She walked 3 miles through the woods and down the mountain every day, regardless of the weather, just to catch the school bus. And she traversed the same three miles trudging back up the mountain at the end of the day. In total she walked 5,400 miles to and from school and never missed a day. With perfect attendance, making honor roll every year, graduating third in a large senior class, she wanted more than anything to go to college. But her family couldn’t possibly afford it on her father’s coal miner’s pay. This was Charlotte, who grew up one of 11 children of Howard and Lona Hackney on Hackney Ridge in Haysi, Virginia, population 477. Her teachers and friends, both in awe of and appreciation for her integrity and perseverance, chipped in to make it possible for Charlotte to obtain a small loan to get her to college, at least the first year. After that, she’d have to earn it herself the rest of the way, and she did. Upon graduation from High School, she went directly to Hiwassee College for her freshman year. Charlotte eventually made it to Nashville where she attended and graduated from Peabody College for Teachers and met husband John in 1973. John Sharpe created this fund to honor Charlotte’s determination to earn an education, and at the same time to honor her family, her home community and to create a legacy for her in Dickenson County, Virginia.
