The Silent Appalachian

The late Vicki Sigmon Collins taught English at the University of South Carolina Aiken. She won the 2015 University Service Award and the 2016 Excellence in Teaching Award. Her work appeared in MoonShine Review, Kakalak, and The Southern Poetry Anthology: North Carolina. She lived in Graniteville, South Carolina.

Table of Contents


Preface

Introduction

Part I. Physical Affliction

1. Autistic Characters

Christopher “Stump” Hall • A Land More Kind Than Home

Wiley Cash

Jaxon McKenzie • There Are No Words by Mary Calhoun Brown

Lonnie • Deliverance directed by John Boorman

Raymond Babbitt • Rain Man directed by Peter Guber and

Jon Peters

Aunt Jo • Creeker by Linda Scott Rosier

2. Characters with Congenital Hydrocephalous

Juney Hall • On Agate Hill by Lee Smith

Termite • Lark and Termite by Jane Anne Phillips

3. Characters Afflicted with Dyslalia (Apraxia or Aphasia)

Millie Floyd and Frankie and Verdie Pennybacker • Tales of Chinkapin Creek by Jean Ayer

Lonnie Spikes • Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

Celestine • Refuge by Dot Jackson

4. The Mute

Henry and Melvin • Amy directed by Vincent McEveety

Holly • The Waltons directed by Earl Hammer

Mountie ­O’Teale • Christy directed by Tom Blomquist

Cletus Gentry • Signs in the Blood by Vicki Lane

Clive • Tragedy in Tin Can Holler by Rozetta Mowery

Herbert Mullens and Belton Light • Billy Creekmore by Tracey

Porter

Least • The Day of Small Things by Vicki Lane

Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins • “Hawkins’ Boy” by Charles Dodd White

Peter • The Good Dream by Donna VanLiere

5. Silenced by Stroke

Roy Luther • Where the Lilies Bloom by Vera and Bill Cleaver

Granny Took • On Agate Hill by Lee Smith

Louisa Mae Cardinal • Wish You Well by David Baldacci

Esther Walton • The Waltons directed by Earl Hammer

Vine’s Cherokee Father • A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House

Part II. Emotional Factors

 6. Characters Who Display Idioglossia and/or Cryptophasia

Nell • Nell directed by Michael Apted

Twins Frank and Delores • Nightwoods by Charles Frazier

 7. The Voice of Glossalia

Ginny Powell • The Truest Pleasure by Robert Morgan

The Primitive Baptist “Dunkers” • Wish You Well by David Baldacci

Adam, Blue and the Professor • Sunday’s Silence by Gina B. Nahai

Janet Hollar • Tear Down the Mountain: An Appalachian Love Story by Roger Alan Skipper

Preacher Clyde Freeman • The Evening Hour by Carter Sickels

Sarah Beth Childers • Shake Terribly the Earth by Sarah Beth

Childers

 8. A Stuttering Silence

Cole Freeman • The Evening Hour by Carter Sickels

 9. Silenced by Trauma or Grief

Jane Woodrow (Woody) Carmody • Tomorrow River by Lesley

Kagan

Mark and Maggie Underhill • The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter

Sharyn McCrumb

Sally Swanger • Cold Mountain directed by Anthony Minghella

Fia Forbes • The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers

Vine Sullivan • A Parchment of Leaves by Robert Morgan

Nola Barrett • In a Dark Season by Vicki Lane

Spence Hall • On Agate Hill by Lee Smith

Evalina, Pan and Other “Guests” • Guests on Earth by Lee Smith

Nicky and Angela • The Deer Hunter directed by Michael Cimino

Sam Bledsoe • Christmas Hope by Leslie Lynch

Pip • The Waltons directed by Earl Hammer

Emma • Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain

The Jesup Family • “Hell and Ohio” by Chris Holbrook

Amanda Cardinal • Wish You Well by David Baldacci

10. A Sacred Silence

Mary and Reverend William Thompson • The Circuit Rider by Corra

Mae White Harris

Uncle Edward • Tales of Chinkapin Creek by Jean Ayer

11. Silenced by Fear

Rose-Johnny • “Rose-Johnny” by Barbara Kingsolver

Wives and Daughters of Coal Miners • Truth Be Told: Perspectives on the Great West Virginia Mine War by Weiss Harris

Walter • The Cove by Ron Rash

Rachel Harmon, Mrs. Galloway and McIntyre • Serena by Ron Rash

Daleen Leigh • Sister of Silence by Daleen Berry

Chris Allen • Milton’s Child by Kit Thornton

Bea Todd • Appalachian Child: The Chronicles of an Abused Child and Her Journey to Survival by Bea Todd

Patience Murphy • The Midwife of Hope River by Patricia Harman

The MacPherson Family • The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

Liz, Bean and Earl • The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls

Ruby Pickett and Iris Stevens • Secret City by Julia Watts

12. The Silence of Deference

Gertie Nevels • The Dollmaker by Harriette Simpson Arnow

The Women • Oral History by Lee Smith

Julie Richards • Gap Creek by Robert Morgan

Lonnie Sawyer ­O’Riley • Be Still My Soul by Joanne Bichof

13. A Legacy of Silence

Eugene Gant • Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe

The Follett Family • A Death in Family by James Agee

The Stargill Family • The Rosewood Casket by Sharyn McCrumb

The Arnette Family • Pretending to Dance by Diane Chamberlain

Part III. Social Hindrances

14. Silenced by Hardship

The Women • Spirit of the Mountains by Emma Bell Miles

Almeda, Amos and Jonah • Tales of Chinkapin Creek, Volume II

Jane Ayer

The Walls Family • The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Lydia Hawkins • Child of the Mountains by Marilyn Sue Shank

15. A Shunning Silence

Mary • A Circuit Rider’s Wife by Corra Mae White Harris

16. The Silence of Ignorance and Poverty

Emma McClure • To Make My Bread by Grace Lumpkin

Tom Powell • The Truest Pleasure by Robert Morgan

Barle McCorkle • “Mother Yaws” by Tennessee Williams

Rinthy and the Nameless One • Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy

Joe • “The Lost Dog” by Chris Holbrook

The Lamb Family • Bloodroot by Amy Greene

Mary Ella • Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

Index