Stories of Mountain Folk

Aletha Watson Barker, 97 years young. Her grandfather was the original owner of Roper Mountain in upstate South Carolina. Born in 1921, Aletha tells her own story with the drama beginning at the age of five…a story full of bravery, love, faith, and dedication to family. Listen now to one woman’s walk through the garden of life.

Aletha Watson Barker, 97 years young. Her grandfather was the original owner of Roper Mountain in upstate South Carolina. Born in 1921, Aletha tells her own story with the drama beginning at the age of five…a story full of bravery, love, faith, and dedication to family. Listen now to one woman’s walk through the garden of life.

Aletha Watson Barker, 97 years young. Her grandfather was the original owner of Roper Mountain in upstate South Carolina. Born in 1921, Aletha tells her own story with the drama beginning at the age of five…a story full of bravery, love, faith, and dedication to family. Listen now to one woman’s walk through the garden of life.

Aletha Watson Barker, 97 years young. Her grandfather was the original owner of Roper Mountain in upstate South Carolina. Born in 1921, Aletha tells her own story with the drama beginning at the age of five…a story full of bravery, love, faith, and dedication to family. Listen now to one woman’s walk through the garden of life.

Aletha Watson Barker, 97 years young. Her grandfather was the original owner of Roper Mountain in upstate South Carolina. Born in 1921, Aletha tells her own story with the drama beginning at the age of five…a story full of bravery, love, faith, and dedication to family. Listen now to one woman’s walk through the garden of life.

Listen to the soothing sounds of Nita’s voice as she shares precious memories of the life of a mountain girl who didn’t know her family was poor. A childhood with parents who taught core values gave Nita a solid foundation, assisting her as she finishes school and expands her horizons by working for the FBI, in banking, and in insurance and investments. In retirement she has become a prolific writer. Check out csabooks.com to learn more about her book

Annie Lee Bryson, 2010 winner of Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Award, was a legend in her own time. Born in a long line of pioneers in Western North

Carolina, this lady touched thousands of lives with her “corn

husk dolls”—dolls who have found their way all over the

world. Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) is fortunate to

have known and worked with Annie Lee.

Born in 1940, Roy Owenby grew up in Nantahala, NC. With a childhood lived in the richness of the forest, Roy learned to depend on nature and himself. This type of childhood gave him a creative foundation on which to rely for the rest of his life. A prolific writer, he draws his stories and characters from experiences and people he has known from his many different lifestyles. Listen now to an interview with a mountain man who has actually traveled the world, and in doing so, embraced home.

Here is David Ammons, chair caner, who tells the story of how as a child he learned chair caning while watching his grandpa, Tom Ammons. In his words: “I watched in awe as he wove his magic piece by piece, bottoming the chair in a herringbone weave from white oak splints. I had no idea I would one day take up the craft also. Now as I weave, I can feel his presence.”

Here is a touching rendition of old time memories of a family of 10, including mom and dad, who moved to Ellijay, NC by sled, where the children walked, helping to carry all their belongings to a small 2-room house with no windows or door. Told by a 90-year-old true mountain woman, Bessie Gertrude Coggins Stiwinter Crawford.