The Roanoker March/April 2024 - 8

editor's note
An Ode to My Mother
written by Liz Long, Editor Strong women - may we be,
know, raise, emulate and admire them!
I
've been given permission to share a big secret: My mother is
finally retiring on May 31, 2024. This is a milestone
achievement and a new stage of life that I'm excited to
celebrate and share with her. I honestly wasn't sure the
day would ever come!
Robin Zachary Chenery taught me the value of respect
and hard work. A true Southern belle from Brevard, North
Carolina, she was in the US Navy from 1976-1980, stationed
at the Pentagon with top-secret security clearance to track
ships and report directly to the Secretary of the Navy. After
becoming a civilian, she gave 35 years to the health care
industry, 26 of them in her role as a purchasing manager for
a major home health care provider. And she doesn't believe
in the standard 9-5, oh no - this woman goes into the
office at 5 a.m., works 12 hours and proceeds to go home
and do more paperwork. She has never taken a vacation (I'm
really not joking)! In my 38 years, I have never known her
not to work, to throw herself completely and totally into her
career, not because she wanted to climb a ladder, but because
she knew her work mattered when she could literally save
lives making sure hospitals and doctors have the equipment
they need to care for their patients.
She showed me how to be a warrior, beating breast cancer
at only 27 years old. She taught me how to be my own
person, and how to refuse to bend to anyone else's will or
expectations. A man once told her that she didn't know how
to handle money - preposterous given her enormous job of
million-dollar budgets alone - but she took that insult as a
challenge, spending the next 20 years singlehandedly putting
her daughter through college (and subsequently teaching me
how to properly handle money), owning her home, zero debt
contributors
and a retirement
plan of excellent
financial stature. I'm not glad someone told her such an
asinine thing, but I did learn what it means to overcome
assumptions, and to never back down from a challenge (or
the patriarchy).
Known as " Mama Robin " at her company, she is generous
and loving, patient and thoughtful, and the day they found
out about her official retirement announcement, there were
tears from more than a few people. She's humble, so humble
(and may in fact berate me for spotlighting her here), and
doesn't seem to realize what an impact she's made on so
many lives, not just with family and friends and coworkers,
but perfect strangers she helped in their time of need, often
at times when they needed it most.
I don't know what the next steps of her journey will
bring, but I'm so proud of her for finally doing something
for herself, to enjoy the rewards of her lifetime of hard work.
She's the funniest person in the entire world (people who
accuse me of dry humor can take it up with her), and I can't
wait for so many more laughs together as she discovers the
new freedom that awaits her. While I suspect she doesn't
quite realize it, she has taught me everything I know about
what it means to be not just a hard worker or charitable
citizen, but a woman. I can't imagine a better example for
anyone, and I'm so unbelievably grateful she's my mother.
tell us about...
the inspiring women in your life!
Who do you admire for working
hard and setting excellent
examples for others? Share your
thoughts on our social media
pages!
we want to
hear from you
Questions, comments or feedback
about The Roanoker? E-mail llong@
leisuremedia360.com
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Aila Boyd
is an educator
and journalist
who resides in
Roanoke. She holds
an MFA in Writing
from Lindenwood
University. See
her features on
Women: 20 Over 50
starting on page
28 and Sustainable
Businesses on
page 58.
Ashley Wilson
Fellers
is a writer, selftaught
painter and
contemplative
photographer in
Roanoke, Virginia.
She has a Master
of Fine Arts degree
from Virginia Tech.
See her features
on Lee Hunsaker on
page 26 and Women:
20 Over 50 starting
on page 28.
Anthony Giorgetti
is a writer, markete,
and owner of Power-Up
Online Promotions. He
got his start writing
independent comedy but
one day realized it would
be good to have money.
He lives in Roanoke with
his wife Felicia, dogs Om
and Shanti and cats Lucy
and Oliver the Hellion
Bean. See his features on
Margaret Key on page 62,
K9 Dogs on page 64 and
Pet-Friendly Businesses
on page 68.
Lindsey Hull
grew up in the
Roanoke area and
currently resides in
Boones Mill with her
family. She primarily
reports on events,
arts and culture and
outdoor adventures
in and around the
Roanoke region. Read
her feature on Do You
Know...Matt Thompson
on page 14 and
Women: 20 Over 50
starting on page 28.
Shawn Nowlin
is an acclaimed
writer, interviewer,
photographer and
content creator.
After nearly a
decade of working
in the newspaper
industry, Shawn, 34,
transitioned into a
full-time freelancing
career. See his
profiles in Women: 20
Over 50 starting on
page 28.
Dan Smith
is an award-winning
Roanoke-based
writer/author/
photographer and a
member of the Virginia
Communications Hall
of Fame (Class of
2010). He has authored
eight books and is a
former Virginia Small
Business Journalist
of the Year. See his
features on Women:
20 Over 50 starting on
page 28 and coverage
on Craig County on
page 52.
8 march/april 2024
Georgianne
Vecellio
lives in Salem, but
enjoys adventuring
all over the Roanoke
area. She enjoys
exploring and does
her own stunts.
Read her Gist piece
starting on page 18.
Laura Wade
founder of Thrive
by Heart, is
passionate about
her family, holistic
health, personal
transformation
and sharing ideas
to inspire others
to live their best
lives. You can reach
her at soultogoal@
gmail.com. Read her
feature on Women
in Tech on page 38
and Fashion Week on
page 42.
TheRoanoker.com
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker March/April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker March/April 2024
