Doris Ann Taylor

BELLE ATTENDS WV STATE FOLK FESTIVAL
Doris Ann Taylor represented Monroe County as the Belle for the 2024 WV State Folk Festival held in Glenville on June 21-23. She was sponsored by the Monroe Community Educational Outreach Service (CEOS). Her husband, Fred, accompanied her. Each Belle must be at least 70 years of age, reside in West Virginia, and possess the pioneering spirit. Every Belle stands out for her character, accomplishments, and impact on her community. The twenty-eight Belles were treated royally as guests of the town with gifts, food, and recognitions. On Friday they wore their costumes and were honored with a tea and a tour of the home of Sue and Ike Morris. For dinner they were served a delicious homecooked meal by the Gilmer County CEOS at the Gilmer County Senior Center where the ladies introduced themselves and promoted the historical places and other areas of interest in their home counties. The evening entertainment was folk fiddle and string music and storytelling at the Glenville State University Fine Arts Center. The Belles sang “WV Hills” on stage for the audience.

Saturday was the day of the grand parade where the 28 Belles, 21 Junior Belles, and 21 Baby Belles and Beaus walked or rode through downtown Glenville. Afterwards the Belles, Junior Belles, companions, and dignitaries were treated to lunch at the GSU Mollahan Center.  The afternoon and evening hours were filled with entertainment: adult and youth fiddle contests, gospel hymn sing, quilt show, and tours of the alumni center, Kanawha Valley Bank, and the Old Country Store. Even though the temperatures were in the 90’s, over 140 adults and children of all ages square danced each evening on the platform in the town square. Folk music was prevalent all over town. On Sunday morning the Belles and companions attended a church service at Job’s Temple, one of the oldest churches in the state, before they returned to their respective counties.

Doris Ann is a 45-year member of the Sinks Grove CEOS Club, a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, 4-H All-Star, and serves on the WVU Extension Board, Friends of THE Second Creek board, and several educational scholarship committees. She is also a member of the Monroe Historical Society. Throughout her life she has served as organist and pianist at various churches and retired in 2009 as an educator with thirty-three years of service for the Monroe Board of Education. She and Fred are the parents of two children and five grandchildren. Her family joined her in riding through Union’s Farmers Day Parade. She also participated in the Alderson Fourth of July Parade.
One thing Doris Ann would like to pass on to the young women of today is: “Value education; it’s the key to success. Keep learning something new no matter what age you are.”

Doris Ann Taylor riding in the parade at Glenville

Submitted by the Monroe Watchman

Doris Ann Taylor – UHS class of 1971