In the 1982 documentary Shouting Song, director Jean Youngblood Albright captured a number of Sacred Harp singings across Alabama—some large and formal, others intimate and deeply local. Among them is a segment filmed at County Line Church in Warrior, Alabama, identified onscreen as the Walter Parker Birthday and Charlie Creel Memorial Singing. The event isn’t dated in the documentary, but through some digging, I was able to confirm that it took place on October 3, 1981.
The names Parker and Creel will be familiar to many Sacred Harp singers who have been around a while—not just as leaders on the page and in the square, but as part of the living infrastructure that upheld the tradition across generations. I’ve written elsewhere on this site about the contributions of Nora and Walter Parker, who served faithfully in the preparation and publication of the annual Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings and were pillars of the Sacred Harp Publishing Company. Their presence at this singing, along with a broad circle of family and fellow singers, ties the documentary footage to a broader story of stewardship, memory, and song.
That tradition was also captured in another important document of sound: a vinyl LP titled The Singing Creel Family, recorded on location at Old County Line Church. Produced by the Sacred Harp Publishing Company and engineered by Tom Brown and Mark Reeves, this album preserves the voices of multiple generations of Creel family singers—descendants of James Harris “Singing Jim” Reid, who studied with Tom Denson and helped organize the Mulberry River Convention in 1905. The record stands as both a musical and genealogical testimony, celebrating the legacy of a family whose roots and harmonies run deep in Alabama soil.
The church got a new roof the year prior.
Although Shouting Song gives us brief, moving glimpses of this event, Sacred Harp’s own documentation tradition—its published “minutes books”—provides even more detail. The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association maintains an archive of minutes dating back to 1995 at fasola.org, but earlier years remain scattered across personal collections and out-of-print books. The minutes from this 1981 singing were published the following year, and are not widely available online. So, in the spirit of making the archival more accessible, I’ve transcribed them below.
For those curious about the setting, County Line Church is now more often referred to as Old County Line Church. It remains an active home for singings. According to the ever-useful ShapeNoteSingings.com, the church will host several events in the coming months:
- Mulberry River Convention – September 6, 2025
- Alabama State Christian Harmony Convention – September 27–28, 2025
- Reid Memorial Singing – October 19, 2025
- Creel Memorial Christian Harmony Singing – January 18, 2026
- County Line Church Singing – April 12, 2026
Nathan Rees has recordings from County Line Church at least two singings on his “Southern Field Recordings” website:
- County Line – October 16, 2016
- County Line Church – April 8, 2018
The transcription that follows captures the full record of the 1981 singing as published in the 1982 Minutes Book—a document that not only preserves who led what, but also echoes the voices, memories, and community spirit of that day.
WALTER PARKER BIRTHDAY SINGING AND CHARLIE CREEL MEMORIAL SINGING
County Line Church
October 3, 1981
On Saturday, October the third, the Walter Parker Birthday Singing and Charlie Creel Memorial Sacred Harp Singing was held at County Line Church. The class was called to order by Hubert Yarbrough leading song on page 30b. The morning prayer was led by Irvin Creel. The class retained the following officers: Chairman, Hubert Yarbrough; Vice Chairman, Dillie Harris; Secretary, Nora Parker; Arranging Committee, Hester Creel and Chester Creel. Hubert Yarbrough then led song on page 30 and the following leaders were called: Dillie Harris, 131b; Luther Parker, 176, 77; Jethro Collett, 399b, 499; Dewey Graves, 282, 373; Hayden Creel, 85, 388; Dovy Jackson, 48, 457; Lucy Marie Heidron, 215, 217; Velton Chafin, 42; Kathy Robbins, 477, 454; Annie Harper, 470, 382; Lucile Tolbert, 269.
Recess.
The class reassembled with Hubert Yarbrough leading song on page 460. He was followed by: Danny Creel, 343, 340; Bessie Jackson, 81, 100; Edie Hogland, 159; Pauline Murphree, 480, 222; Ila V. Aldridge, 498, 546; Cary and Kinney Graves, 192, 436; Mamie Creel, 47b; John Hocutt, 34, 319; Mattie Creel, 82. At this time Edith Tate read a tribute to her dad who had passed away in June of this year as follows: Our Daddy is resurrected. He’s gone to view the land Jesus prepared. His days were fleeting, the day of God returned, and Daddy’s gone home to the land of rest for which he often sang. Devotion brought him to a day of sacred rest and no more care will seize his breast.
When he sang “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds” and “Alas! and did my Savior bleed,” he fought on till death brought him to God. His joy in life was to sing until the Spirit returned to take him to Jerusalem; because his hopes were fixed on Jesus and he was saved by grace. We know he was born to die and his joys on earth are gone his flesh in dust is laid. He trusted his savior and he’s in happy home with the Christians.
The Holy Spirit came as a heavenly Dove and lifted him on wings of love. His eyes gently closed and his spirit is at rest with the savior above. He strolls by Babel’s streams where he sees the flowers growing from the seed he sowed on earth.
He sang “To that blessed world I’ll rise” and he has “Joined the anthem in the skies.” The Holy Spirit came with beams of mercy and now he is singing Hallelujah with man and the angels.
By God’s “Amazing Grace” he was saved and his hopes were secure. The sufferings of his life no longer he endures. Three months ago Daddy left us, but his presence still lingers near. When we sing the songs he loved, it seems his voice we hear.
Salvation to Daddy was a joyful sound; what a pleasure he would say. He has been raised by grace divine and saw a heavenly day. Daddy bade no one adieu but left us in God’s care and though we will never see him here any more, thank God we can meet him there.
His footsteps grew weary and his body grew weak. He didn’t complain while he could speak. Daddy’s eyes were fixed on heaven and he had no desire to turn back although he was leaving the ones he loved.
He was friend to many, daddy of seven and husband to our mother he forsook her never. A midget in size, a giant in heart. When it came to being neighborly, he truly played his part. A very hard worker he always did his best. Now he has left us to find some rest. We know he wasn’t perfect and some faults he had, but to us he was the greatest cause you see he was our Dad. Mr. Creel’s children then led songs on pages 378 and 385 in his memory. His grandchildren and great grandchildren led song on page 53 in his memory. Hester Creel, 155, 197.
Dismissed for lunch.
The afternoon session was brought together by Hubert Yarbrough leading song on page 434. Leaders were called: Walter Parker, Nora Parker, Ellen Johnston, Evelyn Duncan and Inez Parks led 277 and 129; Cindy Creel, 172, 327; Jessie Swindal, 73, 235; Kathleen Robbins, 142, 442; Ben Albright, 376, 290. At this time “Happy Birthday” was sung for Walter Parker and Jean Albright. Ozella Chafin, 301, 306 for Mae Seymour who is sick; Larry Ballinger, 56, 560; Dessie Goodman, 300, 67; Travis Keeton, 119, 44; Tom Harper, 411, 530; Flarce Creel, 120, 166; Philip Gilmore, 383, 49b; Unie B. Howard, 37b, 36b; Irvin Creel, 313, 312b; J. H. Ballinger, 402, 112.
Recess.
Hubert Yarbrough called the class together leading song on page 348. Leaders called were: Vernice Calvert, 183; Ann Jett, 35, 371; Tressie Adkin, 212, 428; Ethel Nix, 440; Ethel Childers, 186, 298; Robert Aldridge, 146; Bud Nix, 68b; Nora Parker and Walter, 299, 317; Edith Tate, 196, 110; Harrison Creel, 167, 512; Hubert Yarbrough then led song on page 335 as the closing song. Harrison Creel dismissed with prayer.
Hubert Yarbrough, Chairman
Dillie Harris, Vice Chairman
Nora Parker, Secretary
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