Submitted photo Barbour County writers sharing their songs, essays, and poetry included Tiffani Green, who played her ukulele and sang original songs; Barry Row, who read a prose piece; Carol Del Col, who read both her poems and those of her deceased husband, Jeff Del Col; Cheryl Denise, who read her poetry; Cathy McMenamy, who read one of her essays; Julie Miller, who read her poetry; and Bill Calhoun, who read a few of his poems.

PHILIPPI — Representatives of the Barbour County Writers’ Workshop gathered recently to celebrate 50 years of writing.

The Barbour County Writers’ Workshop began 50 years ago on the campus of Alderson-Broaddus College under the leadership of Barbara Smith, who was also celebrated the evening of April 24 in the 17 N Event Center in downtown Philippi.

Through the years, Smith was “a freelance writer, editor, and medical ethicist, emerita professor of literature and writing and former chair of the division of the humanities at AB.

She also was a church leader, a community activist, and a sports nut,” according to one of her many publications. Smith founded the local writers group.

Scores of local writers have met over the years helping each other by encouraging the creative juices that feed the writer’s font of ideas, by nurturing the hard work that goes into the writing process, by critiquing and making suggestions for each other’s work, and by applauding the success of finishing a piece of quality writing. Numerous workshop writers are now published authors and poets. Seven workshop writers shared some of their works with the attendees at the evening’s celebration.

Cheryl Denise served as MC for the evening, introducing those in attendance to the Writers’ Workshop, the Workshop founder Barbara Smith, now deceased, and to the individual writers in attendance.

For budding writers who are interested in meeting with other writers, contact Denise at cheryldenisem@yahoo.com.