Locala Magazine, January 2023, Ocala, FL

EUGINA LEWIS Steppingstone: Lash Artist Sees a Bright Future

ASHLEIGH BENNETT Sassy & Sweet: Home Baker Survives Grief with a Smile & a Can-Do Spirit

TANESHA MILLS Moving Forward: Mother of Six Says Don’t Give Up

LISA ANDERSON, PUBLISHER lisa@lisaandersonmedia.com

senior copy editor JODI ANDERSON staff advisor CHAD TAYLOR

ART DEPARTMENT

media manager JOSHUA JACOBS contributing photographer MARK ANDERSON stock photography service DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM stock photography service PEXELS.COM

EDITORIAL

contributing writers APPLETON MUSEUM TEAM MEMBERS contributing writer DR. MANAL FAKHOURY contributing writer CYNTHIA MCFARLAND contributing writer CIERRA ROSS contributing writer TAYLOR STRICKLAND

SALES & DISTRIBUTION

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

JODI ANDERSON

DEAR OCALA,

Moving into a new year grants us the opportunity to reflect on the past and use what we learned to grow and evolve. This month, we highlight some people who have done just that. John Jackson (page 28) overcame sickness and poverty to become a successful entrepreneur and mentor. Former model Joi Tyler (page 14) changed her perspective through traveling the world. Eugina Lewis (page 9) held on to her dreams through a stint as a corrections officer and opened her own lashing business and academy. And Billy Buchanan (page 12) persevered to become an awardwinning musician.

Our specialty departments also showcase some inspiring stories. Ashleigh Bennett (page 33) worked through her grief to follow her cake-baking passion, and Joey Perez (page 18) had a successful career at UPS before finally fulfilling his dream of owning a horse farm. Mother of six and life coach Tanesha Mills (page 6) uses her personal challenges to encourage others never to give up.

Be sure to check out our incredible artists! Activist and author Bruce Seaman (page 39) writes about a little-known plantation raid during the Civil War. And Hiromi Mizugai

Moneyhun (page 37) cuts intricate designs out of paper, creating sculptures that play with shadow and light.

We wish you abundance in every form this year. May you have the strength and courage to overcome challenges and to grow!

Happy New Year!

Photo by Joshua Jacobs

Photo Credit: Dave Miller

Moving Forward

MOTHER OF SIX SAYS DON’T GIVE UP

TANESHA MILLS

Story by LISA ANDERSON Photo by JOSHUA JACOBS

Forty-year-old Tanesha Mills—owner of Meme’s Care at Home, Inc. and spiritual and life coach with Appointed Boss—looks to the camera and states, “I want to talk about the women that will hear this podcast [and] that will read the article. I want to talk about your strength, your courage, your story. I want to talk about how you can have your beauty for your ashes. I want to talk about you putting your best foot forward, not giving up on yourself and not allowing the pressures of life to carry you down the rabbit hole of disbelief and discontent.”

Raising six children has fulfilled her calling to work with children, and starting a home care business has allowed her to work with the elderly.

AN ONLY PARENT

Tanesha married a childhood friend, who told her when she was only 14 that he planned to marry her and they would have six children. “He made true to his promise. He actually made me his wife.” Twenty-one years old and pregnant with their second child, Tanesha finally agreed to marry him. “He had proposed two or three times.”

The couple were married for 20 years and had six children together (one girl, five boys). Not everything was roses, though, and they decided to get a divorce. They had been apart for only a year and a half when Tanesha’s ex-husband contracted COVID and passed away in 2020.

People attempt to label Tanesha as a single parent, which would have been accurate when her ex-husband was alive and helping to co-parent. “No, it’s a little bit different,” she explains. “I’m an only parent. There is no other. This shift mentally has been a bit of a shock. Imagine how people say it’s a culture shock. [This], for me, is a lifestyle shock, because it’s not how I started out.”

Tanesha also deals with assumptions her children are from multiple fathers. “I had a hard time renting a house, because the landlord thought that [we] were going to destroy the house. They would come in every month to check the house.”

The stigmas aren’t the only frustrating part. Tanesha would get overwhelmed by the questions from her children. “I’m like, you’re asking so many questions! I realized I’m the only one that they can ask. It [took] grace. Not just grace with others, but grace with me. I had to have grace with myself because I found myself trying to fill the void, but [now] I refuse to be the father and a mom. I can only be a good mom.

“I’m still feeling my way,” Tanesha continues. “It’s not like I’ve perfected this thing, but I am learning and I am perfecting [it] every day. I am coming to terms with how it is and how it will be and with the possibility that they could get another father to come into their life again.”

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

Tanesha learned a big lesson about grace, understanding, and forgiveness as a child when a boy named Jimmy, who had been bullying her, was involved in a tragic domestic dispute that left most of his body burned.

Jimmy needed to wear a special suit to cover his skin while he healed, and the sight of it had frightened Tanesha. She would often run away, terrified, and call him a monster. Through these new interactions, Jimmy realized how it felt to be bullied. When he called to apologize, it became a moment of clarity for Tanesha. “I realized, at that point, that hurt people really do hurt people.”

Add this experience in her formative years to the close relationship Tanesha had developed with all of her grandparents, the death of her children’s father, and her strong faith in God, and her strength and desire to help others are even more impressive. “I’ve always gravitated to helping people that I feel need to be advocated for the most, and that is the elderly and the youth.”

“I’m an old soul.”

Recently, Tanesha felt called to help the women around her, who felt they needed Tanesha’s kind of strength and grace.

It’s why she became a spiritual and life coach. It’s also why she wrote five books in one year (one of which is already published, God’s Daughter: You Know Who You Are!).

Many people in Tanesha’s shoes would have probably given up or at least looked at life through a negative lens. However, she leaned harder into her faith and her caring nature to lift herself and others up. “I want you to get up,” she continues, as she looks into the camera. “I want you to take heart and I want you to move forward, because you are truly the person that God has for you to be. You will have your beauty for ashes.”

LEARN MORE

appointed-boss.com

EXTENDED CONTENT

Watch the podcast at youtube.com/@ LocalaPodcast or listen on your favorite podcast app. This episode releases on January 19, 2023.

It’s not like I’ve perfected this thing, but I am learning and I am perfecting [it] every day.

— Tanesha Mills

Leading

Monthly Theme

RICH WITH HISTORY

Photo by Joshua Jacobs

Steppingstone

LASH ARTIST SEES A BRIGHT FUTURE

EUGINA LEWIS

Story by CYNTHIA MCFARLAND Photo by JOSHUA JACOBS

People laughed when she started her business, saying it wouldn’t succeed in Ocala. But Eugina Lewis was never one to listen to naysayers. Instead, she proved them wrong.

Growing up in Anthony, Eugina was raised by her father’s sisters: Aunt Ethel, Aunt Ida, and Aunt Candice. “Being raised by strong, independent women made me very independent,” says Eugina, who had her first job in seventh grade. She worked for her Aunt Candice, who published Mahogany Revue, a newspaper for the ethnic community in Ocala and Gainesville.

Eugina began typing articles and doing layout. By the time she graduated North Marion High School in 2005, the newspaper had gone digital.

“My aunt’s entrepreneurial spirit really sparked something in me,” recalls Eugina. “I think I was born to be my own boss. I wasn’t going to let being in a small town define me. I knew I was either going to move away or stay and break the mold and do something different.”

Stay, she did. But becoming her own boss didn’t happen overnight.

Eugina had been interested in beauty and fashion since high school. “I used to watch Sex in the City and was determined to be the black country version of Carrie Bradshaw,” she laughs.

AN INSPIRATION

In Eugina’s line of work, “lashing” is both a noun and a verb. “Being a lash artist changed my life dramatically. It’s also challenged me. I’ve become more humble and a better version of myself, because I’m totally pouring into other people,” she notes, adding that she’s now more mentally, physically, and spiritually aware of who she is.

“I love lashing, but the biggest thing is just being an inspiration to women. My clients are also an inspiration to me. No client sits in your chair by coincidence.”

FAIR AND FIRM

Eugina was a single mother when she had her son in 2008. The year after Jordan was born, she began working as a correctional officer at Lowell Correctional Institute, a job she held for seven years. “There were women from all walks of life there, and it made me realize your next door neighbor could be living a Lifetime movie, and you’d never know it,” says Eugina.

Working at the prison from 2009 to 2016, she recalls that one of the highlights was being a bright light in a dark place. “The women told me, ‘You may be tough on us, but you treat us like people.’ Basically, I was fair, firm, and consistent. I was blessed to do those seven years, so I can do what I do today,” says Eugina, who described prison as “mandatory adult day care.”

LEAP OF FAITH

It was while working at the prison that Eugina found the inspiration for the career she’s made her own. “Late one night in 2014, I was scrolling Instagram and saw something about a girl doing celebrity eyelashes,” she recalls. “I put this in the back of my mind to do as a side business with my online clothing boutique I’d started a year earlier.”

After obtaining her esthetician’s license in Ocala, Eugina flew to Colorado to get her lash education at Lash Blvd.

She started Luxuriant, her lash business, in 2015. The first of its kind in Ocala, it quickly grew from working in rented space. “In 2021, I took the biggest leap of my career and got a 2200-square foot building on 17th Street. We’re now a lash studio and lash academy,” says Eugina, who began teaching “lashing” in 2019. With 700 fivestar reviews, Luxuriant by Eugina is the #1 Stylesheet-rated lash business in Ocala.

“We do semi-permanent eyelash extensions. We take a synthetic lash and apply it to each natural lash a person has, which allows the lashes to continue to shed and grow naturally. The lashes aren’t glued to the skin. It’s very tedious, meticulous work,” explains Eugina. “To me, it’s art. We’re enhancing what the client has naturally.

“We service a very diverse clientele with women from every walk of life. Most are established professional women who don’t want to worry about eye liner or mascara,” says Eugina, whose youngest client is 16 and oldest is 93.

In addition to being a lash artist herself, Eugina has another artist working under her. The lash academy offers several training options, from basic online training to three-day intense training at her location and a four-hour refresher course. She has a lash product line, as well, which she launched at the beginning of 2022.

Now earning six figures, Eugina has the freedom and flexibility she only dreamed of while working at the prison. She has more time to spend with her son, and she continues to have the unconditional support of her beloved aunts.

“Aunt Ethel passed three years ago, but Aunt Ida and Aunt Candice are both so proud of me,” she says.

Eugina proved that with enough vision, hard work and commitment, anything is possible. “Even though I’ve accomplished so much, I feel like there’s so much more in store for me in the future. I think lashes were just the steppingstone!”

“Follow us on Instagram

@LuxuriantByEugina to follow our podcast, ‘The Legacy Table,’ launching in January 2023,” she adds.

LEARN MORE  euginalewis.co

I think I was born to be my own boss.

— Eugina Lewis

Rock ‘n Soul

REGIONAL MUSICIAN BRINGS HISTORY TO THE PRESENT

BILLY BUCHANAN

Story by TAYLOR STRICKLAND Photo by JOSHUA JACOBS

“I

knew from early on that I wanted to be a musician,” declares Billy Buchanan, award-winning songwriter, singer, producer, and self-proclaimed Ambassador of Rock ‘n Soul. “I noticed that people paid attention to me when I performed, and I loved it!”

Given his renown as “the hardest working musician in North Florida,” it may come as a surprise that Billy isn’t a Florida native. “I’m originally from Cleveland, Ohio,” he says. It’s a city as steeped in music history as the man who once called it home. It was there that DJ Alan Freed first coined the term “rock ‘n roll,” and it was there that a young Billy began his lifelong love affair with music.

“I come from a deeply musical family,” explains Billy. “My biggest source of support was my mom. Throughout my childhood, she was the one who always encouraged me to pursue music.”

OLD SOUL

It wasn’t long before Billy sought opportunities beyond his hometown. “I left about a year after high school and moved to Atlanta,” Billy begins. “I cut my teeth on the music scene there. I was taking anything that would come my way.

“Eventually, people started to take notice of me. I started to get a reputation. I was coming to be known as a sideman–someone hired to perform, who’s not a regular part of the band,” Billy explains.

Known for his versatility in genre, as well as performance, Billy credits his father for his music education. “My dad was not the best dad in the world,” Billy confesses. “But he had a great love of music. He had the best albums. There was everything from soul, rock, blues, to country. I came up on that music honestly.”

Billy learned early in his career that his greatest advantage also served as his greatest hindrance. “When the record label first signed me, they didn’t know what to do with me,” he laughs. “They kept asking, ‘Are you a soul singer or a country singer?’ I didn’t want to choose.”

If pressed, Billy leans a little more soul. “Soul music is my first love. Old soul music is at the heart of that love.”

OVERCOMING SETBACKS

Billy eventually left Atlanta and found even greater success in the beachside city of St. Augustine, but contrary to what others may think, this shift in fortune was unexpected. “I didn’t plan that,” refutes Billy. “When I moved to St. Augustine in 2007, I was frustrated with the music industry. I had the talent, I had the drive, but it just wasn’t working out.

“I love performing, but I’m a songwriter at heart. It’s always a challenge to just be that guy, so I started playing locally. It was there that I found my niche, my groove. I realized there’s such a large audience for this kind of music throughout Central Florida.”

Ever the realist, Billy is quick to dispel any notions that he’s always played big acts. “I’ve played everything from empty venues to restaurants to concerts with hundreds of people.”

Some would be discouraged by such experiences, but it just rolls right off of Billy. “A lot of people are affected by that stuff, but I don’t let it get to me. I do me. I’m happy to just be performing.

“I persevered. Setbacks come, but you overcome it,” he emphasizes. “Don’t quit.”

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

Billy is aware of his influence, not just as a performer, but as a mentor to the younger generation. “I dress up in character as a lot of older artists. I put that together, because a lot of the younger generation, especially Black kids, don’t know about them or their influence. Guys like Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Prince—we’re all [progeny] of those artists.

“I’m a closet thespian!” Billy exclaims. “I love performing as them! I get to talk about these artists and show how important they are.”

When it comes to the future of the music industry, Billy is uncertain how to measure the merits against the disadvantages. “Honestly, what I’m really struggling with right now is there’s no big rock bands. It kills me, because I love rock music.”

“Streaming is another thing that frustrates me about the industry right now,” Billy scoffs. “The money from streaming is so low. Record companies get a piece of everything now, because they can’t make money selling your music. That’s why you have to perform live. You can sell live.

“I sell some merchandise and some albums at my concerts, but it can’t sustain me. It’s that way for everybody. As a songwriter, man, it’s a tough nut to crack.”

Billy’s reservations about the industry’s future don’t extend to the recent popularity of genre mixing, though. “Everything is becoming so integrated. There have never been so many Black country singers. It’s not even an anomaly now. There are white soul singers, too. Everyone has a chance to perform whatever they came up with, with what’s real to them.

“What’s so great about music is the different people it brings together,” Billy says. “If you come to my shows, you’ll see all kinds of people are there. They all love to hear those older artists and that older sound.”

Regardless of what the future holds, Billy Buchanan will undoubtedly be around for years to come, welcoming fans both old and new. He performs at a different venue nearly every day of the week.

LEARN MORE billybuchanan.org

Life Lessons

JOI TYLER

Story by TAYLOR STRICKLAND Photo by JOSHUA JACOBS

The best lessons in life are taught through experience, and few understand that maxim more than Joi Tyler. “I come from a line of educators,” she shares. “My mom was a teacher, and my aunt retired from [College of Central Florida]. My other aunt was a librarian.”

Joi broke the family mold by developing a deep interest in fashion at a young age. “That’s what I was into. As a little girl, I was always in the mirror–fashion was everything to me,” she explains. “I was put in ISS (In School Suspension) a lot for my outfits. They weren’t revealing or anything, but I guess they weren’t ready for me.”

Though the staff at Vanguard High School may have frowned upon Joi’s sartorial ingenuity, she had plenty of support at home. “My mom was really good at focusing on what her children were capable of and fostering our talents,” she muses. “She got me started.

“I was still in high school when I was first introduced to the modeling agency,” Joi recalls. “They wanted me to travel before graduation, but my mom said, ‘No, you’re going to graduate.’ So, I took all the classes I needed and graduated a year early.

“I signed a contract with an Italian modeling agency when I was 18 and moved to Italy. That was my first traveling experience. My mom and little brother stayed with me for two weeks to get me settled, and then, that was it.”

NO GOOD CONVERSATIONS

Joi modeled from ages 18 to 25. “I was all over Europe. I lived in Paris, London, then New York. I was in four different countries a year.”

Unfortunately, Joi found modeling left little time for life outside catwalks, photoshoots, and the demands of fussy fashion designers. “I was getting tired of it,” she explains. “All you ever talked about was how you looked, how small you were, and that was the only kind of interaction I had with people. I felt like I couldn’t have [a] good conversation.

“One year, I met these college students from over there, from Carson’s College, and I was envious of their communication skills, because they had other experiences they could talk about.”

Joi decided it was time for a change. “I shaved my head,” she laughs. “I did my last shows in London, and then, I was done. I settled in New York for awhile, met my ex-husband, and then moved back to Florida.”

A CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE

Before Joi made her way back home, she made an important decision to expand her horizons even further. “I enrolled myself into Borough of Manhattan Community College,” she proudly states. “They had an African Studies program that I was excited to take, because you’re not taught that in [public] school. I did really well, so I was among 12 students chosen to go to Senegal to study how Europe underdeveloped Africa.

“The experience changed my life. Before, it was all looks, how you’re presented to people, what you have, but then, I got over there and saw how genuinely happy people are with nothing. That changed my whole perception of existence.

“These people were so rich in love and were so giving,” Joi reminisces. “It was shocking. Things we take for granted are just so special to them. I would have a regular T-shirt, and I would barter it for these beautiful leather shoes or a drum that was handcrafted. They don’t even know how special they are.

“If my life didn’t work out the way it did,” Joi contemplates, “I would probably still be over there.”

WHAT’S IMPORTANT

Once back in Ocala, Joi found herself a little nonplussed. “I came home, and my mom was like, ‘You need to do something, girl.’ So, I enrolled into an X-Ray program.”

Joi quickly realized the X-Ray program wasn’t for her. “I got to spend some time in different modalities and realized I loved doing ultrasounds.

“I’m a three times registered ultrasound tech,” Joi states. “I’m registered in vascular, OB/GYN, and abdominal. I love the personal setting and the knowledge I get from my patients.”

Like many others, Joi was galvanized by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I started a body contouring business called Lipolysis Spa, where I melt fat and shift it to the lymphatic system, and the fat drains through sweat or other excretions.”

Joi’s aspirations were abruptly cut short. “I had a location for about six months, but then I got sick. I had to have surgery, so the business was put on the back burner. I still want to do it, but now, I feel like I need to get my priorities right again. I kind of took my life for granted, and what I thought was important changed.”

Despite her health scare, Joi has much to look forward to. She recently married her partner of seven years, and both have two children. “I want to spend time simplifying. I’m going to focus on mental health and preparing my children to be able to navigate this crazy world without me. That’s what is important to me now.”

As for her adventures, Joi is grateful for the experience she’s gained. “I learned more traveling than I ever did in school. Seeing how other people in the world live is so special, and that can never be taken away from me. I’ve been able to take bits and pieces of everywhere I’ve been and just apply it to my life.”

LEARN MORE bodyworkbyjoijoi.com IG: @lipolysisbodycontour_joi

youtube.com/@localapodcast

From the Paddock

Photo by Joshua Jacobs

The Boss

CUBAN-AMERICAN HORSE TRAINER LIVES HIS PASSION

JOEY PEREZ

Story by CYNTHIA MCFARLAND Photos by JOSHUA JACOBS

Joey Perez’s lifelong obsession with horses has influenced many of his decisions, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Born in Cuba to a Spanish mother and Cuban father, Joey has been drawn to horses since childhood.

“My uncle had one old horse he couldn’t catch. I figured a way to catch him when I was about 8,” remembers Joey. “I took a rope, made a loop and floated it on the water in the trough, and tied the end to a tree. When the horse put his head in to drink, I caught him. Then, I made a homemade bridle with the rope, hopped on, and rode him around.”

In 1981, Joey’s family immigrated to the United States. “This is my country,” he declares. “I was 10 years old then, and I’ve never gone back to Cuba.”

He soon found a way to be around horses constantly. After learning to ride pleasure horses as a teenager, he began working in the barn at JD Equestrian Center in Miami.

“There’s an old saying that if you stick around the barber shop long enough, you’ll get a haircut. This happened to me staying around the stable when the trainer gave me the opportunity to ride,” says Joey, who eventually became lead rider at the program.

“I got a university scholarship and there was a point when my parents thought I’d be a veterinarian, but the discouragement for me was being inside four walls for six years. Instead, I told my parents, ‘I’m going to be a horse trainer.’ You can imagine their faces,” he recalls.

SPANISH INFLUENCE

While he was riding Purebred Spanish Horses at the training center, the breed captured his heart. “Anything to do with classical riding really appealed to me. I was more inclined to Spanish horses because of how animated and flamboyant they are when they move,” says Joey.

Often called PRE (short for Pura Raza Espanola), they are an ancient purebred sport horse from Spain, the Spaniards' chosen mount for the battlefield and classical riding. Some people confuse PREs with Andalusians and Lusitanos. Joey explains that they (and some crossbreeds) fall into the category of Iberian Horses, referring to their native origins.

Early on, Joey realized that just being a skilled rider didn’t guarantee security, so he made a practical decision. “When I turned 18, I met someone who worked at UPS, and there was a late shift opening. They said I’d have to start at the bottom unloading trucks. I did that and worked my way up to a full-time position. Thirty-six years later, I got a full pension and retirement. For 36 years I had two jobs: horses and UPS,” says Joey.

ART OF RIDING

While working at the riding center in Miami, Joey fell in love with Ruth, a rider from Spain who competed with hunters and jumpers. The two have now been married 27 years.

Since they shared a passion for Spanish horses, it made sense to take a leap of faith and go out on their own.

“We opened our own farm in The Redlands in Miami, but Hurricane Andrew came and put a hurting on everyone. Then, we started contemplating moving to Ocala and having a farm here,” says Joey.

In 2007, the couple relocated to Ocala and bought a farm in Silver Springs. That farm, The Art of Riding, has grown to just over 30 acres where Joey and Ruth buy, train, and sell Iberian horses—mainly PREs and Lusitanos. Most are trained for dressage competition.

As a classical trainer and rider, Joey has found it rewarding to see how Spanish horses have captivated American horsemen. “They’re very trainable; they have a lot of heart, sensitivity, and a great mind. They always focus on their rider,” he explains. “All horses have a flight instinct, but Spanish horses seem to have it less than most other horses.”

In a world where people expect rapid results from almost every endeavor, Joey believes in training horses to enhance the animal’s life, not just elevate the sale value. “In both the U.S. and Europe, the training and techniques of riders have

improved so much, since I began riding in my teens. But there’s still an attitude of wanting fast results,” he says.

Joey prefers to take a big picture approach, whether he’s training his own horses or clients’. “The idea is to make whatever you’re doing on the horse look seamless,” he states, noting that his focus is on making a horse for the future, not just for tomorrow.

Joey and Ruth ride and train together every day. They usually import two horses from Spain each year, which they train and eventually sell. Their barn is also home to clients’ horses in training; Joey does some classical riding instruction and competes in dressage.

The couple have no two-legged children. Except for their old English bulldog named Zumba, all their kids have four hooves.

Joey considers himself truly blessed in his career. “A lot of people go to work and complain about their boss. I don’t complain about anything. I go to work and ride horses, and I’m the boss,” he grins. “My wife and I are devoted to this life. It’s very fulfilling for me.”

LEARN MORE

FB: @artofridingjr

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DEAFBLIND RETIREE SEEKS TO EDUCATE OTHERS

KIMBERLY WILLIAMS

Story by CIERRA ROSS Photos by JOSHUA JACOBS

Kimberly Williams was born August 27, 1955 in Indiana. The doctors noticed right away that she wasn’t responding to noises, which led her to being diagnosed as deaf. Her mother was involved with the Deaf community, and Kimberly learned American Sign Language growing up. At a year old, her parents noticed that she bumped into sofas and tables, as though she didn’t see them. When she was taken to the hospital, the doctor confirmed she was 10 percent night blind.

“As I grew up, I did not feel the same as everyone else. People used to call me horse because of my inability to see either side, like a horse with blinders,” Kimberly states. She couldn’t play out at night, and this exacerbated how different she felt from others.

JOY WITH SADNESS

Kimberly graduated from high school and moved to Minnesota. At 23 years old, she was diagnosed with Ushers Syndrome. “I truly believed growing up that I was slowly losing my eyesight. Very slowly. I used to be able to drive,” Kimberly says. Losing her vision was heartbreaking, but she saw one upside: She didn’t have to drive anymore. “I never felt comfortable driving.”

Despite the joy of not having to drive, Kimberly faced hardships losing her eyesight. “Each time I saw a little less, it hurt.” The darker the world grew, the more pain she felt, until she became involved with the DeafBlind community. “Being with the community made the heartache lessen,” Kimberly states with a smile. She worked for the DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM) for 27 years. She taught Protactile to interpreters in the DeafBlind community for four to five years before retiring and moving to Florida. Kimberly communicates using tactile communication.

COMMUNICATING AS DEAFBLIND

Tactile interpreting or signing is when the DeafBlind individuals have their hands resting on top of the interpreter’s hands. For Deaf people to communicate, they must see the visual language of American Sign Language; however, without eyesight, DeafBlind individuals must rest their hands on top of the person they wish to communicate with.

“It would be nice if people would know and not ignore us or not bother with us,” Kimberly signs. She enjoys getting to know people and knowing who is in the room. “I like to know who is here.

"I like to be informed about who I am meeting.” It essential that a DeafBlind individual knows where someone is in a room and what their name is. People in Kimberly's situation are completely blind and unable to see facial expressions or any emotion, such as laughing, smiling, or crying. When a DeafBlind person is signing, there are ways people can show they are paying attention.

“If we’re chatting, I like when people let me know how they are responding to me,” Kimberly says. These methods include touching someone’s leg or arm using fingers to draw a smile, a frown, or scratching to show laughter. These Protactile conversation responses allow a DeafBlind individual to know what the other person is thinking or feeling. “I can’t see your face. Without [Protactile responses] I feel blocked,” Kimberly says. “Sometimes, I ask my husband about what other people are doing; without that information, it feels like a wall. It’s important to show me how you’re responding.” With responses, Kimberly is able to connect with someone and build a relationship.

ESSENTIAL SUPPORT

In Florida, individuals who support DeafBlind people are called CoNavigators. Kimberly works with two to three CoNavigators, who allow her to be more independent. CoNavigators enable her to go shopping, and go to restaurants, drive her places, and do anything else she may want or need to do.

Kimberly also notes a distinction between Florida’s CoNavigators and Minnesota’s, which are called Support Services Providers (SSP). “[Minnesota] had passed legislation that provided all the expenses for SSP. Now, being here, I have a dream that I hope

one day that Florida will establish CoNavigator services that emulate those in the State of Minnesota.”

Without her husband, Kimberly requires a CoNavigator to communicate. Otherwise, Kimberly would have to feel her way around.

“I prefer to have a [CoNavigator] so I know who each person is and can meet them. I try not to depend on my husband too much. I try to have balance, because I want my husband to enjoy his own life, too,” Kimberly says. She and her husband have been married for 42 years.

Kimberly has worked hard for DeafBlind people in her community. She encouraged them to learn independence. Her advice to any DeafBlind individual would be to learn braille. Braille has enabled Kimberly to email, text, and use Facebook. The technology she has allows her to embrace her independence and communicate with friends without needing anyone else to text for her.

“We need to educate people and to have patience. The education should never stop. Sometimes, meeting DeafBlind people can feel awkward with Protactile communication. Don’t be afraid. Without Protactile communication, how are you going to understand me? How will I understand you?” Kimberly asks.

Though she misses her friends from Minnesota, she loves the weather in Florida and the relaxation of retirement.

Portraits

by LISA ANDERSON or JOSHUA JACOBS

View portfolios at www.localamag.com/book-a-photographer

PASTOR & ENTREPRENEUR MENTORS OTHER DREAMERS

John Jackson seems to be perpetually making up for lost time. He was a sickly child—adopted—and spent a lot of lonely hours at his home in Spanish Harlem, a neighborhood in Manhattan. But when he got healthier, he went to school. “I got into sports, which helped me break away from the shyness, having found I was a gifted athlete in different sports— predominantly football.” And from then on, John was never alone.

While John felt like his incredible speed had destined him for the NFL, his years of solitude had prepared him for a much different field. “I think that when you go through enough things in your lifetime

and you endure a lot and you know what loneliness is like, you understand depression,” he muses. “You understand rejection. You understand different emotions that happen with people.” Others were always drawn to John. “I had the ability to be a good listener,” he shrugs.

John attended junior college in Connecticut, and that sense of wanting to help people grew stronger. From there, he attended seminary and became an ordained minister. “I celebrated 45 years back in September,” he says humbly. His career has included “a lot of field work, itinerant work, domestic missions, that type of thing. Even shepherded several assemblies.”

Story by JODI ANDERSON Photos by JOSHUA JACOBS

Alongside his career in the ministry, John became something of a serial entrepreneur. Beginning with selling jeans out of the trunk of his car as a young man, he would go on to found several businesses, some more successful than others. He loved the process of finding a need and filling it—basic economics. “I enjoyed the idea of seeing things come from nothing to something.”

SLOWING DOWN

The cost of living was high in New York and the winters harsh. John began seeing a lot of ads for Florida, and in the early Eighties, he and his first wife moved to South Florida.

A few years later, after his divorce, John was invited by a seminary alumnus to speak at an event in Ocala. At first, he was not impressed with the area. But eventually, he and his second wife—with whom he will be celebrating 30 years of marriage—met some “phenomenal” people and began to see the draw. “Living was easier. When you live a very fast life, which I did, you get to a place where you want calm,” John states. “You want quality of life. We had a child here in 1993. This is a good place to raise children.”

John took a bit of a detour in the early 2010s and became a United Nations (UN) Ambassador-at-Large for the Social and Economical Council during Susan Rice’s tenure as the U.S. Ambassador to the UN. “That was another time of a tremendous eye-opener because of what you get exposed [to]. It broadens your scope, because you see things from a world perspective,” explains John. “We have a tendency to be quite narrow in our lives and our worlds, like the way that I grew up; we thought that everybody lived like that.”

THINKING GLOBALLY

Currently, John owns a franchise of Unishippers, a logistics company that ships small packages to full containers domestically and internationally. An authorized re-seller of UPS services, John takes pride in giving small to medium companies the personal touch. He was not new to logistics when he purchased the business in 2022 and had been studying the trends pre-pandemic, noting that businesses were becoming more home-based and offering more online. John used his people knowledge as a foundation for his business model. “Everything’s about positioning and establishing relationships. That’s why we said, ‘We’re the company that works for you.’”

The former ambassador credits his experience with the UN for giving him a global perspective and “an appreciation for life, for people—for people as a whole—all types of people, because they’re suffering all over the world. Then, you start understanding the forecasts of the future. It gets real serious. It gives you a lot to think about; when you return home, you are grateful.” He says that his experiences left him asking, “Am I part of the problem or am I part of the solution?”

John has always been a problem-solver, and he enjoys helping people solve their own problems.

Drawing on his extensive business and financial experience, he joined SCORE Mid-Florida as a mentor in 2022. SCORE has a network of 10,000 volunteers, which supports small business owners. John says he has a unique gift to offer: “I have been the bootstrap guy. I find that a great percentage of people who want to do something are like that. They’re undercapitalized, but they have a dream.” He continues, “I’m able to relate. I like working with people who have a dream, helping them get started—everything from plan all the way through to the executive summary.”

He will always have the heart of a pastor, though. “When you love something, it’s not like work,” John declares. And through this passion, he continues to try to solve problems, reaching out to people in developing parts of the world through missions. “Until you see certain environments, and you hear about certain situations, you don’t believe some of the stories that come at you [are] even possible,” he says. “America, we are so phenomenally blessed.”

EXTENDED CONTENT youtube.com/ @LocalaPodcast

Chews Letter

Photo by Joshua Jacobs

ASHLEIGH BENNETT

Story by CYNTHIA MCFARLAND Photo by JOSHUA JACOBS

When it comes to personality, Ashleigh Bennett sparkles. Her bubbly, over-the-top approach to life can be tasted in every bite of her delectable sweets.

“I tell everyone, ‘I’m the sassiest baker you’ll ever meet, and my desserts are the best you’ll ever eat!’” declares this accomplished baker and the owner of Ocala-based Sassy Sweets.

“There’s no occasion too big or too small for cake. It’s not a celebration without a cake,” says Ashleigh, who bakes other desserts as well, but specializes in cakes. Red velvet is her signature and most popular cake—and her personal favorite. She loves both the baking and decorating aspects, but her greatest satisfaction is seeing a customer’s reaction after tasting her cakes.

“I have people tell me, ‘I don’t eat red velvet cake, but I like yours.’ I have had the pleasure of turning some red velvet haters into red velvet lovers,” she laughs.

“When people ask me what makes your cakes so different, I tell them, ‘That’s the love you’re tasting. You can’t get that off the shelf!’” exclaims Ashleigh. Her cakes are not only rich in flavor, but also incredibly moist. She believes both characteristics are essential for a memorable cake.

BAKING INTUITION

Ashleigh was still in elementary school the first time she helped make cakes for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Born in Gainesville and raised in Marion County, she attended Dr. NH Jones Elementary and Howard Middle School and graduated from West Port High School. The youngest of six children in a close-knit family, Ashleigh has four brothers and one sister. “Not only do I come from a big family, but my mom and dad did too. Food has always been a very important part of any family gathering,” she says.

“My mom is an excellent cook, but baking was never her forte. I believe my gift of baking came from my paternal grandmother, who was known for baking in her town of Hawthorne, Florida. I inherited my love of baking from her,” reflects Ashleigh. “She passed on a recipe for a red velvet cake, but once I became more comfortable with my baking intuition, I made changes and made my own recipe.”

Ashleigh’s slogan is: “We don’t just bake, we create.” As she explains, “Anyone can mix up ingredients, but it’s the science behind baking that impacts what you create. Baking is all science and a series of chemical reactions.”

The baker attended the University of Florida, graduating with a degree in health education and behavior. She then returned to school and earned her nursing degree. While serving as Class Representative (president), she often delighted fellow students with the rewards of her baking endeavors.

“I was so excited to get my career started, and then COVID hit,” recalls Ashleigh, adding that the pandemic struck painfully close to home. “My entire family was sick with COVID,” she relates. “On August 11, 2021, my sister suffered a miscarriage. Four days later on August 15, my father passed away, and then my sister’s husband died on August 19. My father was just a day shy of his 61st birthday. He and my mother had been married 38 years.”

A TRIUMPH AND TESTAMENT

While the story is truly heartbreaking, Ashleigh insists it’s not one of defeat and sorrow. “My family’s story is one of triumph and a testament that even in your toughest times, there are still opportunities to be grateful and thankful. We were all pillars for each other. Losing my earthly father made me even closer to my Heavenly Father,” she notes.

For some months, Ashleigh took a break from everything and grieved.

“This caused a big transition in my life. What seemed so clearly destined to be my future became very uncertain. I shifted my focus from nursing and decided to focus on my faith in God, my family, and my love of baking. Reflecting on everything, I’m very grateful,” she says.

“I’ve been blessed beyond measure with my parents and family,” asserts Ashleigh. “My mom and dad, Tony and Wanda Bennett, raised their family with faith. My parents taught me to always trust in God through all circumstances,” says Ashleigh.

“They were an amazing dynamic duo—committed to each other and committed to their kids. They made a great team and really invested in us, which set us all up for life.”

Tony Bennett was a U.S. Marine, and after serving his country, he worked as a master control operator at TV20 in Gainesville and wrapped up his working career as a corrections officer.

Wanda Bennett also worked for the Department of Corrections. “My mother always knows the right thing to say,” adds Ashleigh, noting that she’s taken to heart her mother’s advice to “remain true to yourself and speak the truth.”

TWICE BLESSED

What started as a hobby years ago has turned into a fulfilling career for Ashleigh. She considers it a “double blessing” to make a living from something she enjoys so much.

While Ashleigh considers her baking ability a God-given skill, she takes her business seriously and recently completed an entrepreneurship training program. “I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur and always loved baking, so I’m optimizing my skills and learning more about the business of baking,” she states. “I’m very excited about the direction my business is headed. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for Sassy Sweets!”

LEARN MORE (352) 286-7029

Artist Corner

Papercut

JAPANESE-AMERICAN ARTIST SCULPTS WITH SHADOW & LIGHT

Story by JASON STEUBER, Director at Appleton Museum of Art

(e)], the sculptures announce lives of their own, as they are encountered by the viewer. Her work can be seen at the Appleton Museum of Art in a solo exhibition called “Paper Thin and Shadow Deep,” on view through June 18.

Where did you grow up and go to school? I grew up in Kyoto, Japan. I began drawing at a young age. No formal training for art.

When were you first introduced to papercut art? In children's books, when I was in preschool. Especially "Mochi Mochi No Ki." The story itself was very scary to me, especially with papercut illustrations by Jiro Takihira. They are etched in my brain.

What are the steps from concept to completed cut on an artwork?

away for safekeeping. I tape the copy down to my thick art paper (98-pound weight, usually black). Now I begin cutting out the negative space between the lines, leaving the connected lines behind. I am cutting two layers at once — the photocopied line drawing and my art paper beneath. When I'm finished cutting, I lift the remains of the photocopy off the keeper, and there it is.

Born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, Hiromi Mizugai Moneyhun moved to Jacksonville in 2004. A self-taught artist, she endeavors to make the mundane extraordinary. Her hand-cut paper works exhibit a tenacious attention to detail and abundance of creativity. Crafted with blades in hand, over the course of the last decade, and akin to Japanese traditional paper-cutting artistic traditions [Kiri-e, or “cut” (kiri) and “picture”

First, I begin with rough sketches to work out a concept. Those sketches become a composition that I can live with and then a finished line drawing. I then thicken the lines with a pen. Then, I make a big photocopy of the drawing and store the original

Do light and shadow influence how you create your papercut? Absolutely, yes. This was especially evident in my 12-portrait series called “Black in White” for the 2016 Cummer Museum show “Lift: Contemporary Expressions of the African-American Experience.” For that piece, I used white paper, which I knew would be mounted on a white wall with bright white lighting. My idea was that the paper itself would disappear into its surroundings and leave nothing to see but the shadows, which was the point of the piece. I was right; it worked!

LEARN MORE appletonmuseum.org

Photo submitted by Appleton Museum of Art, Hiromi Mizugai Moneyhun, UKIYO The Floating World, detail of “CHICKEN,” 2012, papercut, 44 x 20 inches

Bruce Seaman ARTIST

Q&A

Story by TAYLOR STRICKLAND Photo by JOSHUA JACOBS

What prompted you to write The Untold Story of the Marshall Plantation Raid? [My friend Rick Allen] got a lead...about some outrage on a right-wing forum over a supposedly missing Confederate monument. The Marshall Plantation memorial marker turned out to have just been hit by a car, but the article mentioned black soldiers and a letter from Sergeant Henry S. Harmon, describing the raid.

Have you published before?

No. I initially pitched to a big publisher and received a lot of interest, but as soon as they realized I didn’t have a large social media following, they dropped me. I went with self-publishing. It’s been interesting. I’ve really learned a lot.

What was the research process like?

I went through both Union and Confederate sources and noticed there were some incorrect accounts...from each side. My two primary sources came from Herman and local Confederate war hero Captain J. J. Dickison. I try to stick with primary sources, but some of them were wildly inaccurate.

Given the controversy surrounding the monument, how do you approach sensitive historical topics, such as the Marshall Plantation Raid?

I try to just focus on the facts. I’m an activist first. I was the Chairman for the Marion County Democratic Party, as well as the Former President of the Bridges Project, so I understand the importance of that history and conveying the truth.

What would you like for people to take away from your book?

The accepted history needs to be challenged. With so much available information out there, today, we really need to make sure we re-examine our sources.

Where can we find your book?

You can find To Succeed

Where Others Failed: The Untold Story of the Marshall Plantation Raid on Amazon. The e-version is free for Kindle Unlimited users.

Photo by Joshua Jacobs

Forgivene is the Hardest Thing

an anthology

ANDERSON, AUTHOR

A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES, POEMS AND ESSAYS ON HOW 21 WOMEN LET GO AND MOVED ON…OR DIDN’T

“Forgiving him was beyond comprehension, but I could have full closure if I forgave myself; for staying and not speaking up for nearly 20 years.”

— LISA

Published by LESCHENAULT PRESS (Australia)