Miss Ruby’s Corner Market: A Symbol of Renewal in West Virginia’s Black Agricultural Renaissance

Miss Ruby’s Corner Market is a social enterprise of Keep Your Faith Corporation, a nonprofit organization that supports its community through various programs focused on increasing access to fresh produce, culturally sensitive behavioral healthcare, workplace development and training, and more. 

Dural Miller, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KYFC, Inc. named the market after his grandmother Ruby Mae Pearl Miller. 

The decline of Black farmers in West Virginia tells a story of struggle, resilience, and erasure. Once central to the state’s agricultural economy, Black farmers faced systemic barriers that stripped many of land and opportunity, leading to a sharp decline in their numbers. Today, fewer than 2% of West Virginia’s farmers are Black—a sobering statistic that underscores the urgency of revitalizing Black agrarian traditions.

At Black By God, we are committed to preserving and celebrating the stories of Black farmers—their contributions, challenges, and hopes. Through storytelling, we aim to amplify the voices of Black agrarians, past and present, while shining a light on a future shaped by innovation and equity. This mission aligns perfectly with the energy surrounding West Virginia’s Black agricultural renaissance, a movement reclaiming the land, food systems, and community spaces that have been historically overlooked.

A shining example of this renaissance is Miss Ruby’s Corner Market, which opened on Charleston’s West Side on Thursday, November 21st.  Once a center of crime and neglect, the location at Park and Central is being transformed into a vibrant grocery store and community hub by the Keep Your Faith Corporation (KYFC). Thanks to $360,000 in funding from the American Rescue Plan, this market will provide affordable, healthy local foods while accepting SNAP Stretch to ensure accessibility for all.

Miss Ruby’s Corner Market represents more than access to fresh fruits and vegetables—it embodies community renewal and the reclamation of Black agricultural roots. By sourcing from local farms, including those run by Black producers, the market will create economic opportunities while fostering connections between urban and rural spaces.

Dural Miller, president of KYFC, emphasizes that “I hope Miss Ruby’s Market can bring some pride to the community and help bring us together. This can be a place where people meet up and socialize with each other.” 

At Black By God, we celebrate the opening of Miss Ruby’s Corner Market as a milestone in both food justice and cultural renewal. We are proud to amplify its story and those of the Black farmers, leaders, and visionaries who are planting the seeds of a brighter future for West Virginia. As Ms. Ruby’s opens its doors, it carries the legacy of resilience and the promise of a new chapter in Black agriculture—one rooted in justice, sustainability, and community empowerment.