My Sheroes

As I shook the hand of President Barack Obama on November 17th this year, I reflected on the sacrifices of the women in my life. They made it possible for me to be in the position of serving others alongside my wife, Samantha Daniels. This entry is an introduction to these women.

Mattie Mae Marshall (Grandma):

Grandma was a giant. She resided with my grandfather and her children in Riviera Beach, Florida, after moving there from a small town in Georgia called Pavo. Grandma was a housekeeper for the wealthy and took pride in her work. It is also rumored in our family that she worked for a President at some point in her life in their summer home. Grandma is the reason our family remains close still to this day. I often reflect on grandma’s sacrifices and her journey as a housekeeper in Riviera and West Palm Beach, Florida. She set the foundation for what it meant to be of service to others and care for your family concurrently.

Frankie Wesley (Mom):

My mother is my grandmother’s oldest daughter. She left Florida as an adult and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where I was born. She worked tirelessly to provide for her children as a single parent, and she did not play about her children. I remember vividly her showing up to my class when I was in second grade, unexpectedly, and grabbing my desk before proceeding to the door. Her words to the teacher on her way out the door with my desk in hand remain with me to this day, “If you do not want to teach my son, I will find someone else who will.” And she did. That moment changed the trajectory of my life.

Auntie Diane Washington:

Auntie Diane, my mother’s sister, was a force. She would sit me down and teach me to be kind and humble when my ego got the best of me as a child. Auntie Diane was also a great cook. She would also be near the stove preparing dinner for the family. I was lucky to have her in my life more consistently when she moved to Georgia with her children, my first cousins that added value to my life in their own unique way.

Auntie Gloria Jean:

And I can’t forget about my aunt, Gloria Jean. She’s my mother’s first cousin, but we consider her our auntie. There were some difficult moments in my life where she loved on me aggressively. Every time we would visit Florida, she would give me these hugs that I would never forget. It wasn’t the church hug followed by the pat on the back. When she hugged me, she held me tight and whispered positive words in my ear: “You’re special, handsome… you are going to be somebody.” No matter where I was when she saw me, she would remind me of how special I was publicly. Auntie Gloria was a light in all our lives.

These Women Empowered Me

There are more women I could tell you about, like my Great Aunts Big Mable, Berniece, Mary, and Lilly Bell, that I thought about when I shook the hand of President Barack Obama. I would not have had this moment without their love and warmth. These women are my “sheroes.”

I’m looking forward to telling my daughter, SaMya Grace, about the legacies of the women in our family. Together, they loved me into my being.

Please take a moment to reflect on the women in your life that played a role in loving you into your being. I’d love to hear about them in the comment section below or my inbox.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the sheroes whose shoulders I stand on. It just so happened that their shoulders guided me to a room with the first African American President in the United States of America, Barack Obama.

I’ll forever embrace the contributions of these women. There would be no me without them.

In conclusion, some have asked me, how was it meeting President Obama? I am still reflecting on the moment and will share my thoughts soon, but I am going to say this: I was able to say my name without falling over. I consider that a huge accomplishment.

With deep gratitude and appreciation for each of you,