Mattie Lou O’Kelley: The
Long Journey to Success

Like most female artists of the early 20th century, O’Kelley endured far greater hardships than her male counterparts, made double challenging by the economic hardships faced by the Appalachian community during this time. O’Kelley was born in 1908 on her family’s farm near Maysville, Georgia. The death of her younger brother in 1919 marked the end of her formal education as she was required to work the family’s farm. Her father’s death during the Great Depression brought an end to family stability and financial security. As the only unmarried child remaining near home, she was expected to care for her ailing mother. She worked as a cook, seamstress, and factory worker to provide financial support for her mother.