I was born on a cold winter day–January 11th to be exact–to my Mom and Dad, their first child. I grew up in impoverished circumstances, but I didn’t really realize that until I went to school. I had a sister born almost two years later, no brothers; I really wanted a brother, but it wasn’t to be. I spent my childhood in the mountains of West Virginia. Rugged fields were my territory to explore. I loved the creatures, plants, and seasons that allowed my mind to be constantly stimulated. I was so curious about everything that I saw, heard and felt. I think I must have been a real pest to my Dad with all my “why” questions. I woke up one morning able to read books–what joy that was for me! We were too poor to have but a couple of books in our house, so I was very limited in my reading material until I went to school. I discovered a library where I was able to travel to anywhere in and out of this world. I am still an avid reader and Science Fiction is my favorite.

We did not have television when I was growing up, and our family spent the evenings singing. My Dad played guitar and the harmonica and we sang. I learned old country songs, and still can remember the tunes and words to some of the things we sang. When I started school, I would sing every chance I got up on the stage. I knew I had a talent, but because of living so far back in the country, I did not have the opportunity to take voice lessons or use that talent to entertain.

I married and had four children, three boys and a girl. As I became involved in that period of my life, my singing got sidelined. I did not work outside the home until my children were in high school. I did factory type work. I divorced my first husband, continued to work, and later went to college in the evenings and worked a forty-hour week. I majored in retail, took another job in the retail field and worked until 1990. I came back from Baltimore in 1990 when my Dad became ill. I helped my parents as long as they lived, managing their affairs when they were too ill to take care of themselves. My only sister had died in 1962, so I was the only one to see to my parents’ care. I still was working the retail field when I married for the second time. My first husband had died in the late 1980’s so I was accustomed to being alone and working to support myself.

My love of music had not ceased, but the necessity of earning a living did not allow me the time to pursue it. In 1991 I met my second husband Harold. I quit working outside the home, and things got easier for me. I had the luxury of staying home, actually taking keyboard lessons and getting involved with music again. I took two years out of my music to serve a mission in Houston, Texas as a missionary for the Mormon church. This experience really opened my mind, and allowed me to experience some of my youthful dreams. I had always wanted to travel and so I got my fill. No place in the world will ever be more special than these hills where I call home.

My children and grandchildren live in the Baltimore area and I have very little family here–most are dead–so my friends and hobbies take my time. I have leadership responsibilities in my church, I have keyboard classes and gigs and now my ten months with the Ladybirds have added to my list of interests. I am now able to pursue music, one of my original fun things to do. I am glad for the opportunity to be involved in music and to have added the Ladybirds to the list of people I call friends.