On Sunday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m. the First Baptist Church of Logan with feature Mrs. Felicia B. Johnston in "Daughter of the Guyandotte: The Life of Susan Covey Messinger."
Dr. Hickman, pastor, notes this special music event is a musical narrative about Mrs. Johnston's grandmother, Susan Covey Messinger, a native of Vanceville (now Rossmore), south of Logan. It includes tales of her ancestors and her descendants, and tells how the life in southern West Virginia changed during her lifetime, 1894-1993. Hardships of that rural life are a continual theme. The hour-long presentation will include artifacts and pictures from Mrs. Messinger's life.
This program is about the people of southern West Virginia, particularly those who lived and worked along the Guyandotte River. Mrs. Messinger's husband was Willard Messinger of Falls Creek, near West Hamlin. Her parents were Mary Ann Elizabeth Vance and Jeremiah Pate Covey Jr. Her great-great grandmother, Susannah Vance, settled the Vanceville area after the death of Susannah's husband, Abner Vance, in Abington, Va. Abner Vance wrote a ballad that has been passed down by his descendants. A Logan area musician, Dana Dorsey, assisted Mrs. Johnston in her research about that ballad.
Mrs. Johnston is a Huntington native and Marshal University graduate. Since her retirement from public school music teaching in Upshur County, she has been teaching and performing music ad is Co-Editor of Maryland Music Educator. She and her husband, Rev. Cyril Johnston, serve together in Side by Side Renewal Ministries, which provides preaching, music, coaching, editing and other services to churches and ministries. She is the daughter of Edna Messinger Burger of West Hamlin and the late Brady Burger of Branchland.
Dr. Hickman welcomes members of the community are welcome to attend what will be a wonderful evening revisiting tales of days past and enjoying the secular and spiritual music that influenced people's lives. The church's fellowship hall is located on 423 Main Street, Logan
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