The days when I didn’t want to go to school she spoke power and wisdom into me. She was there for every academic problem I had. She was there anytime I needed a Guardian to stand up for me. She even thought about letting us live with her. Eventually, God and she opened a new door for us and said out with the hotels and we were moved to a Women’s Shelter. The shelter we stayed in was like our own little apartment, but at this time my sister graduated, and I was just a senior. We weren’t the same little girls we once were. We had big girl responsibilities now. We weren’t completely comfortable where we were because of certain rules and stipulations. This is when she really became a mom to us. She was showing us how to save money, how to dress on a budget and still look nice and still how to juggle work and school. After my senior year, my sister and I both moved out into our own separate places. 

She was so saddened with us being so young and carrying that burden she did everything in her power to make sure we had shelter that same week. At the time there was an organization called Hope House, that helped fund homeless teenagers in Myrtle Beach. She reached out to them for assistance for us. I remember the first night we stayed in a couple of hotels. I was flooded with so many emotions, I was sad, angry, helpless, but most of all lost. She knew this and with her being her she did EVERY thing imaginable, to not only make us feel comfortable, but also LOVED! We never lost faith in God, but she made sure she reintroduced us back to him and brought us to church. She took us shopping, with HER own personal money because even though we were homeless… we were still complete divas.

With that being said, Cookie was there with us every single step of the way. She never let go of us and giving up was NEVER seen as an option. Even with the loss of her mother at the time, she never gave up. It fueled her to want to help young people, who were like me and my sister, so she created Nana’s Hope House. A house named after her beautiful mother, who also selflessly gave back to the community. A house that I deeply wish was opened for us when we were in school. Last but not least, a house that will have touched many souls by the time they leave. This woman has shown us, not only, what is morally right, but there’s always something better, you just have to keep moving. I honestly can’t wait for the day that I can truly pay it all back to her. Remember, life has a unique way of humbling us, it’s just up to you what you’ll do next.