Lillie D. Chaffin was born February 1, 1925 to Kenis and Fairybelle Dorton at Varney, Kentucky. Growing up during the Depression, at a time when most children did not attend first grade until the age of six, if at all, Lillie insisted on starting at age four. She had her way and graduated eighth grade at age twelve. Her father, unemployed due to a railroad accident, could not afford to send her to high school. With the help of an understanding school superintendent she was able to attend Johns Creek High School in Pike County, but soon dropped out to marry Thomas Chaffin in 1942. She returned three years later and graduated valedictorian in 1947. Following graduation she earned a bachelor's degree from Pikeville College and began what would become a twenty-eight year career as a teacher and librarian in the public school system.
Mrs. Chaffin was a poet laureate for Kentucky and a Pulitzer Prize nominee for poetry. She received several writing awards, including the Alice Lloyd College Poet of the Year award, the International Poetry Prize, Breadloaf's Jane Tinkham Broughton Award, Best Book Award from Child Study Association of America and Best Picture Book of the Year award from American Pen Women.
In 1981, following the death of her husband Thomas, she moved to Clearwater, Florida. It was there where she met and married Vernon O. Kash, a doctor who died of cancer in 1985.
After being diagnosed with cancer, she moved to her son's hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. She died October 27, 1993 at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Mrs. Chaffin was a poet laureate for Kentucky and a Pulitzer Prize nominee for poetry. She received several writing awards, including the Alice Lloyd College Poet of the Year award, the International Poetry Prize, Breadloaf's Jane Tinkham Broughton Award, Best Book Award from Child Study Association of America and Best Picture Book of the Year award from American Pen Women.
In 1981, following the death of her husband Thomas, she moved to Clearwater, Florida. It was there where she met and married Vernon O. Kash, a doctor who died of cancer in 1985.
After being diagnosed with cancer, she moved to her son's hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. She died October 27, 1993 at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Lillie D. Chaffin was born February 1, 1925 to Kenis and Fairybelle Dorton at Varney, Kentucky. Growing up during the Depression, at a time when most children did not attend first grade until the age of six, if at all, Lillie insisted on starting at age four. She had her way and graduated eighth grade at age twelve. Her father, unemployed due to a railroad accident, could not afford to send her to high school. With the help of an understanding school superintendent she was able to attend Johns Creek High School in Pike County, but soon dropped out to marry Thomas Chaffin in 1942. She returned three years later and graduated valedictorian in 1947. Following graduation she earned a bachelor's degree from Pikeville College and began what would become a twenty-eight year career as a teacher and librarian in the public school system.
Mrs. Chaffin was a poet laureate for Kentucky and a Pulitzer Prize nominee for poetry. She received several writing awards, including the Alice Lloyd College Poet of the Year award, the International Poetry Prize, Breadloaf's Jane Tinkham Broughton Award, Best Book Award from Child Study Association of America and Best Picture Book of the Year award from American Pen Women.
In 1981, following the death of her husband Thomas, she moved to Clearwater, Florida. It was there where she met and married Vernon O. Kash, a doctor who died of cancer in 1985.
After being diagnosed with cancer, she moved to her son's hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. She died October 27, 1993 at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Mrs. Chaffin was a poet laureate for Kentucky and a Pulitzer Prize nominee for poetry. She received several writing awards, including the Alice Lloyd College Poet of the Year award, the International Poetry Prize, Breadloaf's Jane Tinkham Broughton Award, Best Book Award from Child Study Association of America and Best Picture Book of the Year award from American Pen Women.
In 1981, following the death of her husband Thomas, she moved to Clearwater, Florida. It was there where she met and married Vernon O. Kash, a doctor who died of cancer in 1985.
After being diagnosed with cancer, she moved to her son's hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. She died October 27, 1993 at Cabell Huntington Hospital.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
