Sallie Elizabeth Craig Hylton
By Beverly Belcher Woody
You can find all sorts of amazing treasures at the Patrick County Historical Museum. During a recent visit, I came across one that immediately captured my attention—a small notebook kept by mountain midwife Sallie Elizabeth Craig Hylton, affectionately remembered by many as “Grannie Sara.”
Inside its pages was a carefully recorded list of seventy-five babies she delivered between October 18, 1918, and August 27, 1942.
Today, more than a century later, that notebook serves as a remarkable reminder of one woman’s quiet dedication to the families of Patrick County.
Sallie Elizabeth Craig was born on December 2, 1867, to Peter David Craig and Sallie Ann Wood Craig. She grew up near Apple Tree Drive in the Lone Ivy community of Patrick County and was the fourth of ten children.
Her brothers and sisters were:
John Cope Craig (1860–1919)
Nancy Ellen Craig Belcher (1863–1937)
Martha Eveline Craig Cassell (1865–1949)
Sallie Elizabeth Craig Hylton (1867–1964)
Susan Ann Maria Craig Belcher (1869–1967)
William “Billy” Jerman Craig (1871–1960)
Mary Lou Craig Belcher (1872–1966)
Lula Alberta Craig (1879–1972)
Thomas E. Craig (1879–1911)
Oma M. Craig Handy (1888–1989)
On April 1, 1886, Sallie married William Moses Hylton, the son of Moses Hylton and Elizabeth Cruise Hylton. Having grown up as neighbors, they began their married life together in the Lone Ivy community.
Their children were:
Martha Ann Hylton (1886–1981), who married James Edward Hylton, son of James Arnold Hylton and Nancy “Nannie” Pendleton.
John William Hylton (June 26, 1888–1894), who is buried in Richardson Cemetery off North Fork Road.
James Emmett Hylton (1890–1967), who married Pearlie May Ingram, daughter of William Green Ingram and Martha Frances Wood Ingram.
David Moses Hylton (1892–1961), who married Mamie Frances Rorrer, daughter of William Elkanah “Cain” Rorrer and Laura Belle Cruise Rorrer.
Lala Sallie Hylton (1898–1999), who married William Lee Koger, son of William Lee Koger Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Ingram Koger.
Thomas Greeley Hylton (1899–1988), who married Martha Ellen Hylton, daughter of George Washington Hylton and Caroline Texas Harris Hylton.
While raising her own family, Sallie also became one of the area’s trusted mountain midwives. According to her notebook, she delivered her first recorded baby when she was fifty years old and continued serving families until she was seventy-four.
Imagine the confidence and composure it must have taken to travel mountain roads—often at night and in all kinds of weather—to assist mothers during childbirth. Sallie even delivered at least five of her own grandchildren, a responsibility that surely required nerves of steel.
Many of the babies she welcomed into the world lived long and fulfilling lives. One became a founding member of the famous Wood Brothers Racing Team, and several are still living today.
Fortunately for us, Sallie carefully preserved their names in her notebook.
Babies Delivered by Sallie Elizabeth Craig Hylton
Gladys Myrtle Cockram — October 18, 1918
Ruby Cordelia Pendleton — April 19, 1921
Nannie Elva Cockram — September 8, 1921
Waitman Jessie Pendleton — November 18, 1921
Greely Oscar Hylton — December 29, 1921 (grandson)
Elsie Ruth Belcher — April 13, 1922
Velda Sarah Jane Cockram — November 3, 1922
Lois Harbour — January 10, 1923
George Willis Harbour — August 1, 1923
Nannie Garnet Pendleton — August 21, 1923
Leonard Marvin Hylton — December 16, 1923 (grandson)
Herbert Cecil Hylton — February 28, 1924
Clyde Rorrer — March 1, 1924
James Early Harbour — May 6, 1924
Mabel Elizabeth Pendleton — July 7, 1924
Infant of Sam & Ollie Martin — September 3, 1924
Pauline Eva Hopkins — November 21, 1924
Vada Gladys Haden — February 10, 1925
Lelia Carlene Cockram — February 11, 1925
Dorath Lily Harbour — April 18, 1925
James Allen Hopkins — June 22, 1925
Glenn Alexandria Wood — July 18, 1925
Effie Gene DeHart — October 25, 1925
Charlie Clay Pendleton — December 11, 1925
Gertice Bula Harbour — February 2, 1926
Villa Gay Harbour — February 2, 1926
Nannie Ruth Conner — October 4, 1926
Mildred Elizabeth Hylton — October 17, 1926 (granddaughter)
Wilbert Green Dillon — November 6, 1926
Doris Alice Hopkins — January 14, 1927
Hoy Calvin Haden — January 25, 1927
Marcilla Walker — April 4, 1927
Merton E. Griffith — May 27, 1927
Dorathy Lilian Hopkins — June 3, 1927
Virginia Laura Hopkins — September 5, 1927
Goldie Clemon Pendleton — November 4, 1927
Clara Ella Harbour — October 31, 1927
Infant of Sam Martin — December 2, 1927
James Otis Wood — December 31, 1927
Charlie Coy Harbour — January 1, 1928
Jewel Harrison Cockram — February 17, 1928
Evelyn Christine Hubbard — July 5, 1928
Jewell Della Dillon — September 10, 1928
Vera Etta Pendleton — December 21, 1928
Infant of Ira Conner — December 25, 1928
Callie Helen Hubbard — December 11, 1929
Frank Elijah Wood — December 25, 1929
Paul Robert Hylton — February 25, 1930
George Wesley Harbour — March 7, 1930
Kenneth Moir Pendleton — May 8, 1931
Frank Barnard Hylton — July 18, 1931 (grandson)
John Sherman Wood — October 18, 1932
James Greeley Hylton — December 6, 1932 (grandson)
Joseph Calvin Cockram — December 31, 1932
Virginia Marie Hylton — February 21, 1933
Garland Green Pendleton — November 13, 1933
Betty Lou Wood — February 23, 1934
James Alford Hubbard — April 27, 1934
Thelma Pauline Martin — August 7, 1934
Wilford Lewis Prillaman — January 25, 1935
John Marvin Hubbard — December 26, 1935
Melvin Lee Pendleton — April 23, 1936
Russel Lois Wood — June 17, 1936
Francis Cordelia Pendleton — February 23, 1938
Dora Lue Harbour — June 28, 1938
Delora Gay Hubbard — August 11, 1938
Chester Lee Pendleton — November 23, 1938
David Melvin Pendleton — August 1, 1939
Dovie Ann Hylton — December 28, 1939
Helen Alpha Harbour — May 9, 1940
Lorna Jane Hylton — August 27, 1942
William Moses Hylton passed away on February 4, 1933. Sallie lived another thirty-one years, passing away on November 29, 1964, at the remarkable age of ninety-six.
She spent her life as a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, widow, and mountain midwife. Long before delivering babies in hospitals became commonplace, families relied upon women like Grannie Sara during some of life’s most joyful—and sometimes most difficult—moments.
Today, her carefully kept notebook preserves more than names and dates. It preserves the legacy of a remarkable woman whose steady hands and compassionate heart welcomed generations of Patrick County children into the world.
For questions, comments, or story ideas, Woody may be reached at [email protected] or 276-692-9626.
