UNSUNG HEROES 2023
EXTENDING THE OLIVE BRANCH
Corbin woman dedicates herself to ministry
By Janie Slaven | Editor
Scarlette Jasper is originally from North Carolina but she describes her family as
“ very transient ” as she was growing up . “ I ’ ve lived from Florida to Alaska and about everywhere in between ,” Jasper said , “ and practically coast to coast as well .… My dad was just one of those wanderlust people .”
Jasper ’ s father was primarily a telecommunications contractor and she initially went into the same field as a drafter . She wound up in Kentucky after coming to care for her mother , who had fallen ill when her dad was working as a contractor in Monticello .
By the time her mother recovered , Jasper had met the man she would marry , Brian Jasper . They carried on a long-distance relationship as Jasper took one last job in Vermont . Marrying in 1986 , the couple settled in Somerset , KY . Over the years , Jasper became increasingly involved in nonprofit work .
“ I always had a calling to do that kind of work ,” Jasper said , recounting one of her first memories of wanting to be a hospital candy striper . “ I didn ’ t grow up in a family that did volunteer work ; we certainly didn ’ t stay any place long enough to get involved in the community but it was a calling on my life .”
Jasper ’ s son Roger grew up to be a pastor in Elizabethtown and suggested to her that she should become involved with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship ( CBF ) because of their emphasis in rural communities .
According to Jasper , CBF is a network of
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