Huami Magazine for Richmond Nov./Dec. 2020

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Empowering Others For Greatness

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Doors Will Open, and Doors Will Close There Are No If, Ands, Or Buts About It!

A Letter From The Editor

To say the year of 2020 has been overwhelming would be an A Letter from the Editor understatement.

For as long as I can remember, there has always been some mystique etched in my mind about the year 2020.

What will happen? What won’t happen? By now, I believe that What tomorrow didn’t arrive? ofyear yourhas plans, hopes everyone has iftheir own version of whatAll the turned out and dreams wouldn’t have a street to park on.

What if to be. I am hoping that 2021 will have a much better outcome. everything that you decided to put off until tomorrow never happened? would reason to save forthat a rainy With the onsetThere of Covid 19,be it’snomy interpretation many day, and you could spare someone the trouble of making people may have taken the eventual pandemic for granted. All promises.

What last opportunity seemingly of a sudden, and out ifofyour nowhere, the way we go aboutexpired our daily today? What would you do? lives was interrupted. Can’t go to church because of the dangers associated with the virus. Schools are closed, businesses have I’ve been told that I often seem like I do too much. been closed and in some cases, even shut down permanently.

Honestly, I feel like I am not doing enough and I’m a firm Everywhere I go, I must wear a mask or protective covering to believer in knowing that God wouldn’t put anything on me ensure that I do get infected or possibly infect someone else. that I couldn’t handle. I sometimes wonder how life would Thenbe a new wordtowas evenand invented a result of our new wayI if I chose sit idle accept as what it presented to me. of living; social distancing.

Oh, how things have changed. have found that to be very boring. In my opinion, opportunity

is a blessing that isn’t afforded to everyone. A challenge Even with all adventure. of the discourse confusion, God to me is an Whatand is the worst that canhas happen? continued to show His might and power through it all.

While If I do nothing, I fail, and if I try I don’t, but instead learn somesomething things have been taken away, He has replaced them new about myself.

Relinquish your pride andwith in evenreturn greater ones.

With the new normal, many business owners acquire life. including myself have been forced to develop new ways of how we do business.

As a result our businesses have flourished and The best advice ever given to me happened when someone become All that I am left withIntodoing thinkso is, but toldeven me tomore makedynamic. my tomorrow happen today.

God.I have pressed my way through doors with a key that only hope provided. I have also learned the difference between Godabout blesseswhat me with what life for caneveryone burden me I’mwhat excited God and is preparing in with well. we I compare it toout knowing when be confident 2021. asWhile are closing the year, wetomust continueand to be when to of be the quiet, because mindful of all things that someone may get it confused God didn’t allow to happen, and with being appreciate whatarrogant.

He has. What I continue to learn is when God Makethings you tomorrow takes some away, He always happen today, replaces them with but evenmost greater importantly make it count. things. When one door closes, Lifeone is but a whisper and another will open. Knowing we must must stay put ourselves in a and this, we encouraged position to hear what it is continue to pursue our purpose. telling us.

More than anything, we must always trust God.

Terry Terry L. L.Watson Watson Editor/Founder 4

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On The Cover

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HuamiMagazine.com Richmond - September/October 2020

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HuamiMagazine.com

November/December 2014

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CONTENTS

NOV./DEC. 2020

RICHMOND

Dealing With The Pandemic

Erika Hendrix

6

On The Cover

A Life of Service NaQuetta Mitchell

D King Electric

D Mitri King

16

24

PaperboyFly Clothing

Sammy Gulley

26

Huami Magazine Cutest Baby

Russell (Russ) Pennix

30

Also Featured

S. Elle Clark She has launched a new business, and it’s a good brew.

Atlanta, GA

10

BJ Brown Meet the face and founder of SLS Sound & Lighting.

Charleston, SC

28

Richmond - September/October 2020

Javion Woods Through her personal pains and struggles, she is devoted to helping others.

Greenville, SC

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HuamiMagazine.com 5

Empowering Others For Greatness

By Terry L. Watson Photos by NaQuetta Mitchell NaQuetta Mitchell of Hopewell, VA is truly a “Woman Of Endurance”.

She is the mother of two amazing young ladies who are the driving force behind her desire to accomplish each assignment God puts before her.

She is also the face and founder of Higher Than This Transformational Coaching, and a nonprofit organization, Women of Endurance.

Higher Than This is a coaching firm that specializes in transforming relationships that include self, romantic, platonic, familial, and community. “At Higher Than This, we specialize in bringing hope and clarity to your relationships. We will help you understand what options are open to you. We will help you feel confident in making your decision,” she says. With Women of Endurance, its focus is geared towards assisting women with turning devastation into determination.

NaQuetta shares how her journey began. “I got started officially in 2014. During that season of my life I was a mother of one and expecting my next child, all while going through a divorce. It was during this season that I had decided to move back to my hometown of Hopewell, Va. While going through this transition, it was not a lot of assistance for women in my situation. Even though I was married to the military, they couldn’t help me. Even though I was going through a divorce, social services couldn’t help me either,” she says. NaQuetta knew at that moment there was a void that needed to be filled.

Some of the services offered with Higher Than This are one on one coaching sessions, group sessions, and speaking engagements. “My services are geared towards those who have a desire to be the change they wish to see,” says NaQuetta.

To accomplish everything that she does, NaQuetta is often faced with challenging situations. “That work and life balance is tough. I have so many goals to reach but I also want to hang out with my daughters at Chuck E. Cheese and eat Pepperoni Pizza. I am slowly getting my business to the point where I am able to plan more self care and mommy daughter adventures with my kids, and date nights with my honey. I am also trying to include some time with friends and family,” she says.

There are some things that she loves about being a business owner as well. “I absolutely love that with being a transformation coach, I am able to run a business that aligns with my values. I am determined to constantly grow and develop clients into who they desire to be. Being self employed offers a flexible schedule, both in terms of when and where I work. One of the best things and biggest advantages of being a business owner is I can work from home, work from my office, and work from virtually any destination with a great view and a latte in my hand,” NaQuetta shares.

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NaQuetta shares her life has been impacted by women of color. “I have always been surrounded by strong women such as my mother, my father, my maternal and paternal Grandmothers, my aunts, my high school business teacher, and my high school marketing teacher.

These individuals led me to believe that anything I put my mind to, I can do and most importantly that if an obstacle or obstacles come my way that I could overcome them,” she says. NaQuetta finds inspiration being able to provide a good life for her daughters.

Though the journey has been interesting for NaQuetta, she has endured. There are a few things that she would change about it if she could. “I would have attended Virginia State University as soon as I graduated high school and graduated with my degree. Even though I have worked diligently to show and prove how qualified I am, most organizations don’t give me the opportunities that they give those with a degree.”

What lies in the future for NaQuetta? She plans on releasing her long awaited book early 2021. It will be a book of devotions and encouragement for women who are in transition into their next season. To learn more about the programs and services offered by NaQuetta Mitchell, please contact her directly or visit her website.

Marriage On Life Support “My wife and I were truly on the brink of throwing away 10 years of marriage over a break in communication. I am not a therapy kinda guy, so it was honestly a breath of fresh air receiving a referral to check out a relatable, down to earth relationship coach. I can not thank NaQuetta enough for coaching session that helped my family stay together.”

Client Testimony

www.naquettaspeaks.com FB and IG: (Business Page) Higher_Than_This (NonProfit) WomentOfEnduranceVa 8

Creating & Selling Solutions

By Laci Ollison Photos by Chanel Mason Everyone experiences hardships in life. Things happen that attempt to throw us off course.

And unfortunately for many entrepreneurs, taking time to process and destress doesn’t always come easy. Elle Clark, however, was able to reignite her passion for entrepreneurship through self-care and a sabbatical.

“Last year God blessed me to be able to take a year off from business and work,” the Mississippi native said. “I had never taken off work in about 16 or 17 years.

Elle said that it was her friends who encouraged her to take a break after experiencing some difficult times. “They told me I needed a break to just chill and relax,” she said. “I was really stressed. And my friends reminded me that I hadn’t stopped through any of the things that I had been through.”

But then, Elle said that her mental health began to become affected because of not being able to take a break. “I started having bad panic attacks and anxiety attacks,” she said. “That’s when I knew I had to do something.”

The single mother reluctantly agreed to take a break, but it wasn’t a decision that was easy to make or adjust to. “It was crazy to not get up and go to work,” said Elle. “I felt like an underachiever. I felt like I was being a slacker and like I should be up doing something. I just felt like I was wasting my life.”

By the second month Elle told herself that she was blessed and that she could do this. By the third month she pushed herself to find a routine.

The year-long sabbatical gave the entrepreneur time to process some of her life’s experiences. “It gave me time to release a lot of things that had hurt me,” said Elle. “I unloaded a lot of hurt, stress, and pain, and had time to process things that I had been through.”

It also gave her a chance to remember why she started her businesses in the first place.

“I shut down all my businesses,” Elle said.

“I didn’t do anything work related and it was hard. It gave me time to plan, time to meet with suppliers, and that’s also when I came up with my organization, ‘Passion Funding Purpose.’”

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Passion Funding Purpose is a non profit organization that Elle founded in hopes of assisting working class men and women with everyday life necessities: food, housing, medical expenses along with attorney fees of black fathers who are battling tough child custody cases.

“The inspiration for Passion Funding Purpose came from me and my own experience,” Elle said. “To be in full time business and raising a child, you find yourself needing help sometimes but there’s not a lot of help for the working class.”

Elle said that business owners and working class shouldn’t have to worry about essential things like childcare, housing, or making sure they have food for their family when times get hard.

Assisting others was also part of the inspiration behind another one of her businesses, Sippin Good. Named by her son, Sippin Good offers cbd teas and organic loose teas that are geared toward health and wellness.

“All teas are geared toward the body,” Elle said. “We felt that it was the perfect time to launch this type of business during a pandemic.”

The teas were specifically created to help with ailments that many people experience such as diabetes, dementia, joint pain, anxiety, alcohol and substance addiction, fibrosis plus so much more. All ingredients from the teas are sourced from suppliers found within the United States.

“It was crazy to not get up and go to work. I felt like an underachiever. I felt like I was being a slacker and like I should be up doing something.”

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Elle along with her son had hopes of opening a storefront but due to the pandemic, they have pushed their open date to March of next year.

For now, their line of teas can be found on their website. “The goal is to come to the café and have a full tea experience,” she said.

Along with her non-profit organization and her tea business, Elle is a Georgia Notary and full time Georgia Realtor of 16 years. Elle Clark Solutions offers Real Estate and Small Business Strategy Solutions to entrepreneurs who need assistance defining their goals, creating an execution plan and scaling their business.

Elle says that she hopes to handoff her Real Estate business to her son in the next six years. “I don’t see myself opening up any other businesses,” she said. “But the goal is to have all my businesses go on auto-pilot.” She also hopes her 12 year old son will continue to build his entrepreneurial skills.

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“Both myself and his father are entrepreneurs,” Elle said. “So he is a product of his environment. Our goal is to make sure that he knows that he doesn’t have to work for anyone else. Our goal is to make sure that he knows that an unplanned direction to college or working a job for someone else not knowing his skills does not have to be his path. I want him to look at himself and know that he has options based on learning his purpose. She hopes to leave a legacy for her son to follow. “I have to ask myself, “what am I leaving behind”? “If I departed this world today, what did I as a parent teach him to do without me?”

“Have a clear, concise, and well strategized plan,” she advises. “Plan for long and short term.” The business strategist says that entrepreneurs should also save and budget for the potential costs that come along with starting a business. “Have the money because nothing is free,” she said. “We’re past the days of being able to start a business for $500 because legal filing fees cost that much alone.”

Elle also says that business owners should be able to adapt to changes that they may encounter along the way. “Be open to change. Business is not one dimensional no matter how many years you have been in it. Every year and every quarter you should be rising to a new level and still learning while maintaining that which you have mastered at the same time.”

Elle says that she is proud of how she herself has been able to adapt to change. “I find strength in knowing that I could do this by myself with what God placed within me. In spite of adversity and in spite of the lessons that I had to learn, I stayed the course.”

Elle’s next goal is to make a “little time” to be found by true love and marry in the near future. h

“Some companies give good ideas, we sell great Solutions”

Sippin Good LLC 833-7SI-PPIN www.sippingood.com “Enhance your mind, body and wellness while Sippin Good” Facebook & Instagram @Imsippingood

Elle Clark Solutions Real Estate & Small Business Solutions 770-421-5531 www.elleclarksolutions.com 800 Battery Ave - Ste 100 Atlanta, GA 30339 Facebook & Instagram @elleclarksolutions 15

The Fatigue of the Pandemic 16

HuamiMagazine.com Richmond - September/October 2020

By Dr. Erika Hendrix Photos by Jarvis Harris On March 11th, 2020, the world was placed on a mandated lockdown and given instruction to social distance six feet apart to combat the spread of the virus that had no name. For the first time in my life the world and the church were left standing still with no instructions on what to do and what direction to move in. I quote Helen Keller who was an American Author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Helen is known by one of her statements, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”

I must admit and many others as well we did not see this pandemic coming. We were preparing for the Year of 20/20, the Year of Focus, but we were not preparing on how to live during one of the hardest pandemics this world has encountered in my lifetime. At the onset I asked myself the question how to preach or minister to people that you were used to seeing in person and now we have resulted in worshipping virtually. The inescapable had taken place and we did not have a template to follow. You can compare it to getting a new position, with no job description and you are told make it up as you go along. We no longer had the proclivity to choose; we had to adjust to a new norm of what we now know is the, “Virtual Worship Experience.”

For the first time in history the black church has been faced with the greatest crisis that affects not only its membership but has impacted the world. The next layer that the church must contend with is not having the ability to interact, gather, fellowship and a place to worship.

The world has felt this pandemic socially, politically, culturally and economically. I know that it is a faith walk to stay open, but how do we figure out to stay connected virtually and not lose members. This was an unforeseen shadowing that has grappled America to its core and has left even the medical scientist baffled by an unknown virus that has not slowed down but has progressed faster than we have expected.

The challenge that many churches had faced was the lack of a social media platform. So, overnight whether you knew it or not if you church was online or had a social media presence you became global overnight.

That became the resounding theme and it also became a burden to stay relevant while we were in a stay at home mandate. Many people became perplexed and withdrawn because they had relied so much on a physical location, they did not know how to shift beyond the four walls.

A point of transparency I struggled to preach and teach from home, because I felt that I would not be effective in my delivery. I did not have the amenities that I would have at church, at home. So, I went around and around in my head saying, “Lord how is this going to work?” God graciously provided a closed platform of group therapy for Pastors and Preachers for us to vent and express our emotions over the impact that this virus was having on us, how to deal with the loss of a loved one, church members, and the loss of the people whom we minister to each week.

The fatigue of the pandemic was taking a toll on me mentally because I was trying to fit a circle inside of a box, instead of thinking outside of the box. Once I figured out that I had to change my mindset and my space of preaching I began to make my space conducive for me to

minister each week. I invested in podiums, high back chairs, cameras, teleprompter, ring lights, etc. to assist me in sermon delivery.

The fatigue coupled with health issues I was battling began to wear on me physically and mentally, but my nature as a person was to keep pushing and I could not let the people see me sweat. So, I gave it to the people each week and I made sure I was present mentally and physically attentive to whom and how I ministered the word of God. The fatigue that I was experiencing was the lack of sleep, heavy exertion, racing on the mind, unhealthy eating habits, slowness, headaches and moodiness.

I know many of you may be thinking why I am telling you about my experience, I want whoever reads this article especially leaders that it is okay to be human and need support.

I am reminded that Peter had Jesus’ support and confidence that he could walk on water, but the moment he felt that he could support himself he started to sink. Sinking is not a sign of giving up, but you cannot rely on your own ability to walk this out without God’s divine intervention. It became a sign that many Pastors, Preachers and leaders lacked the confidence to allow themselves self-care and to provide Pastoral Care to those who needed it. Also, how can I fit it in a vacation and leave the people without a preacher? I felt closed in and at times smothered by the heavy assignment to carry a burden and blessing at the same time. I realized that self-care had to be a part in how I have survived to this point.

I have preached for twenty-six weeks three times a week non-stop.

As the Executive Pastor of Overcoming Deliverance Center our Pastor contracted the virus in March and she had It for almost sixty days. So, not only was I carrying the church along with our Bishop-Elect Charlie Watson my role reversed, and I became the Pastor to carry the church on as usual.

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Sinking is not a sign of giving up, but you cannot rely on your own ability to walk this out without God’s divine intervention.

I know by now you may be wondering if I am still carrying the assignment I was called to do twenty-five years ago and the answer is, Yes. I believe that transparency is the catalyst and the driving norm for discipleship in 2020. I often used this as an example we are so busy gathering numbers for membership and we forsake their soul. I reminded of one of my favorite parables: John 4 (Message Bible) 4-6 To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph.

Jacob’s well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon.

7-8 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)

9 The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days would not be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”

11-12 The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?”

13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

This is the oasis of the Pandemic known at COVID-19 was the bull that was let out of the gate with just a horn. The gate in this text is the well and he woman is the bull needing to be free, but she needs a sign; and Jesus was the living water the refresher and there was a need to draw her in for a drink, so she thought of living water, but Jesus was setting

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the opportunity and the encounter to give her spiritual water. How many of us during this Pandemic sought after spiritual water instead of material gain to move beyond the fatigue of the Pandemic? The irony of this text is she made some observations: Jesus didn’t have a bucket, the well was deep and what was his plan to get it, and then she had the audacity to ask was he better than Jacob and his sons who dug the well and left it for the Samaritans. To some this would have been an insult, but for Jesus it was an opportunity. What I am saying Jesus gave us an opportunity during this pandemic to redo, make over, re-invest, reassign those who were willing to dig deep wells. A well is a hole that is heaved with great effort to provide a place for the people to draw from it. As we look further into this text it never tells us where the water came from once the well was dug. I believe it was the positioning of the well and the direction in which the water was flowing.

Do miss use your authority to redirect the flow to make it fit into your box. The glass ceiling no longer exists, it is now open season to build a virtual community that may not never come to our churches, but will follow you, share and like with those in their close circle. There is a circle to life in which we must follow, and it resonates with two sets of people that we are leading traditional and non-traditional attendees.

It is just like driving a car for the first time. They are experienced drivers and new licensees. They both had to learn to drive the same way by following the road signs and adhering to the traffic laws and using caution while driving. The main factor is they were not able to operate a motor vehicle until we were able to pass the driver’s education writing exam and driver’s exam; and this could only be obtained by a person who had experience in teaching us the basic elements of driving.

Unfortunately, you can be experienced and well learned, but millions have lost their lives and doubt has set in. Are we going to come out of this with no more casualties?

How to overcome fatigue during this pandemic: 1. Examine who is around you. Have you contracted doubt and fear in which you live by that we will not come out of this pandemic?

2. Lay your hands on yourself and declare victory over your mind, body and soul.

3. Practice self-care: running, walking, riding a bike, journaling, taking a mini vacation in your city just to get out of your environment.

4. Circles are meant to be occupied, not empty, so fill your circle with people you can trust during a moment of transparency.

5. The promise Jesus made us that he would be with us to the very end of the world.

In conclusion we are called to be world changers who can change the game. Life is a monopoly depending on what space you land on you can win or lose, but we all have a chance to start over again. COVID-19 has impacted our churches in more ways than we can even imagine, there will be effects of this pandemic long after history has been printed digitally. Rev. Victor J. Grigsby made a profound statement, “But, even when we were physically distanced, we were still socially connected.

The vocabulary and terminology now threaten the very fiber of our community. We need each other. We’ve always needed each other.”

I hope and dream that this pandemic has made families stronger, strengthened communities and restored the real essence of who the church is. We must find a balance that draws people and walk each day at a time and use best possible health practices by wearing your mask, washing your hands and practicing social distancing. It is the culmination of reaching the pivotal and climatic point for forwarding thinking. h

HuamiMagazine.com Richmond - September/October 2020

Dr. Erika Hendrix 336-587-8876

Richmond - September/October 2020

HuamiMagazine.com 19

Leading By Example

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HuamiMagazine.com Richmond - September/October 2020

By Laci Ollison Photos by Javion Woods ​ For Javion Woods, much of life has been spent serving others and raising her ten children. However recently, she has decided to steer her life into a different direction; running a business, managing a non-profit organization, and encouraging others along the way. ​ Javion was born in Clinton, North Carolina and raised in the Bronx of New York. She has spent much of her life living in Greenville, South Carolina, the place this accomplished business woman calls home.

She was married and became a mother at a young age. “​ I gave my life to my husband and to being a mother because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do,” Javion said.

“I thought that was one of the admirable things a woman was supposed to do.” B ​ ut over time things began to change. “ ​ My husband became abusive and controlling. He was older than me so he thought he could tell me what to do. So I had to figure out what to do.” ​ Javion found that leaving wasn’t easy to do. Javion quickly realized that there were not many resources for a single mother at the time. “ ​ I left my marriage with no college degree, with eight children, and one on the way,” she recalls. “I was fleeing with my babies, but I had nowhere to go. I couldn’t knock on a friend’s door because there were so many of us. I couldn’t apply for section eight assistance because my family exceeded the occupancy limit. Shelters weren’t an option because there was a rule that boys over seven had to go to the male shelter, so some of my kids would be with me and some of them wouldn’t. I had to make a decision.” ​ Javion prayed for an answer. God spoke to her and told her that she was more than just a wife and a mother. That message from God was very clear and was carried on to the inception of her non-profit, More Than A Mother. The organization’s message is a simple one. It pushes women to pursue life outside of being a mother and a wife. ​ “While those are wonderful attributes,” said Javion, “Your business and your purpose does not stop just because you get married and have children. When roles change, women adapt to the challenges but sometimes put themselves on the backburner.”

“Your business and your purpose does not stop just because you get married and have children.”

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HuamiMagazine.com Richmond - September/October 2020

More Than A Mother started as a Facebook group on the basis of providing women a platform to begin talking about things that mothers dealt with. Within 30 days, the group had reached 2,000 members. Javion shares that she wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared for it because there was still some healing that she needed to do and some healing that needed to take place inside of her. ​ Javion said that after she healed, she was able to come back and form the non-profit which now focuses on a variety of different initiatives. ​ “I’m also a domestic violence survivor. So of course I’m a domestic violence advocate. But I’m also a mental health advocate and we’ve also done things around breast cancer awareness,” she says. T ​ he organization is in the 2nd year of hosting a breast cancer awareness luncheon. “ ​ We pick things that affect the community and we focus on that. We recently did a homeless drive to fight COVID-19. So we’re not stuck with serving one purpose permanently, we try to do a variety of things.” T​ hey also held a Bee Essential Back to School drive, collecting kits for teachers and childcare workers. ​ Javion is also in the process of hosting a retreat for mothers called Mom Boss Launch. The retreat will encourage moms to pursue passion and vision while still being effective in their roles of mom and wife. ​ In addition to managing her non-profit organization, Javion is also the owner of LifeEaze, a virtual assistance company that also offers business strategy and business coaching services to entrepreneurs. ​ “I’m a Human Resources Manager by trade,” Javion said. “I was working as a government contractor and I was the executive assistant to the CEO. So I did everything and learned it all.”

O ​ ne night, Javion went to a church service and realized that so many people there who owned businesses didn’t know how to do things like file for an LLC, manage their social media pages, or create a landing page. “​ At first I was offering my services for free,” she said. “One day I heard my pastor preach a sermon and he said that everything you need is already inside of you. If you’re asking God for a financial increase, take what you already have and use it.” ​ ​ Once Javion launched her virtual assistant businesses, clients became her norm. “Just about every time I did a consultation, I booked the client.”

A ​ s a mother, business owner, and non-profit CEO, Javion has learned to be her biggest supporter. “ ​ You can’t control what other people say or do. Other people may not clap for you, so you have to clap for yourself. Every day you look in the mirror and decide to show up for yourself,” she said. ​ Javion is the proud mother of Patience, Malachi, Charity, Faith, Kevin Jr., Zion, Nehemiah, Soloman, Ezekial, Harmony, and a bonus child, Jayda. h

Javion James More Than A Mother www.iammorethanamother.org 864-982-7831 LifeEaze Virtual Assistant www.lifeeaze.com 864-982-7831 23

D KING ELECTRIC

By Dawn Cauthen Thornton - Photos by Khi Visualz

The trajectory of your life is usually determined by the decisions you make for yourself and the odds that may be stacked against you despite those decisions. Unsurprisingly, black men tend to face these odds at a larger rate than any other ethnic category.

In high school, in Greensboro, NC, Dmitri King was traveling down the wrong path. He was hanging out with friends late at night, taking the family car without permission, and eventually ran into trouble that he couldn’t escape. After he graduated, not much changed. Things got worse even. He and his stepfather weren’t getting along due to his constant mischief and eventually he was kicked out of the house. A close friend and his family took him in and for years it seemed his life was turning around…until he got arrested and thrown in jail.

While spending time behind bars, King received a phone call from a close cousin that would change his life more than he could’ve ever imagined.

“My cousin came and bailed me out and asked me was I ready to leave Greensboro, NC now. I knew I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing. So not only did he pay my bail, but he paid to rent a moving truck, packed up all my stuff and brought me and my son down to Buford, GA put us up, and put me to work that week,” King explains. He is beyond grateful to his cousin and freely admits that he could never repay him for giving him the career he currently has and a new lease on life almost two decades ago. Perhaps he’s reimbursing him by following in his cousin’s footsteps and being a successful businessman.

King’s cousin owned an independent electrical business and taught him almost everything he knew at the time. The New Jersey native absorbed as much knowledge as he could and moved on to another company where he worked alongside seasoned electricians who poured into him. Years later he transitioned to another cousin’s business, expanding his knowledge base even further.

“I learned on three different levels and learned three different ways to run a business. They were all so smart and took their time to teach me everything about wiring and lighting and all of that,” says King.

In 2010 King felt he’d had enough hands on experience to branch out and start a business of his own. He became a Certified Electrician and opened DKing Electric, LLC under the parent company Metro Atlanta Electrical, LLC. It wasn’t easy for me, but it wasn’t that difficult because I had support.”

When one of his former employers changed directions to focus solely on commercial contracts, he referred two of his biggest residential clients to King because of his talent and the level of trust in his work.

King met several more loyal clients who gave excellent references so it wasn’t long before his clientele began to grow. Popular nightclub owners, restaurant owners, and new construction home builders all across the area came calling and then connected him with others. Soon he had more clients than he could handle. That push only made him work harder, hire more workers, and make more money.

The once troubled kid perfected his craft and is proud that he can wire an entire home by himself from ‘top to bottom’.

Fortunately, he’s so busy with inspections, contracts, and clients that he doesn’t have time to do that anymore. He hires professionals whose work is just as thorough as his, so he can trust them to do a job when he’s not there. He’s currently training another cousin to one day take the rein or at the least, be his backup.

“You’re only as good as the people you hire so I make sure I employ smart people who know what they’re doing.”

A typical day for King consists of driving from city to city, managing projects and the variety of work that has to be done on each job. “The biggest part of my day, really, is going to a [home improvement] store several times! Easy. There isn’t a day when I’m not there at least twice. Sometimes five or six times in a day.

So much that I should purchase stock!” he laughed.

As busy as it is and as intricate as it can be, King can’t imagine where he would be without DKing Electric, LLC. It’s like the heart of his family. His wife lends her time to the business by handling the bookkeeping and much of the paperwork and he manages the field. His 24 year old son helps out from time to time but has his sights set on entertainment for now. His bonus-daughter watches from afar.

The life-saving cousins King embarked on this journey with have now expanded to being builders and restaurant owners, and he is itching to do the same. Don’t be surprised to soon see Dmitri King’s name on something bigger and better around the Atlanta area. Whatever it is, it will be lit. Literally. h

“You’re only as good as the people you hire so I make sure I employ smart people who know what they’re doing.”

D King Electric 678-791-3314 www.dkingelectric.com 25

PaperboyFly Clothing

By Terry L. Watson Photos by Sammy Gulley

Sammy Gulley can be described as modest. He is a humble guy from Meridian, MS by way of Yonkers, NY. He’s a husband, a father of two, a wine aficionado, and so much more. He was raised by his mother along with his two sisters. There, he learned valuable life lessons that prepared him for life.

After finishing high school, he enlisted in the US Navy and served his country for eight years. After he got out of the Navy, he began working as a civilian over in Okinawa Japan. After leaving Okinawa he moved back to the United States to Virginia and got a job working at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

He started as a trainer/SA (System Administrator) for DOD EHR Essentris, and was later promoted to the leading System Administrator.

Today, Sammy is the owner of PaperboyFly Clothing, a fashion apparel line of T-shirts, sweaters, crop tops, sweater dresses and more. He will be adding suits and other items down the road to make his catalog more well-rounded and give customers that full fledge PaperboyFly experience.

Sammy started to get more into fashion shortly after leaving the military. “I couldn’t wear a uniform anymore so I had to put more effort into what I wore. I would always get compliments on how I dressed and the combinations I put together. Once I got to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, the compliments kept coming and I thought maybe I can turn this into something. People would ask if I ever thought about having my own clothing line and I would respond “no”. However as time went on the idea began to grow on me. I would always wear paperboy hats from years ago and so I thought the way I dressed was fly that I put two and two together, and came up with PaperboyFly,” he says.

As the owner of a fashion apparel company, Sammy says he loves being able to see his ideas come to life. “Seeing others excited about my brand and the possibilities that we have in front of us, and being able to show my children that they can also be owners of their own companies is what it’s all about,” he says. “I find that I get inspiration from so many sources. Whether from my family, friends, colleagues, or neighbors. I’m inspired by other fashion icons and brands such as Sean John, Roca Wear, Gap, Ralph Lauren, Karl Kani, and Tommy Hilfiger. I also try and find inspiration from within and make my style fit my mood, or the day or the season of life I’m in,” Sammy says.

Sammy has faced a few challenges in business. One is getting a consistent footing on the marketing and making consistent sales and exposing himself to a broader market. Others he says are finding manufactures that have the quality and scalability that can support the needs of an upstart company like the one he has.

“Honing in on that customer base that will support your product and vision not just at the beginning but be repeat customers can be quite challenging,” he also says. “We are always trying to expand our range of products while maintaining our quality and service to customers.”

The journey that Sammy has experienced with PaperboyFly Clothing has helped him to become a more well-rounded businessman. He says if he could have done some things differently, he would have. “One would be doing more market research before my initial launching. Having a better marketing

Sammy Gulley

PaperboyFly Clothing www.paperboyflyclothing.com plan I’ve learned is so important. I would have hired a professional to make my website or at least consult with them on the overall aesthetics and functionality of it. I also wished I would have learned more about drop-shipping,” he says.

Moving forward, the focus of PaperboyFly Clothing is to expand their customer base. They will also continue to improve the overall experience for their clientèle and ensure that customer service is provided at its best.

Sammy also offers some advice to others who may follow in his footsteps. “If you can find a mentor, study them and get advice.

Do your research and find your niche. Most importantly, do not give up if this is something you believe in and are passionate about.

Stay with it and remember that it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” he says.

To learn more about Sammy or PaperboyFly Clothing, visit their online store to checkout their latest line of apparel and fashion.

27

HuamiMagazine.com Richmond - September/October 2020

By Terry L.Watson Photos by BJ Brown When the quality of your service speaks for itself, the chances of your business being successful are a lot higher.

That is what is taking place with Southern Lighting and Sound, Southern Wave Studios, and Southern Wave Music Group in Charleston, SC. Owned and founded by BJ Brown, SLS provides audio, lighting, and visual production services for concerts, weddings, festivals, corporate events, and religious events. Additionally, they offer live and studio recording, mixing and mastering, and pre and post production studio work.

BJ says he loves working with his clients. He also enjoys setting up the live audio system, which is his favorite part of his job. “Mixing the instruments and mics can be so rewarding when I see the audience really enjoying what they see and hear,” he says.

BJ says he is inspired mostly by his family, music mogul, Sean Puffy Combs, and his community of audio engineers. Some of his notable clients are Mike Brown and F.O.C.U.S, Jarell Smalls and Company, Fantasia, The Whispers, Gladys Knight, Travis Greene, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, John P. Kee, Anthony Brown & Group Therapy, Tamala Mann, PJ Morton, Confunkson, Midnight Starr, Atlantic Star, Loose Ends, Pieces of A Dream, and many more. “SLS has recorded with some of the best performers in the world. We can provide you with up to

BJ’s family is well established in the Charleston community. He is married and a father of four. He graduated from R. B. Stall High School in 1999. That same year, he started his career as a firefighter for the City of North Charleston in September, and is currently a Captain at Station 2.

When BJ is not at the fire station, you can catch him at Southern Wave Studios, where we works with several great singers, song writers, and musicians. The Southern Wave Music Group is the record label that BJ owns.

“Music has been in my life since I was born. Both of my parents, the Rev. Bernard and Carrie Brown, are well known singers and musicians in our community. They have cultivated a musical experience in my life for as long as I can remember, so it made sense that I would fall in love with the music scene, and all that it offers. My first dose of live audio production came in high school where I sang the chorus. This experience allowed me to setup the mics and speakers for all of our events, including events held in our school Auditorium/Gymnasium. I knew then I was called to work in this field,” he shares.

In 2002, BJ started producing music tracks for some friends. Not knowing what he was doing, BJ says he started making tracks with his brothers’ keyboard and letting his friends listen to them. “This started my love for studio work,” he says.

When he first started, BJ says he faced a few challenges.

One was being the new kid on the block. “Most clients want the experience but don’t anticipate the cost for their requests,” he shares. Being in the south BJ says comes with its own set of challenges that every black business owner faces. “Not just racism, but the lack of support we receive from other people of color is unbelievable. At times, we can be our worst enemy.”

128 tracks of your live performance.​ Our technicians are skilled in capturing the live essence of your event,” he says.

The future looks bright for BJ Browns and his for his company.

He has plans to expand outside of Charleston and into other areas including Georgia and North Carolina. To learn more about BJ Brown and SLS Lighting & Sound, Southern Wave Studios, or SLS Music Group, please contact him directly or visit their website. h

SLS Lighting & Sound 843-270-3546 www.slsstage.com 29

Russell (Russ) Pennix

MAGAZINE

Cutest Baby

The son of Crystal Adkins-Pennix and Rufus Pennix

To submit photographs to be placed in the Huami Magazine Cutest Baby feature, please send a detailed email to huami.cutestbaby@gmail.com

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