Celebrating Women’s History Month. This 1973 portrait of Marie Leist (original in oil color) is the work of West Virginia artist Marj Teague and hangs in the parlor at the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace in Hillsboro. Marie Leist, who lived in Ronceverte, was a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and served as Chairman of the local W.Va. Centennial Commission in 1963. Born and raised in Pocahontas County, her long held dream was that author Pearl S. Buck and her birthplace be recognized. Her idea was presented to and adopted by the Ronceverte Woman’s Club to raise funds and to interest the State Federation in attempting to purchase the Pearl Buck home as a memorial. She was a prime mover in this project for 12 years, serving as State Chairman of the Pearl Buck Home Restoration Committee and then as State President of the Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Foundation. She was honored with a National Citation as “First Lady 1972-74” presented by the National General Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Marie Margaret Orndorff Leist was the daughter of Jesse Brown Orndorff and Cora Ella Ervine, of Arbovale; widow of Stanley Philip Leist, of Ronceverte; mother of Dorothy Marie, Stanley M., Patricia Ann and William Alexander. She saw “the birthplace” successfully completed and officially opened on May 4, 1974.” Marie Leist died September 15, 1976 and is buried at Riverview Cemetery in Ronceverte, W.Va. (The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace Collection; ID: PSB000369)
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If you have historical records or photographs to be scanned for the county Historical Archive contact Preservation Officer B. J. Gudmundsson at 304-799-3989 or email info@pocahontaspreservation.org Prints of photographs are available.