The 43rd Annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing

Pisgah Presbyterian Church
Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky
Saturday, May 17, 2025

The 43rd Annual Kentucky State Sacred Harp Singing, which is hosted by the Appalachian Association of Sacred Harp Singers (AASHS) was called to order at 9 am by Ron Pen, who also gave the blessing. The singing used The Sacred Harp, 1991 edition and The Southern Harmony, 1854 facsimile, 1987 UofK reprint (tagged with `SoH'). After the blessing, Ron Pen called 73b, Arlington, to start out the singing.

Leaders:
112, The Last Words of Copernicus - Nicholas Thompson
186, Sherburne - Levi Trumbore
322 (SoH), Samanthra - Randy Webber
178, Africa - Mary Brinkman
58, Pisgah - Don Waggener
300, Calvary - Peter Trumbore
319, Religion is a Fortune - Inga Buckland
400, Struggle On - Adrian Eldridge
348t, Ainslie - Derek Buckland
59, Holy Manna - Amy Pemberton
101t, Canaan's Land - Tim Morton
455, Soar Away - Father Philaret Farley
457, Wayfaring Stranger - Judy Taylor
49b, Mear - Tom Morton
33b, Abbeville - Greg Creech
70t, Gainsville - Bill McNiece
40, Lenox - Ray Rechenberg
551, Jacob's Vision - Darrell Lahm.

RECESS

The session was reconvened by Ron Pen.
448t, Consecration - Barbara Lehr
547, Granville - Donna Kwon
311, Silver Street - Tom George
373, Homeward Bound - Sarah George
59 (SoH), Sweet Harmony - Tim Gregg
504, Wood Street - Alana Boltz
84, Amsterdam - Joy Dunn
569b, Sacred Throne - Laura Lee Earles
318, Present Joys - Rachael Geury
460, Sardis - Alex Forsyth
16 (SoH), Star in the East - Dariya Simpkins
344, Rainbow - Charles Coulston
146, Hallelujah - Ron Pen.

RECESS

The session was reconvened by Randy Webber. He explained how the memorial lesson works and what it included, then asked if there were any names that should be added to the sick and shut-in list. There were none.

SICK AND SHUT-INS:

Amy Pemberton led 159, Wondrous Love, in honor of her father, Robert Pemberton.
Her mother also lost power during the recent storms (her mother is his primary caretaker).

Ray Rechenberg led 285t, Arnold, words only, in honor of Ed Walton, a singer from the Cincinnati group. He told us about the shape note singings they attended together, and how Ed had had a stroke while driving back from San Antonio and had run into a pole.

Don Waggener led 196, Alabama, in honor of his brother Tom Waggener, who sang in the Benton singing for over 70 years. Tom had Parkinson's and was described as “fading”.

MEMORIAL LESSON:

Derek Buckland started the memorial list by leading 267, Parting Friends (First), for Rob Mahoney (pronounced Marney).
Mahoney was a surveyor and shape note singer who Buckland knew in London, known for his kindness and high professional standards. Buckland stated that he (Mahoney) was a strong Methodist and would sometimes quote John Wesley as saying “Live every day as if the last.”

Nicholas Thompson led 439, Jordan (Second), in honor of Earl Ballinger, who was a singer in the Alabama group. He recounted driving 14 hours with Ballinger to get to the Texas State Singing in San Antonio and mentioned that Ballinger was married to his late wife for 50 years.

Inga Buckland requested memorializing Buell Cobb. Don Waggener memorialized Evelyn Kemper, a friend of his wife who attended school with her, by singing 58, Pisgah.

Randy memorialized Buell Cobb, who he met at the national convention in Alabama. He recounted how they met at a large Disciples church, and that the national convention was a very expensive endeavor. Cobb managed the money for the convention in a personal but separate account. After the national convention ended, he gave the money back to the organization. Cobb died this past April 26th, and Webber stated that he was a talented singer who wrote two books on shape note singing. Several people from the Alabama group said that he was also known as “Bugle Cobb” because of his treble voice. He later became a bass. Ron Pen discussed the importance of Cobb's two books on shape note, one of which was “Like Cords Around My Heart”, an oral history of shape note singing. Laura Lee Earles mentioned Cobb's kindness and welcoming nature. Alana Boltz said that Cobb wrote one of the books she cited to in the college research paper that was her first introduction to shape note singing. 313b, Cobb, was called in his honor.

Randy Webber gave some concluding thoughts, including discussing black funeral traditions and the idea of having a “repast” where one could consider the next steps after the estate planning. He also quoted a non-shape note song by A.P. Carter and concluded by calling 236, Easter Anthem, which was sung with quartet on the repeats.

Father Farley gave the blessing, and the memorial session was adjourned for lunch.

LUNCH RECESS

The session was reconvened by Tim Gregg.
148, Jefferson - Ray Rechenberg
515, Federal Street - Michele Cull (in honor of her mother, who was in memory care)
117, Babylon is Fallen - Amy Pemberton
135, Olney - Alana Boltz
82t, Bound For Canaan - Levi Trumbore
183, Greenwich - Don Waggener
45t, New Britain - Leesa Eason
543, Thou Art God - Joy Dunn
133, Hebrew Children - Tim Binkley
209, Evening Shade - Father Philaret Farley
163b, China - Bill McNiece
181, Exit - Tim Morton (in honor of his father, who will be 80 in August)
312b, Restoration (First) - Judy Taylor
19t (SoH), Hicks' Farewell - Randy Webber
496, The Rock That is Higher Than I - Tom Morton
544, Praise Him - Inga Buckland
74b, King of Peace - Greg Creech
39t (SoH), Bozrah - Dariya Simpkins
341, The Lone Pilgrim - Derek Buckland.

RECESS

76b, Desire for Piety - Peter Trumbore.

Announcements of various upcoming singings were made.

RECESS

Leaders:
550, Blissful Dawning - Adrian Eldridge
270, Confidence - Barbara Lehr
354b, Happy Land - Darrell Lahm
271t, Arkansas - Rachael Geury
416, The Christian's Nightly Song - Tom George
326, Weary Pilgrim - Alex Forsyth
428, World Unknown - Sarah George
411, Morning Prayer - Nicholas Thompson
69b, Farewell to All (First) - Tim Morton.

Ron Pen led 267, Parting Friends (First), as the singers shared the parting hand.

Randy Webber gave the closing prayer at 2:35 pm.

Minutes: Alana Boltz