Braggin’ Rights began with the marriage of Laine Cales and John Bragg in the early 1900s. From this union came nine children: Irene, Pearl, Pauline, Oma, Quincy, Erma, Coleman, Fred and Hubert, who died at birth. This family blessed us with stories that have been passed down through generations.
My sister Sandy and I inherited that wealth of history from our mom Oma and our dad Travis O’Bryan. Mom and Dad (Hix) told us stories about growing up in Summers County. These stories continued through the years, and we felt as if we intimately knew both the people and the land of Summers County.
After mom’s death in 2003, we began sharing these stories. In the summer of 2003, we invited people to the Chestnut Mountain Church to celebrate mom’s life. The church had once been the school the Bragg children attended.
After that first presentation, we continued to share the stories at libraries in Florida as well as at Pipestem Resort State Park. Our hope was that in sharing, other families would begin to learn about their own family history.
As an English teacher and a counselor, I found that students often do not know where they were in time. They don’t know their history, have a hard time understanding their role in the present, and face an even greater challenge in planning for their futures. Consequently, I decided that family history is important. Time passes quickly.
Last year, my sister Sandy Newell and her husband Jack passed away. Both, along with my parents, are in the O’Bryan Cemetery at Hix.
Unfortunately, I have unanswered questions. Sandy is not here to brainstorm answers with me. I remember how Mom would get so frustrated when her sisters did not remember an event in the same way she did! But there was still that history.
The Hinton News now gives me a way to share these family stories with you.
Mom, Dad, Sandy, and I left Williamsburg, West Virginia, for Fort White, Florida, when I was eight. Yet, we returned every chance we had — at least once a year. Summers County, Hinton, Chestnut Mountain and Hix have always been my “hometown.”
Where did these stories come from? Well, first, mom liked to talk.
On our West Virginia visits, there was a story around every curve and over every hill. Daddy, although very quiet, shared his stories as we hiked the paths he had walked as a child. Mother wrote poems published in “Where I Long to Go” and “Sunrise Beyond.”
Our Aunt Pearl wrote many stories and kept the many articles written about her. In 2017, Deanna Edens wrote Pearl, “You are cleared to land. Over the next months, I will share stories and poems with you.”
A Book: From Idea to Publication
In 2016, Sandy and I decided we would be a two-woman book club. She lived in Tallahassee, Florida, and I live in Munster, Indiana. We were tired of hashing the politics and problems of the day. We also wanted to read more about West Virginia and googled the internet for books.
One author who attracted our attention was Deanna Edens, who grew up in Sissonville, West Virginia. She is currently a school superintendent in Michigan. “Angels of the Appalachians” was the first book, then “Emma’s Attic”, and then “Will’s Journey.”
As we read the book, I had questions about the characters, Will, Ida, and Erma. I emailed the author — not really expecting a reply. Here is that first email I sent her:
(October 9, 2017)
Mrs. Edens,
My sister Sandy Newell and I decided not to spend time on the negatives in life so we decided to have a two-woman book club to discuss books during our weekly phone conversations. Sandy is a consultant for the Florida public libraries and lives in Tallahassee. I retired as a high school guidance counselor with the city of Hammond (Indiana) Schools. I currently teach English to English Language Learners.
Our parents, both teachers, grew up in southern West Virginia in Summers County. In 1953, they moved to North Florida.
Sandy and I have given several presentations about our West Virginia family. We call it Braggin’ Rights. Mom’s maiden name was Bragg. Our goal was to encourage families to collect their stories. As an English teacher in the south and a counselor in the Midwest, I found that many students did not know where they were from or where they currently are, or where they were going (metaphorically speaking).
The first book we read was “A Land Remembered” by Patrick Smith. It takes place in Florida after the Civil War and continues through the growing time in Florida. We also read “The River is Home” to contrast his first and last books.
We read Fannie Flagg’s book “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion.” Our aunt, Pearl Bragg Laska Chamberlin, was a WASP and the first woman to fly her own plane from the Lower 48 to Alaska. That book has a woman who also flies.
Then, we googled West Virginia and found your “Angels of the Appalachians” and the other books. We met Erma, Hank, Will, and Ida. These characters remind us of our relatives and friends in West Virginia.
Our next book is “Jinx.” Daddy was an agriculture teacher. During WWII, he taught returning veterans in White Sulphur Springs. As you can see, we choose books that are related to our memories!
I see that you are a superintendent in southern Michigan. Hammond is located in northwest Indiana, next to Chicago. Hammond is an urban system with a high percentage of minority students.
We have really enjoyed reading and discussing the characters in your books.
Libby Coffin
Here is her response:
Hello Libby,
Thank you very much for the kind email. Say hello to your sister Sandy! I think it is an amazing idea to have a two-woman book club that keeps you focused on good things in life. I love that your mom was a Bragg so that you have Braggin’ Rights — too funny! (I might need to use this in the book I am writing now — with your permission of course.)
My mother was a teacher and curriculum director for Kanawha County Schools and I grew up in a small town called Sissonville, which is close to Charleston. (You may remember Sissonville from the “Angels of the Appalachians” books.)
I have read “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion” because I am a fan of Fannie Flagg. It is wonderful that your aunt, Pearl, was a WASP!
I truly appreciate you both taking the time to read “Angels of the Appalachians.” The series is close to my heart because those are the people who helped shape who I am today.
I am very glad that you are reading “Jinx” because it may be the book that I love the most. (Actually, I probably have said that at one time or another about all of my books.) It is amazing that your dad taught the returning veterans at White Sulphur Springs. The Greenbrier is a place to visit if you ever get a chance. (Let me know what you think about “Jinx” when you finish it.)
It seems that we have a LOT in common! (I teach college classes online for Florida State College too.)
The district I work for is a very small, poor, rural district — but I do love the kids (runny noses and all.)
Thank you for reaching out to me, you have made my heart sing!
Please keep in touch and have a super blessed day!
Warm Regards,
Deanna
Until next time with another story,
Libby O’Bryan Coffin
