she was born as elizabeth nevills in carrboro, north carolina. she was the youngest of five children of a musical family. at the age of seven she started playing her older brothers banjo. in her early teens she bought her own guitar and started writing own songs. at the age of eleven she wrote a song called "freight train", which was later her signature song. at the age of 15 she worked as maid along with her mother. soon after her 15th birthday she married frank cotten. they had a daughter named lillie and libba gave up music for church and child. they went around in the usa but finally settled in the d.c. area.