B-Metro's Portraits of Hope

Metro Birmingham Living

PORTRAITS OF

HOPE

Portraits of Hope is a collection of original portraiture completed by some of the world’s greatest portrait artists, inspired by the women of The Lovelady Center.

48

B-METRO.COM

PORTRAITS OF The Portraits of Hope gallery exhibition will be on display at Portraits, Inc. (2801 6th Ave. South) from March 11 to April 15.

Art, especially portraiture, has always been a major passion in Beverly McNeil’s life. McNeil, who owns Portraits, Inc. and the Beverly McNeil Gallery in Birmingham, is also heavily involved in the ministry of The Lovelady Center. McNeil combined her love of art and commitment to helping women in need through a special program, Portraits of Hope.

You can support this Lovelady project by purchasing a copy of the “Portraits of Hope” book for $45 plus tax. $10 to ship.

For more information visit https://portraitsofhope.charity/

48

B-METRO.COM

HOPE Portraits of Hope is a collection of original portraiture completed by some of the world’s greatest portrait artists, inspired by the women of The Lovelady Center. Each painting conveys the strength, faith and resolve that the women and leaders of The Lovelady

PORTRAITS

Center have faced as they

Amy Brekle

Monica Carreker Wesson

Jocelynn James Edmonds

Tasha Downs

Lestley Wayne Drake

Tori Rose Ellis

Melinda MeGahee

Vivian Conwell

overcome life’s challenges and trust in God to make them whole again.

B-METRO.COM

49

PORTRAITS OF HOPE “I am so incredibly grateful to our God of miracles.”

Amy Brekle (Portrait by Melissa Crawford) I began using drugs as far back as middle school to numb pain from childhood trauma.

As a young adult, I was a functioning addict until more hardships happened, and I began using stronger drugs to cope. By the time I was in my mid 30s I was convicted of countless drug-related charges that should have led to prison time but by God’s mercy didn’t.

By the time I was 39 I was so broken and ashamed of my past—and felt I’d betrayed all the ones who loved and cared for me—that there was no way I could make right all my wrongs. My mom would tell me that as long as I am breathing there is hope.

On Easter weekend of 2015 I decided I wanted a completely different life. Easter was April 5th, and my aunt helped me get into The Lovelady Center on April 9th. I surrendered my will that led to destruction to God’s will. Jesus removed the roots of codependency and drug addiction, and I was freed of all shame, guilt, and condemnation.

I will never be the same.

Upon graduating the program I knew that He’d given me a heart transplant (just like in Ezekiel 36:26-27): “A new heart also I will give you, a new spirit I will put within you that moves you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” I was the stylistoverseer of New Creation Salon at the Center for about five years where I got to share hope with other women entering the program. I am going on seven years of sobriety, have a 10-year-old daughter and 20- and 24-yearold sons, and I’m loving life. I have solid support from family and friends who have an intimate relationship with the Lord, I’m a homeowner, I attend Church of the Highlands, and am employed at B4 & After Salon. I know that I would not be where I am today without the love and prayers from my family and three children. I am so incredibly grateful to our God of miracles, who made me new and restored my life.

50

B-METRO.COM

Amy and Bella, Melissa Crawford, oil on canvas, 30” x 24”

Amy is certainly a remarkable, beautiful, and courageous woman. And Bella is a blessing as well, growing from her Mom’s overcomings. I enjoyed the opportunity to have fun with their portrait and show the importance of beautiful, supportive relationships—like the one Amy and Bella share—while also alluding to the love of the greater community.–Melissa Crawford

The pain of my past would become the purpose of my calling.” Pastor Lestley Wayne Drake (Portrait by Larry Bruce Bishop) It was early Sunday morning around 5 a.m. as I stumbled into my bedroom. I had been out all night partying and was ready to get some sleep. But, I noticed there were several messages on my answering machine, so I pressed play and the presence of God came into my room. This is when everything changed. The messages were from a girl that I had been with earlier that night, yet God was speaking directly to me. He showed me where I was, where I had been, and where I was going. This train was on a destructive path, and I didn’t know how to get off of it.

My mom and dad had seven failed marriages between them, my mom was an addict, my dad was an alcoholic, both had been in legal trouble, and I was wrapped up in my own sin with no hope in sight. As a desperate cry for help, I called out to God, “Can you still love me after all I have done?” In that moment, He came into my life with his unconditional love. It was what I had been searching for all along.

Later that day, I went to see my PawPaw, my mom’s dad, to tell him of this great encounter I had with the Lord. He had prayed for me since I was a little boy. The first question he asked me was if I wanted to live for God. I said, “Of course.” He responded, “It will cost you your life.” I had no idea what he meant, but soon my old life began to fade away and this new life began to emerge. He became my spiritual father and mentored me for the next 15 years. I fell in love with God’s word and began to share the message of hope and love everywhere I went.

Then, just a few years after my conversion, the Lord sent the most amazing woman into my life. Melissa is so tender and loving; God has used her in so many ways to balance and complete me. She has played a significant role in the healing of my own heart. We have four beautiful children (Christian, Gabrielle, Hannah, and Victoria) and have spent over 25 years together living the dream. This is by far my greatest accomplishment.

As I had struggled with helping my dad through the years with his addiction, my mom had never reached out to me about hers. Yet, one day she called and asked for

Believe in Him, Larry Bruce Bishop, oil on canvas, 36” x 30”

help. This sent me on a search for a women’s treatment center. I knew someone who worked at The Lovelady Center, and they were able to get her into the program. This got my mom and me reconnected and also introduced me to the ministry that would soon change my destiny.

Then, my PawPaw, who had played such a significant role in my life, passed away. Just days before his passing, he told me, “Son, it’s time for you to run your race.” It was so hard to see him go, but I knew the Lord had prepared me for a great work. Melissa and I began to pray and seek the Lord for direction.

We stepped out in faith and answered the call to the mission field. Just a few months later, the Lord opened the door for me to be the pastor of The Lovelady Center.

The Lord knew that all the roads I would travel would lead me to this place. The pain of my past would become the purpose of my calling. Now, over ten years later, countless lives are being restored. Every time I see a woman overcome her addiction, I think of my mom. And, every time I see a mother reunited with her child, I think of me. Isaiah 46:10 says that He knows the end from the beginning. The broken, little boy was made whole.

B-METRO.COM

51

PORTRAITS OF HOPE “I spent more time devoted to prayer and studying the truth God had for me.”Tasha Downs (Portrait by Glenda Brown) I lived a simple life in a small country town in Alabama. I started using drugs when I was 18 after breaking up with my high school sweetheart. I had started college and had to drop out. I lost everything. There isn’t much to do on the weekends in smalltown Alabama, but when you add drugs and alcohol to the mix, it made for fun times with those I grew up with.

Not only did I begin to live for parties and celebrating for any reason, I realized that drugs started to numb my pain. I became highly addicted to Xanax and other benzodiazepines, because it made me feel numb. I became accustomed to not dealing with pain or any type of emotion.

In my early 20s I was living what I thought was “the life.” I had a live-in boyfriend who always bought me the nicest of clothing and supplied the best drugs. But at 24, I was charged with distribution. My exciting life had just come crashing down.

I was facing jail time or a rehabilitation program. That’s when I found out about The Lovelady Center in Birmingham.

God picked me up out of a dark place while I was there. But the closer I got to graduating the program, the more I went home on the weekends. I was still around those I had grown up with, those I had partied with. I failed a drug test because of partying one weekend and had my graduation extended for another six months. I did what I had to do to “work” my program. What I didn’t realize was that I was never really fully surrendering to the life that Jesus had died for. I had a great job, graduated the program, and even lived in the graduate apartments. I thought I was ready to move home, so I got my very own apartment and still worked a great job. Eventually I bought a car and even met a guy. But I slowly started giving in to old temptations again and ended up losing everything.

I went back to The Lovelady three years after I graduated from the program. Things were different this time. I’m not sure if God spoke to me differently or if I just got tired of living life on my terms. I decided that I 52

B-METRO.COM

Fear Not, Glenda Brown, oil on copper, 36” x 35”

Through my art, blessings continue with the honor of assisting this wonderful organization, The Lovelady Center. I really enjoyed meeting and painting the stunning Tasha because she is so real in spirit, honest, and lives with such incredible strength. Her portrait was painted on copper because of copper’s strength and natural, earthy beauty that will last hundreds of years. We should all live

by Tasha’s life lessons … Fear Not! — Glenda Brown wanted all that God had for me and I was going to “work” the Lovelady program as God had intended. I actually listened in the classes. I spent more time devoted to prayer and studying the truth God had for me. I graduated again, and I decided that I want to stay plugged into The Lovelady Center. Not only did God provide another graduate apartment for me, but also He supplied everything that I needed for it. I am

now a supervisor at The Lovelady Thrift Store in Irondale.

Not only has God restored all I had lost, but He has given me a new family and group of people that hold me accountable to God’s very best for my life. I love to go home and visit, but I am thankful that I can apply what I learned at the Center to overcome temptations and live the life I learned to live at The Lovelady Center!

“I am blessed and very thankful God is working on me still.”

Vivian Conwell (Portrait by Teresa Mattos) Growing up, my life was good and bad. I was raised by my father and his wife (whom I love very much), and I had all the material things I wanted and got love from my stepmom, Edna. I had troubles in the family though, which resulted in me running away from home. During those times out I was out in the streets, I was introduced to drugs and at the age of 14 I shot drugs for the first time. I started stealing, going in and out of juvenile homes. I also sold my body— anything to get money for drugs. At the age of 17 I was certified as an adult for selling drugs and I was sent to Bryce Hospital, which had a wing for people that was on drugs. I was supposed to complete that program but I didn’t; I escaped from Bryce, and the judge put a warrant out for my arrest. I remained on the run from the law for about six months before I was caught. When I was arrested, I was sent to prison for four years, but I served 10 years because of my negative behavior in prison and because I cut another inmate with a blade. The inmate was my partner and I caught her cheating and cut her. I received a 10-year sentence for cutting her. After being incarcerated only six months on the fouryear sentence, my time was ran together and I served the 10-year sentence day for day.

During my incarceration, I lost my mom (Edna) and my oldest sister (Mary) to death, which I took very hard even though I acted like it didn’t bother me!

After being released from prison I started back doing drugs (smoking crack) until I no longer wanted to get high anymore. I called The Lovelady Center and was told to come on, and I did on the Greyhound bus and was picked up at the bus station by the staff at The Lovelady Center. My life changed that day in 2008. I was shown so much love I couldn’t believe it—it felt so good. I went through the program and later became a staff member.

I was the supervisor over housekeeping. I moved out to my own home and then started working for this company Blackwell Ways, where I was also the supervisor. The owner of the company bought me a home, and I was supposed to buy the home from her. While

Vivian, Teresa Mattos, oil on canvas, 34” x 24”

Portraying Vivian Conwell was a deeply meaningful experience for me. At our sitting Miss Vivian stood tall and elegant, as she told me about her past shadowy self, and about her transformation upon coming to The Lovelady Center. After years dedicated to the hard work of overcoming old ways and learning new skills while helping others at the Center, she now looks confidently forward to her future. I wanted Miss Vivian’s portrait to show her strength and resolve; she is at peace with her self and her God. She is fully aware of what her soul looked like before it encountered the love of God at The Lovelady Center—but that image is fading, and what’s left only serves to remind her of God’s unlimited grace.–Teresa Mattos living there, I had a stroke on my right side and was left alone. I lost the house and came back to where I knew I was loved and would be taken care of. I couldn’t walk but I was taken care by the Lovelady staff and clients until I no longer needed help.

I now walk and I live here because

my doctor don’t want me being alone and because this is the only place I will live if I can’t live in my own place. I am blessed and very thankful God is working on me still and for the chance to continue to live life. I love Him.

B-METRO.COM

53

Melinda MeGahee, Carol Baxter Kirby, oil on canvas, 36” x 24”

Tori Rose Ellis, Carter Laney, oil on canvas, 26” x 18”

My meeting with Tori was short. I had read her story and was amazed at her writing ability. All I knew of her was what she had written in a short biography of her life, which included the loss of her father and many incredibly challenging years with her mother, her grandmother, and her brother and the healing that they experienced while living at The Lovelady Center. And, of course, through just one photo session with Tori, I would not get to know her well. What I did come to know was what I saw and experienced during that short hour. I saw a beautiful young woman who carried herself with quiet confidence and grace. She had beautiful, piercing eyes; I wanted that to come through in my portrait. Most 18-year-old high school graduates would feel a certain discomfort in having to pose for a photo session, but Tori did not seem uncomfortable at all. That was what struck me the most. She seemed very comfortable in her own skin, and I felt I was taking pictures of a very wise and mature young woman. — Carter Laney 54

B-METRO.COM

It was a privilege and personally inspiring to paint Melinda, a true example of the hands and feet of Christ bringing hope and help to those in need. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19) is the scripture reference for this painting. My aim was to show Melinda’s faith and trust beneath the Cross, with the light of Christ being poured out through her work at The Lovelady Center. The movement in the brushwork is intended to recognize her tireless energy and joy in serving.

— Carol Baxter Kirby

In this portrait I have tried to capture something of Jocelynn’s strong and self-giving spirit. I was so inspired by her story. Her dysfunctional former life was radically transformed and redeemed when she turned to God to save her.

Her transformation was so profound that she was led to donate a kidney to the police officer who had years earlier arrested her—an extraordinary act of selfless love. Truly, Jocelynn is an inspiration. — Paul Newton Jocelynn James Edmonds—the Gift of a Lifetime, Paul Newton, oil on canvas, 31” x 24”

Monica Carreker Wesson, Mary Morvant, oil on canvas, 24” x 30”

I was left with a sense of this young woman’s quiet strength and serenity after making her acquaintance and photographing her for the portrait. The next day as she was showing me around the rooftop garden of the Lovelady parking tower, I noticed something tattooed on the inside of her right arm and inquired about it. When she pulled her sleeve aside, I was deeply moved to see the words of Psalm 144 inscribed there, and felt they should be incorporated into her portrait as they had undoubtedly been incorporated into her heart—the heart of a warrior whose training began at the early age of seven, a warrior whose weapons are faith, hope, and love!

Great grace be to this generation of young warriors! Thank you, Monica! — Mary Morvant B-METRO.COM

55