MADISON — Following the deadly explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine near Whitesville on April 5, 2010, people honored and memorialized the 29 miners killed in many ways. Marques Canterbury drew a picture.

Canterbury, 36, of Madison, began drawing a picture on April 2.

“It was of scenery and I was wondering what to finish the picture with and the accident happened,” he explained.

Using just a pencil, Canterbury began adding 29 crosses that represent the 29 miners killed in the blast. The picture also shows a red cardinal overlooking the sacred scene.

“I felt like God used him as a tool to remember the lost miners,” Canterbury said.

The Upper Big Branch Mine disaster occurred about 1,000 feet underground at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch coal mine at Montcoal in Raleigh County.

According to Wikipedia.com, 29 out of 31 miners at the site were killed. The explosion occurred at 3:27 p.m.

The accident was the worst in the United States since 1970, when 38 miners were killed at Finley Coal Company’s No. 15 and 16 mines in Hyden, Kentucky.

Canterbury has no formal art training and drew the picture at his home. He said the creative and emotional process of drawing the picture took him approximately seven days to finish.

“Once I started, I didn’t stop until it was finished,” he said.

He has done other scenery and various other types of drawings.

“I have been into art since I was a little kid,” Canterbury said.

He has donated a copy of the drawing to an Upper Big Branch memorial organization.

“I hope this drawing helps everyone remember the miners and helps their families,” he added. “I hope it brings comfort to those who see it.”

Following are the names and ages of the 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, according to the state Medical Examiner's Office: Carl Acord, 52; Jason Atkins, 25; Christopher Bell, 33; Gregory Steven Brock, 47; Kenneth Allan Chapman, 53; Robert Clark, 41; Charles Timothy Davis, 51; Cory Davis, 20; Michael Lee Elswick, 56; William I. Griffith, 54; Steven Harrah, 40; Edward Dean Jones, 50; Richard K. Lane, 45; William Roosevelt Lynch, 59; Nicholas Darrell McCroskey, 26; Joe Marcum, 57; Ronald Lee Maynor, 31; James E. Mooney, 50; Adam Keith Morgan, 21; Rex L. Mullins, 50; Joshua S. Napper, 25; Howard D. Payne, 53; Dillard Earl Persinger, 32; Joel R. Price, 55; Deward Scott, 58; Gary Quarles, 33; Grover Dale Skeens, 57; Benny Willingham, 61; and Ricky Workman, 50.