Kathryn Stripling Byer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kay Byer
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Byer accepting an award from the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame in 2012
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| Born | Kathryn Stripling November 25, 1944 Camilla, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | June 5, 2017 (aged 72) Cullowhee, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Alma mater | Wesleyan College, B.A. UNC-Greensboro, M.F.A. |
| Genre | Poetry, essays |
| Notable awards | North Carolina Poet Laureate |
| Spouse | Jim Byer |
| Children | 1 |
Kathryn Stripling Byer (born November 25, 1944 – died June 5, 2017) was an American poet and teacher. Many people also called her Kay Byer. She was chosen by Governor Mike Easley to be the fifth North Carolina Poet Laureate. This important role lasted from 2005 to 2009. She was the first woman ever to hold this special position.
Contents
About Kay Byer's Life
Early Life and Schooling
Kathryn Stripling was born in Camilla, Georgia in 1944. Her father, C.M. Stripling, was a farmer. Her mother was Bernice Stripling.
She earned a college degree in English from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. Later, she received a special master's degree (M.F.A.) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Here, she learned from famous writers like Allen Tate and Fred Chappell. During her studies, Byer decided she wanted to live in the mountains of North Carolina.
Her Career as a Poet
After finishing her master's degree, Byer became a "poet-in-residence" at several universities. This means she was a poet who taught and inspired students. She worked at Western Carolina University from 1988 to 1998. She also taught at UNC-Greensboro in 1995 and Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1999.
Kay Byer published six full collections of her poems. She also released some smaller books of poetry called chapbooks. Her last collection, Descent, came out in 2012.
Becoming Poet Laureate
In 2005, North Carolina's Governor Mike Easley chose Byer to be the state's fifth poet laureate. This was a big honor! She followed Fred Chappell, whose term ended in 2002. Kay Byer was the first woman to ever hold this important job in North Carolina.
As part of her role, Byer kept a blog called "My Laureate's Lasso." On this blog, she shared information about poets and poetry from North Carolina. She also helped judge an award for poets. In 2008, Byer named Katherine Indermaur as the first North Carolina Student Poet Laureate.
Kay Byer's Family Life
Kathryn Stripling Byer was married to Jim Byer, who was a professor at Western Carolina University. They had one daughter. They lived in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
Her Passing
Kathryn Stripling Byer passed away on June 5, 2017. She was 72 years old. She died in Cullowhee from an illness called lymphoma.
Kay Byer's Published Works
Kay Byer's poems appeared in many well-known magazines. These included The Georgia Review, The Hudson Review, and Poetry. Her writing often explored the lives and challenges of people, especially women, who lived in the mountains of western North Carolina long ago.
Books of Poetry
Here are some of the books Byer wrote:
- The Girl in the Midst of the Harvest (1986)
- Wildwood Flower (1992)
- Black Shawl (1998)
- Catching Light (2002)
- Wake (chapbook, 2003)
- Coming to Rest (2006)
- The Movable Nest: A Mother/Daughter Companion (co-edited, 2007)
- Southern Fictions (sonnet chapbook, 2011)
- Descent (2012)
Essays by Kay Byer
Some of her important essays include:
- "Turning the Windlass at the Well: Fred Chappell's Early Poetry" (1997)
- "Deep Water" (1998)
Awards and Special Honors
Kay Byer received many awards for her poetry and writing:
- 1992 – Lamont Poetry Selection from the Academy of American Poets
- 1998 – Roanoke-Chowan Award for Poetry
- 2001 – Emory and Henry College held a special festival in her honor
- 2001 – North Carolina Award in Literature
- 2003 – SIBA Book Award for her book Catching Light
- 2005–2009 – Served as North Carolina Poet Laureate
- 2012 – Inducted into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame
- 2013 – SIBA Book Award for her book Descent
