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We use this space to recognize a remarkable woman who is overcoming extraordinary odds to accomplish something meaningful; whether in her own life, the lives of her children or the lives of the people around her. If you have someone in mind who you think should be featured here, e-mail us and let us know!
(Remember to include who and why!) soul@souldaddymusic.com Quinesta Barnes is a single mother of 3 sons: George, Kaleb and Darnel (ages 12, 14, and 17 respectively).
As you might imagine, working fulltime and caring for a house full of boys was more than enough to keep her fully occupied. But a year ago, when Quinesta learned that her older sister was unable to care for her own daughters, she wasted no time in taking her nieces into her home, and began to raise them as her own. Although the transition wasn't easy, Chante, Kiera, and Christian (ages, 15, 14 and 13) have found a new home with Quinesta. Although it has been a struggle to raise, clothe and care for 6 children on her own, Q (as she is known to her friends and family) has managed to not only keep them safe from harm and trouble, but also to motivate them to reach for better things in their own lives. This accomplishment, among others, is the reason we have chosen Quinesta Barnes to be honored this month. Below are some of the thoughts that her sons and nieces shared about Quinesta: Christian "I look up to Quinesta as a leader and a person who believes in us and who cares about you, and as someone who will put pressure on you; but in a good way to tell you that you can do it and that you need to try your best. She is someone who will keep believing in you even if you can not get it right…a person who wants you to get up and get out there and do something. She always wants you to try to do things better than before and she never gives up on me! I look up to her as a person who will never do anything to hurt you, and as someone you will want to look up to, who will tell you to do what you can for yourself and never give up. She will always believe in you for life." Kiera, George & Darnel “Each person must live their lives as a model for others”
-Rosa Parks
"She is a wonderful aunt and mom. We look up to her as a role model for us and others. She teaches us the good and the bad things in life, and she always tells us what she has been through in her life and childhood, so that we won’t make the wrong decisions. She took her nieces into her home and still was a role model and never treated anybody like they were more or less important than others. She always told us to be leaders of this world or at least a small part and not be a follower. She also told us to hang around the people that will make an impact on our lives and not the people that will ruin our lives, and that we will make it very far in life if we follow our own paths. My aunty and our mom has never done anything to hurt us emotionally, or physically for that matter. So at the end of the day, she is here for us and we are there for her. She loves us with all her heart and we love her with all our hearts also." |
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