Sacred Harp singing
Singers from several states will make a joyful noise on Sunday at Oxford’s 30th annual all-day Sacred Harp singing in the choral room of the music building on the Ole Miss campus, located next to the baseball field.
The singing runs from 9:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Parking is available at the east end of the building (by the band hall) and near the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Signs will lead to the spacious and resonant choral room.
The Scared Harp, a shape-note tunebook first published in 1844, contains songs sung by the first settlers in Oxford and north Mississippi. A Sacred Harp singing is neither a concert nor a performance, but a community musical event with deep roots in American tradition. At every singing, the stately ways of an earlier era are maintained. The singers sit facing inward in a “hollow square” from which individuals are called, one by one, to stand in the center of the square and lead their favorite selections from the songbook. There is no instrumental accompaniment.
The Scared Harp represents the oldest continuous musical tradition in the United States, with many songs dating from the 18th century. During the singing, a traditional observance will be held in memory of singers and other community members who have passed away since last year’s singing. Another tradition is the famous “dinner on the grounds,” a potluck feast held at noon in an adjoining room in the music building. All are invited and Oxford residents planning to attend are asked to bring a dish to help feed out-of-town and out-of-state singers.
The singing is a cultural event sponsored by the city of Oxford, the department of music and the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. For more information, call either Warren and Anne Steel at 236-5356 or John and Brenda Merritt at 234-1344. (March 11, 2010)
Oxford-Ole Miss Rotary Club
Meets for breakfast from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Ole Miss Catering banquet suite located at 123 Heritage Drive. Featured speaker this week is retired Mississippi Supreme Court Justice, Kay Cobb. Justice Cobb will give a non-partisan presentation of the Tea Party movement both nationally and in Mississippi. Guests are invited to attend. To RSVP for this event, e-mail olemissrotary@gmail.com or call Scott Thompson at 816-9898. For more information visit www.oxford-olemissrotary.com. (March 11, 2010)
Thursday’s obituaries
- Floyd Bryant Sr. — 92, died Monday, March 8, 2010. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Forest Hill Funeral Home in Memphis. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
- Patricia Jane “Patsy” Little Culpepper — 71, died Tuesday, March 2, 2010. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Oxford. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Brigman’s Funeral Service of Black Mountain, N.C., is in charge of arrangements.
- Joshua Darnell Fondren Jr., infant son of Jessica Woodard and Joshua Fondren Sr., died Wednesday at Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi. Arrangements are incomplete with Hodges-Freeman Funeral Home of Oxford.
- BRANDON — Tommie Sue Franklin Rhodes — 81, died Tuesday, March 9, 2010. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Burial will follow in the Gulde Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at the funeral home.
Lafayette County Saddle Club
The Lafayette County Saddle Club will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Beacon Restaurant on North Lamar Boulevard. New show schedules will be available, membership dues will be collected and other business matters will be discussed. For more information, contact either Sylvia Baker at 236-6758 or Margaret Webb at 234-2434. (March 11, 2010)
Lafayette County TRIAD
The Lafayette County TRIAD will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Oxford Activity Center, located at 400 Price St. Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call the RSVP office at 232-2377. (March 11, 2010)
Oxford Kiwanis Club
Meets at noon Wednesday at Bofield’s Restaurant on West Jackson Avenue. Kay Cobb, former presiding justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court, will give an update on the Tea Party. For more information, call John Arrechea at 234-9299. (March 11, 2010)
‘Spring In Your Step’ 5k
FNC Inc. is sponsoring the “Spring In Your Step” 5k run fundraiser to assist young athletes in the community. The race will be held at 8 a.m. April 3 at FNC Park, located 2.5 miles west of Skymart on Old Sardis Road on the right. All proceeds will benefit the children in Lafayette County who can’t afford to register for the Oxford Park Commission’s sports and go toward uniform fees and equipment costs. To register, go to www.racesonline.com, or come to FNC Park the day of the race. (March 11, 2010)
Wednesday’s obituaries
- Floyd Bryant Sr. — 92, died Monday, March 8, 2010. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Forest Hill Midtown Funeral Home in Memphis. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
- Jewett Taylor — 105, died Sunday, March 7, 2010. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the College Hill Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow in College Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
‘Winter Lights’
The North Mississippi Storytelling Guild has rescheduled “Winter Lights” for presentation Friday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall. The telling will commence at 6:30 p.m. Following the telling, the monthly story circle will convene. Come early and share homemade soup. The Telling is free, fellowship is free, soup is a fundraiser and the tab is $7. Soups on at 6 p.m.
(March 10, 2010)
Some pets can be an invasive species
Local columnist T.J. Ray discusses invasive species of animals and wonders if pit bulls should be added to the list because of all of the problems they cause. (March 10, 2010, Page 4)
