My Great Grandmother
Who is she: She is myGreat Grandmother. This beautiful lady is the late Dorothy Calloway. She is the person who is responsible for mostly caring and providing for me until the age of nine.
How did she influence my life: She influenced my life in so many ways. My Mu-dear as we called her is where I inherited most of my personality traits from. She was such a hard worker and dedicated to her community. She was always helping someone in need. Growing up she introduced me to a Christian faith, instilled in me the value of family, and being a respectable young lady. With her our family had to come together to celebrate and rejoice together for every occasion. I feel because of her setting a good example I too have modeled myself behind her in so many ways. I too feel it’s important to help those in need and be there for your family.
How she nurtured me and cared for me: Mu-Dear took on the task of caring for me while my mother went off to attend college. She showed her love everyday by just taking on that responsibility. She made sure that I had the things that I needed and was there for school events that I participated in. My great mother supported my interest and allowed me to be myself. I remember us having a bird's nest in the roof of our house when I was about 1st grade. Well I had to have it, to save the baby birds and take it and share it with my class. I remember running and telling her about the situation and how I would like to show it to my class. That next day she arrived at my school with nest, baby birds, and a few eggs.
How did she make me feel special: I still smile thinking about her and all the many values that she contributed to my life. She made me feel special and loved. Sometimes I would just go lay under her and she would wrap her arms around me and just hold me.
What ways do her influences continue to impact my present life: I continue to value the wisdom that she instilled in. I model the relationship that I had with her with my children in hopes of them having the same values and morals that I have.
Grandmother Hellen at My College Graduation
Who is she:She is my Grandmother, Hellen Rutherford. I lived with her shortly before my mother went off to college and shortly before I went off to college.
How did she influence my life: It was not until my teenage years that she really had an impact on my life. She supported my decision of continuing my education and attending college after having a child at the age of 16. She influenced me to continue to continue to fulfill my dreams and be all that I aspire to be. She never turned away from me despite my faults.
How she nurtured me and cared for me: My grandmother has always been supportive in any decisions that I have made, as a child and even now as an adult. She is always there to talk to and offer advice when needed. She was there for me in life when I really needed her the most.
How did she make me feel special: When I was ill with my pregnancy she was right there in the emergency room and at my bedside until I was better. When I felt no one loved me she did, right by my side every step of the way.
What ways her influences continue to impact my present life: Because of her I believe in myself and continue to seek all that I have set to accomplish. I’m constantly reminded that there is no obstacle to large or small that can get in the way of perseverance.
My Mother
Who is she:She is my mother, Yevonna Johnson. I resided with her for a short period of time after she completed her Masters program.
How did she influence my life: She helped foster my love of life long learning. My mother influenced my interest in college and continued to influence the values that my great grandmother also did. She would tell me, “If you don’t do anything else you have to get your education.”
How she nurtured me and cared for me: My mother helped me to gain my independence. She made sure that those things necessary for life were readily available for my use.
How did she make me feel special: Her encouragement made me feel special.
What ways her influence continue to impact my present life: Because of her I believe in myself and continue to seek all that I have set to accomplish. She supports my belief that there is no obstacle to large or small that can get in the way of perseverance.
Others Who Were a part of My Childhood Web
Ashanti
This picture speaks volumes to what type of influence she was in my life. My friend of 21 years, she has always been there for me.
Ashanti is my sister, confidant, therapist, cheerleader, personal comedian, and retired partner in crime. We received our education together from the 4th grade on through college. We instantly connected when we meet. We understood each other. We would talk, joke, and laugh about any and everything. Whenever the adult supports didn’t understand us we talked to each other. We helped keep each other on the right path, influencing each other to continue to follow the morals and values that our families embedded in us. We would laugh and talk and of course sometimes find ourselves in trouble for being too vocal or just being out right silly. Once we invited all of our classmates to her home for a bing water fight. There was water every where, inside and outside of the house.
Her home was practically my home. I would get dropped off at her house in the morning before school and get picked up there after school. I was a part of her family. Her 8 siblings become my 8 siblings.
As we got older we grew somewhat apart after I had my first daughter. After having my daughter I went on to college leaving her and my peers behind. In college I began to seek other opportunities that she was not interested in. This change caused us not to see each other as often. The separation didn’t last long we quickly rekindled our friendship.
The picture here was taken after we rekindled our friendship. She was there to support me and cheer me on during my sorority probate show. As we have gotten older we have grown apart only to grow closer. One thing that doesn’t change is the love that we have for each other. We continue to support and encourage each in addition to offering spiritual and relationship counseling to each other.
Kathy-Ashanti’s Mom
I like to think of her as my mother also. She opened her home to me especially her kitchen. When I would get dropped off at her home in the mornings before school she would include me in her families’ morning scripture reading and prayer. If breakfast was prepared she made sure that I was included. When we would get home from school food would be ready for us “All” to eat. This woman is truly a woman of God! In her spare time she goes to the local prison to read and minister to the inmates. In times that I needed spiritual guidance as a teenager she would sure enough provide it. Listening to her influenced a deeper and stronger connection with God. The relationship that I had with her completes the connection of all the lessons and values that my grandmothers had too encouraged.
