Stacy Lightfoot on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers  embody, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

On Saturday, June 6, 2015, tune in to hear Stacy Lightfoot, Vice President College and Career Success of PEF Chattanooga. Ms. Lightfoot will share the importance of education and how getting an education changed not only her life but it has impacted her community directly.

Being an African American female, she grew up in a low-income, single parent home. Statistics suggested that she would continue to live in poverty, work a low-wage job and not obtain a college degree. Listen to Stacy tell how her mother made sure that throughout her life she was surrounded by trusted adults and positive role models. One of those trusted adults was her college counselor who helped her research DePauw University in the cornfields of Greencastle, IN.

DePauw University was the perfect college for Ms. Lightfoot because it matched her personality and learning style in addition to be meeting her family’s financial need.

Tune in to hear how one person can make a difference in the lives of an individual and how the power of paying it forward can moved a young woman from poverty to leading leaders around the nation.

This interview promises to empower, inspire, and motivate you to live your BEST life.Tune in tp  760AM in the Middle Tennessee Region, on Tune In, streaming live online at UStream.TV, and on military bases on Saturdays from 9:00-10:00am CST

More About Stacey Lightfoot

A Chattanooga, TN native, Stacy received a Bachelor's degree in Communications & Theater from DePauw University in Indiana, where she was a Bonner Scholar—a national community service scholarship program. After briefly returning to Chattanooga to work as the Career Development Director at Girls Incorporated, Stacy left to pursue a Master's degree in International Service from the University of Roehampton in London, England in 2001. As part of her graduate program, she taught mathematics and English in Kingston, Jamaica.

Stacy has used her skills and expertise in non-profit to help students see college as a worthwhile possibility. Coming from a low-income, single-parent home, she understands the importance of education. Since graduating from her Master's program in London, she has worked with college access programs locally and nationally; and, currently works for the Public Education Foundation as the Vice President of College & Career Success Initiatives.

Photos: CSPAN

My Grandmother and I

I visit my grandmother as often as I can. I have written about her in many blog posts, my news column, and I have spoken about her on my radio show. I can talk endlessly about my grandmother. My grandmother has even gotten a shout out on social media.

Each visit home brings new revelations about my grandmother’s life. She is not perfect but she is my beloved. Each visit gives more insight into who I am and my personality, the many lives my grandmother has impacted, the power of love, and the grace of God. Each visit leaves me humbled and grateful for the smaller things in life.

My holiday visit was my most recent trip. I did not tell my grandmother when I was coming, only that I was coming. I have learned that giving a specific date leads to disappointments for both of us. My schedule is that of a mad woman and no matter how I try to be specific about dates or times, life interrupts. But when I say I am coming, she knows, rain or shine, snow or ice, I am going to make my way to Mississippi.

For Christmas 2012, I made it hours shy of Christmas Day. But I came in full Ms. Santa’s gear. I sneaked into town and drove straight to the nursing home where she resides. After getting buzzed in, I winked at the nurses who were all smiles (and probably all kinfolks in one way or another) when they saw me. I knew she would be up watching TV. I put down my bags of goodies for her and the other residents of the home and I walked up behind her.

In her ear, I whispered, “What’s up chic?” Her tears started flowing almost immediately as she turned to look up at me. Upon hearing my voice, my grandmother said, “My baby is home. Yes, my baby is home.” My tears started too. We carry own like this every time we see each other.

Surprise!

There is never a shortage of tears when we greet each other. We cry for a while and then start laughing and then start crying some more. She boldly stated after gathering her wits, “I knew you were coming.” Hugging her for what seemed an eternity, I said, “Mother you look so good!”

After giving me a head to toe inspection, she said, “You look good, too.” She then touched my Santa suit and the pearls she gave me years ago and started talking nonstop. Soon our roles of grandmother and granddaughter, flesh of her flesh, meshed into two hens without a care in the world. Time seemed to stand still as we picked up where we left off. We seemed joined at the hip in thought and speech. I had to stop our conversation because I realized everyone was watching us.

I gathered her things and off to her room we rolled to finish our conversation. For the rest of the day, we caught up on all things in my little home town, and I shared about life in Nashville. The more we talked, the louder we laughed, and the more folks came to her door to make sure we were okay.

My grandmother reading a copy of Mocha Market

At some point, I had to pull myself away. My grandmother was in good spirits, and it showed. I finally managed to make my way to Stringer Drive to my parents’ home.


Once there, I unpacked and exchanged gifts with my mom and dad. My grandmother’s well-being was on everyone’s mind. I encouraged them by telling them how good my grandmother looked; the hard work of the family was obvious. My evening was spent catching up on the holistic welfare of my grandmother.

Later, I got busy around my mom’s cooking and planning a New Year Eve’s bash for my grandmother and the other residents of the nursing home. My head was racing with ideas. I brought party items from Nashville, but I still needed to go to town (Natchez, MS) to get a few more items. Immediately I thought about Nashville and for a brief moment, I wanted to be Jasmine with a magic carpet. The next day, I managed to make it to Natchez, shop for items, and get back to Fayette in less than two hours. Whew!

On New Year’s Eve, my grandmother and I had the grandest time. There were many at the party, but we were having our own party. Decked out in her 2013 top hat and jewelry, she laughed and blew her horns. She wore “sparkly” nails that told you she was in a festive move. The dining hall was beautifully decorated. We popped the bubbly, sparkling grape juice, and the staffed toasted every good deed EVER done! Most laughed like no tomorrow while one of the residents, Slater, danced the time away! I soaked up the sight of my grandmother having so much fun.

Slater Dancing like it is 1999!

As usual, the time with my grandmother came to an end much too quickly. I dreaded driving back to Tennessee. Leaving is always the hardest part of my trips home. My carload becomes lighter but my heart gets heavier each time. On my way back to Nashville, I saw a billboard that read “Visit Vicksburg”. I whispered quietly, “Thank you God for my grandmother.”

Seeing the billboard reminded me of New Year’s Eve 2011 at Vicksburg’s Mercy Hospital. My grandmother was hospitalized after being very ill for weeks. In 2011, I spent the holidays with my grandmother in the hospital. We laughed but not nearly as much. We cried, too, but my tears that year were of sadness from watching her struggle to live. I prayed daily that her body would be without the drips, needles, nurses, doctors, and pills for a pill. And this Christmas 2012, she was doing just fine.

New Year's Eve 2011

Christmas Day 2011

New Year's Eve 2012

New Year's Eve 2012

Look at God. What a difference a year makes. God answers prayers. My grandmother and I were toasting to bring in 2012 with Ensure and were popping Champagne and dancing to bring in 2013. Did I mention we laughed a lot?

Oh my, I serve a mighty good God!

Tennessee Respite Coalition on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

This Mother's Day weekend, Living Your Best Life will focus on the role of Caregivers and the importance if taking care of people who take care of their loved ones.

As of 2003, nearly 36 million people in the United States were 65 years of age or older - 12% of the population. By 2030, this group will DOUBLE in number to 72 million and will constitute 1/5 of all people in the US. In the US, more than 50 million people, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year. The average caregiver is female, 56 years old, married, employed outside the home, and frequently provides care for elders and children simultaneously.

Join us on Saturday, May 12, 2012, to hear Jennifer Abernathy, executive director of Tennessee Respite Coalition discuss her how agency's mission is enhancing the quality of life for family caregivers through respite. Family caregivers in Tennessee provided 634 million hours of care last year. But often very few hours are provided for the care of the caretaker.

Living Your Best Life, is a radio show that empowers inspires, and motivates one to live their BEST life. Living Your Best Life can be heard on 760 The Gospel in the Middle TN Region, Inspirational Networks, military bases, and UStream.TV from 9-10AM CST.

More About Tennessee Respite Coalition

The Tennessee Respite Coalition (TRC) works with family caregivers across the state of Tennessee to help provide them with short-term, temporary relief from their duties caring for adults or children with disabilities or special needs. Temporary relief can enable caregivers to satisfy their own needs and get a much-needed break from the demands of providing ongoing care.

TRC assists caregivers who look after individuals of any age, and allows them to choose their own respite provider. While their loved ones are cared for, caregivers may engage in a variety of activities, from taking a trip to spending time with other family members and catching up on other errands such as grocery shopping. In the past year, TRC has provided more than 200 families across the state of Tennessee with access to respite services. For more info about TRC click here.

More About The Art of Time Fundraiser

The Art of Time is an evening filled with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, entertainment and exciting live and silent auction items featuring local artists and some other fun items! Proceeds from the event assist the TRC in supporting the many programs serving family caregivers in Tennessee.

The Art of Time will take place Friday, May 18th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in Whiskey Bent Saloon’s Frontier Room. The Frontier Room is Nashville’s best private event space on Broadway. It will be a wonderful space to view the art up for auction. Directions to www.Whiskeybentsaloon.com

Entrance to the event will be off Third Avenue just off of Broadway (look for the banner). We will have a private entrance to the Frontier Room off the upper patio behind the Batman Building.