Story Crossroads

Cap’s Off to You! – Beverly Cottman (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story

Featuring: Beverly Cottman

Marvelous Multi-disciplinary Artist, Long-time Teacher, Awesome Activist

Beverly Cottman was really known as Auntie Beverly or Sister Beverly. She worked with the Minneapolis Schools for such a time, but it was more than being with those students. She felt it important to support and love the next generation and was truly like family to so many.

She had so many talents from dancing to teaching to storyteller. She earned her title of “multi-disciplinary artist.” Deservedly, she received the COMPAS Teaching Artist of the Year in 2022. She felt that all arts could be accommodated. Arts gave the chance to use your unique talents combined with the “wisdom of the ancestors” to empower, transform, and transcend.

She made her purposes known. While all artists could use an artistic statement, Beverly wished for everyone to know and posted it on her website.

Here is her artistic statement:

I am a storyteller. The stories I tell are based on African and African-American folktales, myths, fables and traditions. The audiences are children and adults in venues as varied as libraries, birthday parties, theaters, conference rooms and school auditoriums. I practice the African Oral Tradition for education and entertainment. The stories teach values, instill pride, evoke self love and celebrate culture.

I use an ancient technique with a contemporary twist. The language of the village is given city syntax; African rhythms are juxtaposed on urban beats; flowing traditional garments are transformed into hip outfits. I place old stories in modern settings keeping the themes of peace, love, friendship, culture and unity in tact. I am a modern-day “griot” delivering wisdom of the ages in a voice of the present for the future.

What an example for all of us artists and humans!

Thank you, Beverly–really Auntie Beverly–and what you will continue to influence for good.

If you have links to add – video, audio, articles – please share by emailing info@storycrossroads.org or commenting on this blog post.

You can see more details on Beverly Cottman with the Story Artists Memorial.

The video below is an educational presentation blended with story. Being a multi-disciplinary artist, it felt appropriate to share this particular piece here.

Do you know a Story Artist who has passed on and want others to remember them? Memories? Pictures? You can submit names and memories of Story Artists who have passed on through our online form.

I appreciate Beverly Cottman for always educating people about storytelling by example. Her legacy is forever and celebrated. She is reunited with her husband Bill (Uncle Bill). I look forward to when I am reunited and can hear her wisdom again.

Beverly still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.

Cap’s Off to You! – Anne Wallace (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story

Featuring: Anne Wallace

Exemplar Librarian, Happy Collaborator, Comforter of Veterans

Anne Wallace was part of an Army family and traveled the world that included Canada, Alaska, Japan, Egypt, China, Bahrain and Belgium. Every place she lived, she absorbed the stories while also working to ease the burdens of veterans and others connected to military life. Eventually, she got to settle in Fayetteville, Georgia. She surrounded herself with stories and then shared these stories with others.

Beyond these adventures, I am intrigued by her National Librarian of the Year for School Libraries. Being a librarian myself, this is a great honor she received and reveals a hint of the service that was always part of her life. She was known to teach storytelling workshops at the library that participants remember and benefit to this day.

She served in so many ways including on the Youth, Educators, and Storytellers (YES) Board. In fact, we served at the same time. Our conference calls were inspiring, and she has much experience to share in working with youth. For example, she mentored youth who made it to the National Youth Storytelling Olympics (now called National Youth Storytellers) who were selected and performed in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She deservedly received the Senachie Award in 2008 with her continued work with youth.

Then came the pandemic in 2020. Rather than sitting around, Anne Wallace approached the Peachtree City Library during the shutdown. She encouraged videos to be posted online from youth and local storytellers due to in-person programming was not possible. The first video shared as a result of Anne’s request was of Casey W.

I did find Anne’s LinkedIn account where she gave herself an interesting name: “Teller-in-Waiting.” She claimed that title since January 1990 and onward to the day she passed. I have heard of “Teller-in-Residence” but never “Teller-in-Waiting.” I wish I could get Anne’s insight on this part. Though, it can reveal her mindset on the art of storytelling – waiting to tell that next story, waiting to connect with that next listener, waiting to celebrate the art of being human. May we all be a “Teller-in-Waiting.”

Now, I will need to wait until the other side to be a “Listener-in-Waiting” for Anne Wallace.

If you have links to add – video, audio, articles – please share by emailing info@storycrossroads.org or commenting on this blog post.

You can see more details on Anne Wallace with the Story Artists Memorial.

The video below is a story told on a farm (with usual sounds including a rooster) as she tells of rabbit and fox.

I appreciate Anne Wallace for seeking ways for youth and others to tell stories. She served with vigor and will always be loved for it.

Anne still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.

Cap’s Off to You! – Anne Thomas (Posthumously) and Celebrating Story

Featuring: Anne Thomas

Hilarious Friend, Motivational Speaker, Advocacy Storyteller

Anne Thomas came to my attention because of Jessica Robinson of Better Said Than Done. Jessica put together a 9-video playlist due to all the times that Anne took the stage for her organization. That first video? Blew me away. Made me ponder and appreciate life and consider the humor…with death. I could see why Jessica chose to put that one first in the playlist. Then, I had to hear more. Stories of importance. Stories that Anne chose to share with us.

I know that her childhood would have had many adventures. Yet, she typically talks of her transformative experience when she hitchhiked Europe by herself as an 18-year-old. During one of those hitchhiking times, she woke up in a car and could not move. Her spinal chord was broken.

Her spirit was not broken. She learned to maneuver with a wheel chair. What could have made others filled with anger, she took in stride. Even when, later in 2008, she was diagnosed with a rare blood disease. Only two years to live, so the doctors said. Anne surpassed that by 11 years.

Meanwhile, she stood up for those who had been traumatized from terrible behaviors in the workplace to assisting in disability visibility projects. So many times she helped.

Then, her natural speaking meant storytelling and sharing these inspiring stories. And through it all, her humor shines. Remarkable beyond measure.

And with humor, I learn how to be a better human being. Through Anne.

If you have links to add – video, audio, articles – please share by emailing info@storycrossroads.org or commenting on this blog post.

You can see more details on Anne Thomas with the Story Artists Memorial.

The video below is the first in that 9-video playlist put together by Jessica Robinson.

I appreciate Anne Thomas for sharing the humor in heartbreaking or even traumatic moments. She brings a perspective that can be celebrated always.

Anne still has a story. You have a story. We all have stories.