About the Barn Lady
I am a native of Summers County. I was born at the home of my paternal grandparents, Calvin Irvin and Ivy (Pitzer) Campbell just about a mile from the entrance gate of the 4-H Camp. My parents were Hallie Ellen Thompson from Ballengee and Oley Irvin Campbell from Barger Springs(both deceased). I had one sister, Berneda Madeline, who died in 1981. My great-grandparents, Andrew and Eliza Campbell donated land to Summers County for the 4-H Camp. They also donated trees that were used to build the log cabins that are still in use today. Visit their web site http://www.campsummerswv.com/ and learn about all the new things going on there in addition to 4-H Activities.
I grew up in Beckley but my childhood summers were spent at my grandparents' farms. I have an abiding love for the people and the country that they call "home".
Today, my husband, A. C. Whitley, and I have a cottage on the Greenbrier River just a few yards from where I was born and just 1 mile from the 4-H Camp. It is a beautiful, peaceful place that we enjoy along with family and friends.
My grandparent’s home was replaced a few years ago by a magnificent house. I was sad to see the old home go. But time marches on and things change. Perhaps this is another reason I felt so compelled to produce this book.
For 32 years I worked for Verizon in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia, plus several years at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York City and New Jersey as a Business System Analyst.
Taking early retirement from the telephone company, A. C. and I had an insurance agency and an investment company at our home for several years until we decided to retire from business ventures. When we are not at the cottage on the Greenbrier we like to travel. Trips to France, Northern Ireland, Italy and Egypt have been among our favorite.
We have been actively involved in a Sister City* exchange with Fréjus, France for over 20 years. Visits with friends in Fréjus are made as often as possible. In November, 2011 a festival in Fréjus featured the book and photographs of some of the barns in the book. In June 2012 an Art Exhibition in a Gallery in Saint Aygulf, France featured the photographs again.
* Sister Cities International is an organization established by President Eisenhower to link American cities with other cities around the world, to acquire a consciousness of each other, to understand one another as individuals, as members of their community, as citizens of their country, and as members of a family of nations, promoting Peace in a personal way.
I have dedicated the majority of my time over four years to the completion of this project. I have been blessed with help from family and friends. Dementi Milestone Publishing and the printing firm, Justens took my dream and made it a reality.
I passionately believe that the heritage, the culture, and more importantly, the people who created the barns are treasures that must be preserved for future generations.
Life is good!
Phyllis Campbell Whitley
The Barn Lady of Summers County
I grew up in Beckley but my childhood summers were spent at my grandparents' farms. I have an abiding love for the people and the country that they call "home".
Today, my husband, A. C. Whitley, and I have a cottage on the Greenbrier River just a few yards from where I was born and just 1 mile from the 4-H Camp. It is a beautiful, peaceful place that we enjoy along with family and friends.
My grandparent’s home was replaced a few years ago by a magnificent house. I was sad to see the old home go. But time marches on and things change. Perhaps this is another reason I felt so compelled to produce this book.
For 32 years I worked for Verizon in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia, plus several years at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York City and New Jersey as a Business System Analyst.
Taking early retirement from the telephone company, A. C. and I had an insurance agency and an investment company at our home for several years until we decided to retire from business ventures. When we are not at the cottage on the Greenbrier we like to travel. Trips to France, Northern Ireland, Italy and Egypt have been among our favorite.
We have been actively involved in a Sister City* exchange with Fréjus, France for over 20 years. Visits with friends in Fréjus are made as often as possible. In November, 2011 a festival in Fréjus featured the book and photographs of some of the barns in the book. In June 2012 an Art Exhibition in a Gallery in Saint Aygulf, France featured the photographs again.
* Sister Cities International is an organization established by President Eisenhower to link American cities with other cities around the world, to acquire a consciousness of each other, to understand one another as individuals, as members of their community, as citizens of their country, and as members of a family of nations, promoting Peace in a personal way.
I have dedicated the majority of my time over four years to the completion of this project. I have been blessed with help from family and friends. Dementi Milestone Publishing and the printing firm, Justens took my dream and made it a reality.
I passionately believe that the heritage, the culture, and more importantly, the people who created the barns are treasures that must be preserved for future generations.
Life is good!
Phyllis Campbell Whitley
The Barn Lady of Summers County
