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“West Virginia’s First Lady of Gospel Music” was born in Bluefield and raised in Mount Hope. She played piano by age six and led church choirs by age 12. She earned an English degree and taught school for 20 years—while always making music.
In college, she formed her own gospel choir. Later, she taught music to kids in Charleston and took them to major gospel events. Her group sang at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
She performed across the U.S., in Europe, and in Africa. She appeared at the Kennedy Center, founded a gospel festival, recorded music and lessons, and was featured in a documentary. She won the Vandalia Award in 2006—the state's highest folklife honor—and was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2020.
