This Logan County native overcame the death of her husband in the mines to raise a family on hard work and little money. But she's best remembered for her mastery of the clawhammer banjo. Her influence on the traditional music community cannot be overstated. Deeply connected to her heritage and possessed with a sharp sense of humor, her philosophy on life was to "don't take more on your head than you can kick off your heels"—reflect her joyful spirit that most of life's trouble can be chased away, at least for a while, with some good music and dancing.

In addition to her recordings, her legacy lives on in many other ways. In 1984, she received the Vandalia Award, West Virginia's highest folklife honor. In 2023, a marker was dedicated in Chief Logan State Park honoring her contributions to old-time music.