), If Christ Be in My Arms (Grafton).

RECESS

Mark Davis brought the class back together leading 30t (SH), Love Divine.

Mark Davis appointed the following people to serve on the Business Committee: Drew McGuire, Will Gatewood, and Charlie McGuire.

Leaders:
299 (SH), New Jerusalem - Dennis Cranford
128 (SH), The Promised Land
354b (SH), Happy Land - John Pyles
61 (SH), Sweet Rivers
143 (CH10), Farther Along - Steve Kelly and Darlene Reynolds
109 (CH10), Not Made with Hands
64 (CH10), Youthful Blessings - Nicholas Thompson
338b (CH10), Davis
491 (SH), Oh, What Love - Robert Vaughn
323b (SH), Soft Music
281b (CH10), Palmetto - Mary Beth Garrison
170 (CH10), On My Way
171 (CH10), Sessions - Chris Nicholson
172 (CH10), The Grand Highway
523 (SH), Pleyel's Hymn (Second) - Prisca Rice
115 (SH), Edmonds.
Robert Vaughn offered the prayer before the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Mark Davis leading 98 (SH), Dull Care.

Nicholas Thompson presented Mark Davis a plaque on behalf of the convention in recognition of forty-one years as president of the convention.

Leaders:
456 (SH), Sacred Mount - Mark Davis and Nicholas Thompson
45b (CH10), Lofty Sky - Todd Derstine and Regina Derstine
393t (CH10), West Point
208 (WB), The Turtle Dove - Henry McGuire
543t (WB), Alone
291 (SH), Majesty - Lisa Geist
195 (SH), Worcester
234 (SH), Reverential Anthem - Amber Davis
380 (SH), Lawrenceburg
499b (WB), Gloria Patri - Will Gatewood
496b (WB), Jesus Lover of My Soul
47b (SH), Idumea - Sophia Gardner
457 (SH), Wayfaring Stranger
315 (CH10), David's Victory - Molly Gatewood
367 (CH10), David's Lamentation.
A business session was held and the following officers were elected or appointed to serve:
President—Mark Davis;
Vice President—Drew McGuire;
Treasurer, Secretary, and Arranging Committee—Darlene Reynolds;
Chaplain—Arlon Gardner;
Memorial Committee—Chris Nicholson and Lisa Giest;
Resolution Committee—Amber Davis and Molly Gatewood.

Leaders:
236 (SH), Easter Anthem - Mark Davis
142 (SH), Stratfield - Robert Vaughn and Prisca Rice
176 (CH10), Heavenly Treasures - Mary Beth Garrison
250 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Jeff James
514 (CB), Wiley - Robert Vaughn
567 (CB), Child of Thine - Prisca Rice
1 (CH10), Weary Rest - Danny Creel.
Announcements were made.

Mark Davis, Drew McGuire, and Henry McGuire led 549b (CH10), The Drone, as the closing song.
Arlon Gardner offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

Sunday, August 24

President Mark Davis welcomed everyone, and led 101t (SH), Canaan's Land.
Arlon Gardner offered the opening prayer. Leaders:
74b (SH), King of Peace - Mark Davis
392 (SH), Manchester - Drew McGuire
16 (CH10), The Finest Flower
131 (CH10), Will You Meet Me? - Darlene Reynolds
281b (CH10), Palmetto
313b (SH), Cobb - Arlon Gardner
522 (CB), Shades of Night
388 (SH), The Happy Sailor - Sophia Gardner
285t (SH), Arnold
573 (CB), Trusting Jesus - Tim Taylor (for Brenda Kyser)
475 (SH), A Thankful Heart.

RECESS

Drew McGuire called the class to order leading 137 (SH), Liberty.
Leaders:
212 (SH), Sharon - Chris Nicholson
34b (SH), St. Thomas
31t (SH), Ninety-Third Psalm - Ricky Beasley
68b (SH), Ortonville
117 (CH10), Angel Band - Lisa Geist
528 (SH), Showers of Blessings
364 (CH10), Redemption (Second) - Nicholas Thompson
464 (CB), Hocutt
511b (CB), Jesus Died for Me - Amber Davis
391 (SH), Sounding Joy
462b (CH10), Upton - Molly Gatewood
355 (CH10), Homeward Bound.

The memorial lesson was held at this time. Lisa Geist spoke on behalf of the sick and shut-ins and read the following list of names:
Alice McGuire, John Van Horn, Liz Van Horn, Margaret Keeton, Ed Thacker, Margaret Thacker, Brenda Kyserl.
Lisa led 472 (SH), Akin, for the sick and shut-ins.

Chris Nicholson spoke on behalf of the deceased and read the following list of names:
Lucy Ryan Heidorn, Buell Cobb, Pauline Oliver—Alabama; Mike Hinton—Texas; Charlotte Naylor, Alice Bejnar—Florida.
Chris led 146 (CB), Hallelujah, in memory of the deceased.
Arlon Gardner closed the memorial lesson with prayer and offered the blessing on the noon meal.

LUNCH

The afternoon session began with Drew McGuire leading 371 (SH), Heavenly Dove.
Leaders:
256 (CH10), ('t'op or 'b'ottom of the page?) - Mary Amelia Taylor
242 (CH10), Come, Ye Disconsolate
238 (CH10), Child's Wish - Molly Gatewood
432b (CH10), Fish Pond
361 (CB), Loving Jesus - Todd Derstine and Regina Derstine
497 (CB), The Bitter Cup
277 (SH), Antioch - Arlon Gardner
430 (WB), (No song at that page no.) - Henry McGuire
228 (WB), Masonic Ode
204t (CH10), What a Day - Mike McNeil
176 (CH10), Heavenly Treasures
50 (CH10), Cranbrook - Will Gatewood
51 (CH10), Lonsdale
454 (SH), The Better Land - Nicholas Thompson
452 (SH), Martin.

A business meeting was held for the purpose of hearing the various committee reports. The business committee gave their reports, and announced that expenses had been met. The Resolutions Committee, Amber Davis and Molly Gatewood, offered the following report: We resolve to thank Antioch Primitive Baptist Church for hosting the convention. We were blessed with good food, fellowship, and singing. We resolve to meet again next year, 2026, for this convention. The business meeting was closed. Announcements were made.

Mark Davis, Henry McGuire, and Drew McGuire led 549b (CH10), The Drone, as the closing song.
Arlon Gardner offered the closing prayer, and the class was dismissed.

President—Mark Davis; Vice President—Drew McGuire; Secretary—Darlene Reynolds.