Chestina Andrews Welty

She dedicated the book to her mother , using her initials.

EW 's mother, Chestina Welty , died at the age of eighty-two, closely followed by her son Edward , Eudora's only surviving brother.

EW 's mother was Chestina Andrews Welty , a West Virginian schoolteacher who was known as Chessie. Chestina adored reading—so much so that she once risked her life to save her set of Dickens...

EW 's mother would never fully recover from this trauma, believing herself to be culpable for not saving her husband's life.

Meanwhile in 1957 Chestina Welty 's health began to deteriorate, to EW 's increasing concern. Chestina suffered from eye troubles and led a restricted life at home. Eudora lived with and cared for...