This is a re-post of an article written by Christopher Davis, Editor, G Man Magazine, April 30, 2012:
Early last November, your editor called into an Internet radio show, “At Home with Victoria,” to speak about the upcoming issue of G MAN. The call was placed a little before my scheduled time to hear the full show so I would know what the show was about, just in case I was asked questions. As I eagerly waited my turn to talk, this incredibly powerful voice came through my phone. Parthenia Warford was the name of the person speaking. I knew nothing about her, but was instantly intrigued with her story. She talked about a variety of topics, but focused on “The Warford Foundation,” her pride and joy, and touched on her medical problems. I tend to gravitate towards stories of hardship surrounded with success, empowerment, and betterment. Her story was remarkable. I wanted to know more.
A few months passed. Brainstorming ideas for the upcoming issue of G MAN, my thoughts gravitated back to the story she had shared in November. I remembered feeling that her voice had a different story to tell. She speaks with such power and grace, but her voice also seems sad and weak when she discusses her health. I felt sure she had a much deeper story to share and I wanted to be the one to delve into the full being of Parthenia Warford.
She is the perfect person for the G MAN cover as we strive to find people who have been through the thick in life and still have managed to make the most of it. Parthenia is a shinning example of what it means to live life forward, hopeful, graceful, and dignified. Throughout her life she was taught and has taught others, the power of giving back and helping others. When you talk to Parthenia, you feel loved, you feel you matter, and you feel she hears you.. She listens so diligently to others stories and always strives to help in whatever way she can. She has impacted my life beautifully, supported me, rallied for me, and most of all has become a true friend—something to which I am sure her family and friends can relate.
When Parthenia and I speak on the phone, it is not short conversation. We end up spending hours talking about life, our projects, and our passions. When we set up the first phone interview, I felt the conversation would not be short, but I never expected us to talk for two straight hours. Of course, my work was laid out for me. I had to figure out what to include and what to leave out without taking away from her story.
Let’s start at the beginning. Parthenia (51) was born 18 December 1960 and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, the only girl. “There are six siblings…I am number four in the pecking order. I grew up around my grandparents until I was 21 years old. They were always loving and giving back, doing things in the church and giving people stuff. My grandmother was always baking and cooking, and my mom sewing. They just gave things to others. This was funny, because we didn’t have a lot so to watch them do that was amazing. That is just how I grew up, knowing that giving is something normal.” We talked about how her family shaped her life and growing up during the 60’s heated civil rights movement. “We were living in the city of St. Louis, then when my brothers got ready to go to high school, my dad moved to the county so we could have better opportunities, so we could go to better schools, to prepare for college. “
“I remember my two oldest brothers having a little trouble in high school, because we went to a mixed school. It was not all black; it was everybody. We never were taught any different; so it was not black folks and white folks; we were taught to like everybody. Both my brothers were on the water polo and swim teams, stuff back then black kids did not do. They [black kids] were doing basketball, football, and baseball; my brothers didn’t really care for those sports. They were star athletes on the water polo teams. I know after some matches my dad would come back and talk about some racial slurs and stuff said. He would sit my brothers down and teach them. He would tell them what it was about.”
“My grandmother grew up, not as a slave, but in the same mentality; she was cleaning houses and being a second-class citizen. They worked hard to teach us that slavery was gone and that we shouldn’t hate other races for what their ancestors might have done. We were more grounded than most people and I thank them [her parents and grandparents] for that. Just being honest and open. They talked about everything with us.”
Parthenia shared how her parents were different from some of the other African-American parents at the time. She said. “Our parents did not go with I am going to be mad at the world about something that happened before I was born. They just wanted us to know that everybody was a person. The skin is on the outside, what’s in your heart is what matters.”
When she became pregnant at the age of 17 she had many choices to make. “I was finishing my junior year in high school; it was shocking, because I didn’t even know that I was pregnant until New Years Eve, then I had her April 8. The child’s father’s mother told me, “You will never be anything and no one will want you if you keep that baby.” I told her while she may think that is true, I’m just going to chance it. I had her, then went back to school two weeks later, finished on time, and graduated one year later, top ten percent in my class.”
After graduating college, Parthenia was trying to find her way in life. She knew there were greater possibilities in life and was ready to explore them. Her grandfather encouraged her to join the military. She enlisted at twenty-one. About six months later, her grandfather was brutally murdered and it became even more clear to Parthenia that she did not want to stay in that area. She was in the military for twenty years, until she retired in 2002.
During her time in the service, she raised two children as a single mother. Her voice lights up when she talks about her two children, both of them top scholars. “I truly believe it was because of the time I spent with them. Even though I worked twelve-hour days, I never forget my children, just like my parents never forget me. Your kids will be there when the job is gone and you can’t ever take that back. You must take time and be with your loved ones. The job can come and go at any time, but if you miss time with your children, they can become resentful. I promised myself that I would never be that person.”
Continue reading the article in the Spring Issue of The G MAN Magazine
