The Roanoker March/April 2022 - 36

" Race can be an issue, but I
don't let it. I know how to deal
with it. "
TRISH
WHITE-BOYD
at a glance
Q: Who is your hero/heroine?
A: Barack Obama.
She has been the founder/owner of Blue
Ridge Senior Services for the past 16 years
and before that she worked with the Virginia
Division of Child Support Enforcement.
She and Bert have been married for 28 years,
combining previous families (her two boys,
his five daughters). He is retired from the
Department of Veterans Services and is a busy
and respected community leader.
Bert says this about his wife: " Trish is
anchored. I think she believes to serve is to
be a servant of people and to a Higher Being
[she is a member of the Pentecostal Church].
She serves our parents and children honorably.
She'll serve our country, state and neighborhoods
as the need arises. She serves the love of
her life and her passions by showing love first. "
She began her home-care business because
" I always wanted to be in business, to dress
up, carry a briefcase and wear power suits. "
She laughs at the thought. In business, she
says, " Everything falls on me. ... Home care
is not something I grew up wanting to do, but
I did a market study [and found a need]. This
is not glamorous, but it is much-needed and
rewarding. "
Her own life skills, she says, " help me run
the business. " Her late mother, one of her
heroes, " helped me figure out how to get it
done. We were partners. "
Business has educated her on her community,
she insists. " In Southwest Virginia, there
36 MARCH/APRIL 2022
TheRoanoker.com
are a lot of people with very different views and
values. " Race, " she says, " can be an issue, but I
don't let it. I know how to deal with it. " She
works hard to avoid public controversy, but it
occasionally follows her anyway.
The Roanoke Valley is " segregated to a
certain degree and progress has been made. I've
seen it since the 1980s. This is 2021 [when this
interview was conducted] and I'm still seeing
[racism and segregation]. But look at City
Council as an example: five people of color,
one gay councilman. ... It's a good council. We
are facing some tough issues and it takes time
and work with good colleagues. "
It also takes time and attention to run a
successful business and, says White-Boyd,
" Yesterday I spent 35 minutes on business and
the rest of the day on council. I'm going to
do it for three more years and I may not run
again. My interest is in doing what I can " for
Roanoke. That includes " breaking the cycle of
poverty, economic growth, boosting small business
and bringing to Roanoke larger businesses
with good jobs. " She pauses. " Thank God for
Carilion! "
After that? She and Bert will circle the
globe, she hints. They love to travel and do a
good bit of it. " He wants me to retire so I will
go with him, " she says, chuckling.
And eventually, she will. But she has this
council thing to do first. I
Q: What is your political
goal? Your personal goal?
A: I would like to retire in 7-10 years
as a personal goal and political. I'm
hoping that I will be able to remain
on Council long enough to make a
significant impact on poverty, growth,
in the business sector and in particular
small businesses and find viable options
for affordable housing.
Q: What event (outside your
family) has provided you the
most satisfaction in your
adult life?
A: Being a delegate at the National
Convention for President Obama in
Charlotte, North Carolina.
Q: What event has been most
traumatic for you?
A: The loss of my mother.
Q: What is your No. 1 priority
as Roanoke's Vice Mayor (or
in any other post you may
hold)?
A: My priority is to make the best
decisions I can in hopes to have a
positive impact in the city overall
whether it's education, jobs, public
safety or affordable housing.
Q: What is your most
effective character trait
and why?
A: Tenacity - where there's a will,
there's a way. That has been my motto
for a long time. I can get mad.
DAN SMITH
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker March/April 2022

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