Barbara Brown Street

 

You can find APPALACHIAN WOMEN, especially women of Buchanan County, Virginia, everywhere in our country today. And

usually wherever you find them, these women will be making a difference in other people’s lives. It’s so much more than those women who are now in high ranking positions of prestigious companies. Appalachian women serve others in so many ways, health care,

education, church work, community giving, political affiliations, or just helping the neighbor down the street, down the holler, or around the hill.

 

Mountain women helping others is almost an inborn instinct. These women watched their mothers testify in church about God’s blessings in their life, and many of these mothers’ missions in life were to help others.

 

Women witnessed it personally and it came to be their mantra in life. I truly believe that because of my mother’s prayers, I’m the woman I am today. While many days I get confused or unsure that I should follow in my mom’s footsteps, I try to do as best as I can.

 

Today, I am privileged to live in Bristol, Tennessee, and I’m living the good years of my life. My path back to this area was not a straight road, in fact my plan was to live in Greenville, SC. One of my favorite songs is “Bless the Broken Road;”

I love it and it is so true in my life. As I said before, I never thought I would be this lucky or blessed. These mountains feed my heart and soul.

 

I was born in Vansant, VA to Don and Margie Brown, with Dr. Sutherland from Harming Mining Company delivering me at home. That was the way it was done back then.

 

I was the third born with two older brothers, Jack and Joe. My father was a miner whose hobby was reading and gardening. And he loved to reward himself for all the hard work with his favorite drink, brown liquor. My mother was just the opposite, she was in church at least three times a week. And looked forward to the church revivals. She was busy praising Jesus while Don was home napping and drinking. This is the setting where I entered the world in 1948 and learned so much from observing this match. However, I never figured out how two people so different decided to start a life together for such a long time. That marriage lasted over 45 years, until daddy died

of black lung. As a true southern woman, Margie loved Don’s memory, maybe more than she loved him the day she married him. And of course, shortly after his death, he ascended to the role of sainthood filled with only

fond memories. You know, that is just what southern women do.

 

My elementary years were at Vansant Elementary School in Vansant, Virginia. Most of my teachers were role models, dedicated to helping their children. I must admit, I had a few that taught me what not to do to help a child learn and grow emotionally and academically.

 

I learned to get the child you’re teaching to trust and love you, and to make that child feel they are so important in your life. There is not a more exciting feeling than to help a child learn something new. The look in their eye when they have accomplished something new just makes you know you’re doing the right thing in life. I tell people that there are soul-filling careers in life and teaching was definitely one of these. You get to feed your heart while helping others. At that time, there were so many women in the profession; while it’s still filled with so many competent woman, men have entered the profession more.

 

One of my favorite departments in high school was in the Business Department. Betty McClanahan was my favorite teacher. She was beautiful and nice to everyone. I took all the courses the department offered, and enjoyed them the best. My part-time job was working for Kermit Fuller, a book-keeper in Vansant, whose building I passed by daily on my way home from school. It probably took me six months to stop by and

ask if I could work in his office. I was so afraid to ask, but he was very welcome to have me work in the afternoons and on Saturday. Yep, in my mind, I was on my way. On my way to where, I didn’t quite know, but I was busy, occupied, and happy.

 

During high school, around the 11th grade, I figured I’d better start thinking about what to do when I graduated. Remember, I had always had teaching in my mind. In our area for women, you pretty much could be a secretary, a nurse, or a teacher. Your career options were pretty limited in the latter 1960’s. And where could I go to school, well of course the closest school available. That school was Pikeville College. It was a great comfort zone for me, so many other friends were there, and they had a business education and psychology degree to offer. Yep, I was on my way, still not exactly sure where I was going, but I felt I was improving my skills and getting a college education I was the first in my family.

 

College was a good experience, but I was in a hurry to be on my way; I figured out my schedule early in the freshmen year to get through in three years if I attended summers and took 18 hours of study each semester. And that is exactly what I did.

 

My first teaching job brought me back to home to Vansant, VA. Actually, I began teaching where I went to school. That sure was an interesting and different view this time. My former teachers were now my role models. Now those kind and caring women were the ones who took the extra time to help me teach others.

 

After a few years, I married and moved to Pennsylvania, wow what a cultural shock! But you know, students everywhere need pretty much the same things: love, attention, and kindness. For the most part, they are pretty eager to learn. I spent 30 years there in the business department of Cranberry High School, which was definitely an A plus job. In the early 2000’s, the offer for retirement came to those who had 30 years teaching experience at any age. I was 49 and would have had to wait until 55. Now with this incentive I could retire with full benefits; I decided to take advantage of the state’s offer. Again, I was on my way.

 

In about eight months, a good recess time for me, I decided to become Clarion University’s Coordinator of Career Service.

 

It was a fantastic time, and my favorite part was working with returning, non-traditional women. These women were so eager and determined to learn and get a job that would provide for their families. This was a wonderful experience for me. You will never have a feeling quite like the one you feel as you walk across a college campus. You have a population of people who are almost ready to enter the world of work.

 

After about five years at Clarion, I realized my mom’s personality was changing. She was in the beginning phases of that terrible disease where the mind is slipping. I had always wanted to move back south, and living in Greenville, SC was where I wanted to be. For about six years, I was able to live near my mom and spend more of my time with her until she passed away at 89. She was truly a strong mountain woman, willing to help others until her mind left her. I can still remember viewing her casket and seeing the flower arrangement with a ribbon on it that said “PRAYER WARRIOR,” I kept thinking she truly was that and more. She left a memory and legacy

with me that mountain women know how to pray and spend so much time praying for others.

 

After my mom passed away, I wondered again if this was where I should be. It was around 2009 that I moved to Bristol, Tennessee and married Jimmie Street, whom I had known all through school but just knew he lived up Dry Fork, VA. In those high school years, I think we must have been two of the shyest people in our graduating class. There was never much conversation during high school.

 

When Jim and I married, I was content to be home for a while but wondered if I should be doing things in the community that would benefit others. I’ve served on numerous community boards, but currently my love and passion is to chair The Morrison School Board. Morrison School is a private school for children who learn differently. The Morrison School is a wonderful place for children who need more attention than public school can always provide. The success stories of the students attending there is amazing.

 

While I’m currently not teaching directly, I’m in a position to try to help other teachers teach students. It is a rewarding experience that I cherish. I always share with people that helping others is the best thing you can do for yourself and the person you’re helping. With Jim’s support and help, we are able to do that. Our focus for giving is with children.