Family establishes scholarship honoring local musician, mother

No church would be without a musician if the late Deloria A. Westfield had anything to do with it.

She dedicated her life to teaching music, first teaching her own nine children and then teaching her community.

“Momma was so determined to teach children to play that there would be some kids who couldn’t afford it, (and) she would do it anyway,” said Della Chislom-Harden, the fifth born in the family.

“Some kids would call and say ‘I don’t have a way.’ She would jump in the car, go get them, give them their lesson and take them back home. And there were some when they got there, they’d be hungry and momma would cook and feed them. She was just so determined that she was going to teach kids how to play,” she said.