Nebraska author, Myra Alley Kingsbury, who grew up in the West Virginia hills, recently wrote Mawzy’s Hope Chest, a memoir of her grandmother, Grace Louise Walker, affectionately known as Mawzy.
Kingsbury will be present for book signings on Wednesday, August 9 from noon to 3 p.m. at Otter and Oak, 302 2nd Avenue, Hinton, WV, and will have several of Mawzy’s Hope Chest items on display.
In the book, Kingsbury describes how Mawzy, who was born in southern West Virginia’s coal mining country near the turn of the 20th century, grew to be the matriarch and inspiration for her siblings, her children, her grandchildren, hundreds of schoolchildren, and her church family. Mawzy lived in the Gentry Holler coal camp during the Great Depression, survived a divorce, found success as a single mother in an unaccepting era, and worked hard to become a beloved school principal of Springdale Elementary. She spent most of her life in Fayette County.
“Mawzy faced many tragedies in her life,” Myra explains. “The way she picked up and moved on each time reveals the strength of her moral fiber. When one door closed, she found another to open and stepped into it with grace and purpose. It’s a story of empowerment in challenging times.”
Kingsbury received her undergraduate degree at Concord University in West Virginia, a master’s degree from The Ohio State University, and later earned a Certified Financial Planner® designation. Kingsbury spent 28 years of her professional career as a financial advisor in South Sioux City, NE. Much of her success in life she attributes to Mawzy’s guidance.
Proceeds from book sales will go toward the Hope Chest Scholarship, established in honor of Mawzy. The scholarship will provide financial assistance for women studying education or finance at Concord University.
“I am excited that the first recipient of the scholarship was recently selected,” notes Kingsbury. “I know Mawzy would be pleased, as she saw education as an important key in improving one’s lot in life.”
