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Our Part of Earth!
Nestled in the mountains of Southwest Virginia
Dickenson County (Virginia's Baby)
in the Heart of Appalachia, in God's Country.
Dickenson County (Virginia's Baby)
in the Heart of Appalachia, in God's Country.
Lillie Walcie Boyd Coleman (Maw) was born August 20, 1899, one of 13 children
of Columbus and Mary Bowman Boyd. She began her life in Buchanan County
and later moved to Dickenson County.
The Boyd clan originally came to this area five generations back from Franklin
County, Virginia, moonshine capitol of the world. Yes, this tradition did continue
on through the generations and a number of the kin folk have been know to run off
a little brew.
In 1917, she married Henry Harlis Coleman. She bore 13 children, and also
raised as many as 30 foster children, many of whom affectionately called her
"Mom", "Mammaw" or "MAW" Walcie kept watch over the house and would take
the children to the fields where they raised their basic food supplies, as well as
tobacco. The fields were plowed using mules.
Most of Maw's life was spent in Dickenson County. She remembered seeing the
first car go down the road, and enjoyed hunting ginseng throughout the hills of
southwestern Virginia. For more from Maw, see Maw's Remedies.
Maw's Maw ran a little grocery store nearby and taught her to use many of our
native plants in cooking and in home remedies. Maw's Maw was part Cherokee
Indian. Maw was at home in the woods and digging in the dirt. (But, she did
enjoy slipping off to go fishing.) They would gather herbs and other native plants
to use, either as food or medicines. Every time one of the kids was sick, she
would come out with something to cure what ailed us. We always seemed to
start feeling better pretty soon after. I'm not sure if it really cured what ailed us or
if we were just certain that we didn't want to take any more of a bad tasting or bad
smelling concoction. They don't all taste bad and we've come to love and
appreciate many of them. Read
Harlis was known throughout the area for his tobacco. His plants had a distinct
look that was recognized by local farmers and the buyers at the tobacco
warehouse where he sold his crop each year.
Harlis was also known to enjoy a little white lightening if he got the chance and
was once thrown in jail for trying to peddle some in the old mining town of
Stienman. His nickname was "soda". How he got this name is quite an
interesting story. As you now know he was known to partake in a little shine. On
his way to work one morning, after a weekend of partaking, he was feeling under
the weather. The only way that he knew to relieve his symptoms was to find some
baking soda to use as an antacid. So, what did he do but walk up to the first
door that he came to and ask for some baking soda. Little did he know at the
time that he was knocking on the door of his boss from the coal mines where he
worked! From that day on he was known as soda.
Life in these mountains was hard during their time but the people learned to
appreciate life's simple pleasures. Time seems to move slower and one has
plenty of time to ponder. She often commented, "When are people going to stop
fighting and killing each in the name of religion?" "There is only one god, doesn't
matter what we call him." "Live by God's rules, not man made rules." And
another one that always amazed me, "Do you think they really landed on the
moon?"
She lived to 104 years and contributed her longevity to the Lord and clean living!
But, we all know that she had a wild side. MAW riding with Jim Yates on the back
of his motorcycle @ 102 years!
of Columbus and Mary Bowman Boyd. She began her life in Buchanan County
and later moved to Dickenson County.
The Boyd clan originally came to this area five generations back from Franklin
County, Virginia, moonshine capitol of the world. Yes, this tradition did continue
on through the generations and a number of the kin folk have been know to run off
a little brew.
In 1917, she married Henry Harlis Coleman. She bore 13 children, and also
raised as many as 30 foster children, many of whom affectionately called her
"Mom", "Mammaw" or "MAW" Walcie kept watch over the house and would take
the children to the fields where they raised their basic food supplies, as well as
tobacco. The fields were plowed using mules.
Most of Maw's life was spent in Dickenson County. She remembered seeing the
first car go down the road, and enjoyed hunting ginseng throughout the hills of
southwestern Virginia. For more from Maw, see Maw's Remedies.
Maw's Maw ran a little grocery store nearby and taught her to use many of our
native plants in cooking and in home remedies. Maw's Maw was part Cherokee
Indian. Maw was at home in the woods and digging in the dirt. (But, she did
enjoy slipping off to go fishing.) They would gather herbs and other native plants
to use, either as food or medicines. Every time one of the kids was sick, she
would come out with something to cure what ailed us. We always seemed to
start feeling better pretty soon after. I'm not sure if it really cured what ailed us or
if we were just certain that we didn't want to take any more of a bad tasting or bad
smelling concoction. They don't all taste bad and we've come to love and
appreciate many of them. Read
Harlis was known throughout the area for his tobacco. His plants had a distinct
look that was recognized by local farmers and the buyers at the tobacco
warehouse where he sold his crop each year.
Harlis was also known to enjoy a little white lightening if he got the chance and
was once thrown in jail for trying to peddle some in the old mining town of
Stienman. His nickname was "soda". How he got this name is quite an
interesting story. As you now know he was known to partake in a little shine. On
his way to work one morning, after a weekend of partaking, he was feeling under
the weather. The only way that he knew to relieve his symptoms was to find some
baking soda to use as an antacid. So, what did he do but walk up to the first
door that he came to and ask for some baking soda. Little did he know at the
time that he was knocking on the door of his boss from the coal mines where he
worked! From that day on he was known as soda.
Life in these mountains was hard during their time but the people learned to
appreciate life's simple pleasures. Time seems to move slower and one has
plenty of time to ponder. She often commented, "When are people going to stop
fighting and killing each in the name of religion?" "There is only one god, doesn't
matter what we call him." "Live by God's rules, not man made rules." And
another one that always amazed me, "Do you think they really landed on the
moon?"
She lived to 104 years and contributed her longevity to the Lord and clean living!
But, we all know that she had a wild side. MAW riding with Jim Yates on the back
of his motorcycle @ 102 years!
MAW - Lillie Walcie Coleman
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Appalachia How do you pronounce it? Best described by Kate and Andrea from Illinois. Apple-Atcha! These mountains are rich with history and recreational opportunities. If you're an outdoors enthusiast there's something here for you. Hiking and biking trails offer picturesque scenery and a mountain challenge that can range from beginner to expert. You may even want to search for the lost Swift Silver Mine! Paddling the Russell Fork is a popular local sport. Folks from around the world come to visit for a ride down the river! Into Bluegrass Music? The Ralph Stanley Museum The Crooked Road Mountain Folks live off the land. We love the outdoors. Local luthiers' custom build banjos, fiddles, mandolins and guitars. Visit the Breaks Interstate Park The Grand Canyon of the South Dickenson County Chamber of Commerce Official Dickenson County Site Non Official Dickenson Co. Site Virginia Tourism Corporation Reedy Railroad & Coal Museum Haysi - Clinchco Lions Club |
Maw was always amazed at the possibilities of the Internet and that people from around the world could communicate and access information with a few clicks on a keyboard. Although she was not able to travel the globe, she was excited to think that others from around the world would know who she was and to be able to see the natural beauty of this region. |
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