Melungeon Heritage Association

08/31/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉

Nikie Cates, Michael Fox, ShirlAnn Gordy, Monique Jeanelle Hawkins, Patricia Mullins

08/29/2026

Check out our latest video on the Melungeon Voices podcast YouTube channel here at this link: https://youtu.be/MeA6Q0eZM0A?si=zeQY7iJ_5dM2bpj_

We interview LaTonya Beatty, who is a Melungeon descendant, MHA member and consultant, and Melungeon researcher. We interviewed LaTonya back in Season Two, Episode Three on the Melungeon Voices podcast where she discussed her Melungeon ancestry. You can check it out here at this link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lqVdhPLeU1jvWoLmWYhgb?si=Kd-UqE52Q9qk9J51EEg-nw

In this episode LaTonya now has her own podcast on Spotify called, The Untold Story of Free People of Color and Melungeons in Western North Carolina.

In this extra content episode, we talk about LaTonya’s new podcast and future episodes of the season. Here is the link to her new podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0348a0MGvdirnUaYTdRSlR?si=SJo1q0esStWQO-3WcveGQw

Latonya Beatty is a Melungeon descendant, MHA member and consultant...

08/25/2026

RIP Dolly Parton! A true Appalachian Icon!

08/25/2026

Two weeks ago we were in Vardy Valley, Tennessee filming for an upcoming season of a Polish docuseries produced by Warner Bros. Discovery Poland! For their new season, they wanted to film in the United States and tell little known American stories. They had heard about the Melungeon people, and wanted to film a segment about them for their new season. As soon as we know when the episode will debut, we will let y’all know, and share a link to it here on our page!

Interviewed and pictured are Heather Andolina, President of the Melungeon Heritage Association, Melungeon author and descendant, DruAnna Overbay, Vardy Community Historical Society, Melungeon author and descendant, Wayne Winkler, Melungeon author and descendant, Beverly Scarlett, Founder and President of the nonprofit organization, Indigenous Memories, and VCHS Board Member and Music Coordinator, Jason Stewart. Interviewed by Marcin Prokop, host of TVN series. Photos taken by Seletha Pherribo.

08/19/2026

The Melungeon Heritage Association will be at the Outlandish Hillsborough Scottish Festival next month on September 26th from 10am-6pm! Come and check out it! More information at the link below!

https://historichillsborough.org/outlandish-hillsborough/?fbclid=IwdGRjcATyfa5wZG9mAWZkaWQWUMyxKgS1Jji-cekNPHy6jBSYzU0N_GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzE3Mzg0NzY0MjY3MDM3MAABHhJO8ad8gdEifndEiEDsff8SGtvh-LjwFkHPTji4mGAZFdIhMuFvRcSZ8xv-_aem_eWrf2jCEtJMWbHWvt5DUWg

08/14/2026

We were at Vardy Valley in Tennessee earlier this week! Why were we there? You’ll know soon!!

08/14/2026

We visited Vardy Valley in Tennessee earlier this week! Why were we there? You’ll find out soon!

We visited the Vardy church and Mahala Mullins’ cabin! Mahala’s cab...

08/12/2026

The Melungeon Heritage Association will be at Vardy Fest next month on Saturday, September 19th from 2pm-6pm!

Vardy fest is approaching quickly and we're so excited!

If you have signed up to be a vendor, please be on the look out for an email this week with more information. If you are interested in being a vendor, shoot us a message or go to our website and fill out the vendor interest form.

08/08/2026

James Armistead Lafayette was an enslaved man who became one of the American Revolution's most valuable spies. With permission from his enslaver, he joined the Marquis de Lafayette's forces and posed as a runaway slave to infiltrate British camps, where he gathered intelligence and operated as a double agent. His reports on British troop movements and reinforcements helped George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette trap General Cornwallis at Yorktown, leading to the decisive American victory in 1781.

Despite his crucial role in securing American independence, James was forced back into slavery after the war because he was classified as a spy rather than a soldier. Only after did Armistead reach out to Marquis de Lafayette who personally appealed to the Virginia legislature did Lafayette gain his freedom in 1787. Living off his annual pension fee, Armistead moved to his own 40-acre farm in Virginia, where he married, raised a family, and lived out the rest of his life as a freeman.

08/06/2026

Next year’s location for the 31st Melungeon Heritage Association’s Union/conference will be Charleston, South Carolina! We’re still working on the specific dates, and we’ll update everyone when we make a decision, so stay tuned! In the mean time, you can read up on Charleston and the many things to see and do.

Southern Living readers once again crowned the historic South Carolina destination No. 1.