Ashro Woman: Laura L.
Meet Ashro Woman of the Week, Laura L. from Columbus, GA
Laura has faced adversity and beat it—over and over again. “My life has often been filled with struggle, but that has resulted in enormous strength of faith for me. I joke with friends sometimes that I live on a cliff, but in His presence.” Faith and life challenges started early for Laura.
As a farm child in South Central Alabama, she struggled with illness. She didn’t let that define her, though, and neither did her parents. They insisted that she be educated and instilled a love of learning in her that thrives to this day. She also became a student of the Bible at the age of 12.
“I have considered it my instruction manual.” All of these things have served her well. Now retired, Laura has been a mental health family therapist, a real estate professional and the first elected African American to serve on her local board. She is also a mother who sees mothering as a calling. As a true mother, Laura can’t help blessing all of us with her good advice…”Know your worth. You are God’s child. He doesn’t make mistakes.”
| Name |
| Laura L. |
| Which city do you live? |
| Columbus |
| Which state do you live? |
| GA |
| How would you describe the Ashro woman? How do you embody her? |
| She is elegant, she is self assured, she has high self esteem, she can mow a lawn, tend a garden, at one could dance the night away in an elegant club, can discuss automobiles with guys, be a listening ear to friends and strangers, she has a special relationship with her God, her family, her friends, and the soul mate God gave her late in life. She has known sorrow in abundance but she is happy. The joy she has, the world didn’t give it to her and world cannot take it away. |
| What do you do for a living? What do you like most about it? What don’t you like? |
| I am a retired Mental Health Family Therapist. Before entering that field I had a long career in Real Estate. I was the first elected African American to serve as president of our local Board. |
| How do you spend your free time? |
| Don’t believe I have had much of that. Due to Covid-19 I seem to have a little more. I am a photographer, an actress and a writer. I also enjoy spending time with my two grandsons when they have time. I have two great grandchildren. |
| What small thing makes you happy? |
| I was raised on a farm in South Central Alabama, so anytime I can visit the country I am elated. I love to sit on my back porch, have my morning coffee and watch the squirrels and birds. |
| What is your best dish? Who do you make it for—and where do you typically serve it? |
| I am a very good cook. One of the dishes I make is Burgundy Beef. I usually serve it during the holidays. |
| What has been your greatest struggle…and your greatest (or latest) triumph? |
| Overcoming a sickly childhood was a struggle. At 75 I enjoy fairly good heath. My life has often been filled with struggle, but that has resulted in enormous strength of faith for me. I joke with friends sometime that I live on a cliff but in his presence. |
| Who influenced you the most in your life. Why? And in what way? |
| My parents and early teachers. My parents were well along in age when I was born. They had been married for 17 childless years. My mother said she prayed for children. I was born in 1945 and my brother 16 months later. My parents insisted we be educated. In the deep south there was separate but equal schools. In other words the schools were not that, but I loved to learn. I still do. My relationship with my father made sure I developed a strong personality coupled with my feminine side. |
| Do you volunteer or do charity work? Tell us about it! |
| I have done volunteer work in the past, but not recently. I actually worked with volunteers in one of my careers. I developed out the volunteer program for a new Performing Arts Center in Columbus, Georgia. |
| Are you in a sorority? Or is anyone in your family in a sorority? If so, which one and what does it mean to you? |
| I am an AKA, but I have not been financial for some time. |
| What do you love about fashion and style? |
| At one time I was a fashion stylist in my younger days. I marketed clothing for a company out of the Chicago area by the name of Beeline Fashions. I did home style fashions shows and was the manager for this area. I love fashions that are classic and allow me to express myself without uttering a word. My father taught me to always be a lady and I believe that should inform how I dress. |
| Has anyone in particular influenced your style? |
| Maybe not a person, but I love the styles of the 40s. |
| What occasions/events do you dress up for? (for example-do you often dress up for church, cultural events, charity events, going out, etc.) And how often do you typically get dressed up? |
| I love getting dressed up and I mostly order Ashro to help me with that. I am just at home in a pair of jeans as I am in a long formal gown. |
| How has your style evolved over time? |
| I have always like a classic look. I like to create my own style. |
| Do you wear hats? How often and what type of hat? Do you wear them to church? If so, be sure to share a pic of you in a hat with us! |
| There is something about me and hats that I cannot explain. Sometime if a friend sees me in a hat they will buy it for me or go in their closet and give me a hat. I absolutely love hats and I have one of me in a hat at a hat show I will show. |
| Do you wear headwraps? How often? Where did you learn how to tie it? Share a pic of you in a headwrap with us! |
| I wear head wraps if I can figure how to tie them. |
| Do you wear wigs? How often and what length or style? If so, be sure to share a pic of you in a wig with us! |
| Yes, I wear wigs, but not as often as I did when I was younger. I have a head shot in my in a wig wearing one of the last dresses I ordered from Ashro. |
| Are you a woman of faith? How does that faith affect your life? Please tell us more. |
| Yes, it is my faith that has sustained me through many of life’s trials. I became a student of the Bible when I was 12 years old. I have considered it my instruction manual. |
| Do you attend church? What church do you go to and what do you love most about it? |
| I no longer regularly attend church and it is not because of any unbelief. I am an Episcopalian by faith. My walk with God is more personal and I have a strong interpersonal relationship with my creator. |
| How are you passing along your faith traditions onto your children/grandchildren? |
| I did regularly attend church when raising my family. They are very spiritual. My oldest daughter is a nurse. My oldest son was born with Down’s Syndrome. He died at the age of 52 4 years ago. |
| Are you a First Lady or a Pastor? |
| No |
| Your best advice? |
| Know your worth. You are God’s child. He doesn’t make mistakes. It saddens me to see women who have low self esteem. I know that having a loving healthy relationship with your father is most important. Far too many men cannot accept a strong, self assured woman and feel threatened. Stay away from anyone who does not know your worth. |
| What lessons has motherhood (or being a grandmother) taught you? |
| I understood that being a mother was a calling and I would not have a second chance to get it right. Parenting is often about sacrifice. I understood this deeply. I delayed finishing my education until I had raised my family. I got my Master’s Degree in my 60s. |
| Are you an Ashro Credit customer? If so, how has our credit helped you? |
| Yes, I am a Credit customer. Credit has allowed me to purchased some items I might not have been able to afford before. |
| Do you have a memory to share of when you first heard about Ashro or when you received your first catalog? |
| Yes, I received your catalog but I was not sure I could trust that your merchandise was as you advertised. I was at my hair saloon one day and I asked my stylist if she knew about your product. She said yes and that your size ran true. She knew this because he mother-in-law had been a customer. Sadly, the lady had ordered several outfits from you and never got to wear them because she died before she could. She was buried in one of the dresses. |
Thanks for inspiring us, Laura!
If you’d like a chance to be a future Ashro Woman of the Week, share your story with us—then watch your weekly Ashro emails to see if you’re featured next! Already filled out our questionnaire? Then you’re all set (you may see yourself featured in next week’s email)! Make sure to tell your friends and family to sign up for emails. We can’t wait to see you!
Comments (3)
Judy M.A.
Just read. Thank you, Laura! Very good advice. Your story and witness made my heart glad.
Judy M.A.
Just read. Thank you, Laura! Your story and witness made my heart glad. May God continue to richly bless you!
Laura Lowe
Thank you Ashro for honoring me this week.
Hopefully now that Covid-19 is diminishing, I can venture out to the events that just beg for a new Ashro outfit.
Again thank you.