Four Trailblazing Women of Appalachia, LISTEN To Their Stories

This week on Inside Appalachia, we’ll hear from women who overcame a lot of challenges to succeed as students, musicians, entrepreneurs and educators.

This week, we’ll hear from:

• Mrs. Eunice Fleming: An African American woman who went to school in the 40’s and went on to inspire others as a school teacher.

• Dr. Ollie Watts Davis: Once Mrs. Fleming’s student, Davis has had a very successful classical music career. She received a DMA in music from the University of Illinois, and she’s performed all over the world. When she made her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1990, Mrs. Fleming traveled to New York to see it.

• Dr. Kendra Boggess:  From scrubbing floors at her parents’ business in Florida to a University president in West Virginia, Boggess doesn’t have your typical higher education background.

• Judy Sheppard: The leader of a successful business based in her home state. Sheppard grew up with what she calls “nothing” – no electricity, no running water, no telephone, no television, and no toys.

  

  Credit Mountain of Hope and Mount Hope High School Alumni Association

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How did Mt. Hope, West Virginia get its name?

If you have another story about Mt. Hope, or know of another place in Appalachia with an interesting sound or mysterious folklore behind it, send us a tweet @InAppalachia #WhatsinaName.

Music in today’s show was provided by Darlingside, with “God of Loss”as heard on Mountain Stage, Ben Townsend, Ollie Watts Davis, Ethel Caffie Austin,  Jake Schepps and Dolly Parton. Our What’s in a Name theme music is by Marteka and William.

We’d love to hear from you.   You can e-mail us at feedback@wvpublic.org. Find us on Twitter @InAppalachia or @JessicaYLilly. Inside Appalachia is produced by Roxy Todd and Jessica Lilly. Our editor is Catherine Winter.