People’s Corner: Beverly Jones Durr

People’s Corner: Beverly Jones Durr

 

Tell us about yourself

I was born in Birmingham Alabama and grew up with amazing parents. My Trinidadian mother was a domestic and my father worked for United States Steel. My parents taught me lots of things, much like most parents today; be honest, work hard and love God. Those have been the tools I’ve used all my life. I knew at an early age that I was destined for greatness. I know that might sound arrogant, but it isn’t meant to be. When you are carrying in your spirit gifts from God, you just know!  I married my husband Harry when I was eighteen years old. Deep inside I could still felt the warmth of God’s gifts, but life happened. Once married my soldier husband moved us to Germany. I had never been on a plane or traveled outside the United States. Little did I know, my journey was just beginning. I enjoyed being an Army wife because it opened doors for me with every relocation move that would lead me closer to using my God given gifts.

We traveled to Europe visiting Switzerland, France, Spain, Prague and several other places that opened my eyes to the beauties of the world. I met many people who seemed to be searching for their greatness just as much as me. I began to realize that I needed to do more; to search more to uncover my purpose and my greatness, so I found a job. I was hired by the Department of the Army to work as a supply clerk. I was excited, but I quickly realized that the regimen and discipline of the Army was not something I could take lightly. The Army when I started to work in 1987 was still a boy’s club. Being an outspoken woman was a little out of the box for them. It didn’t matter, I was very determined to apply the principles my parents taught me;to be honest, to work hard and to love God.  These principles served me well. I eventually climbed that ladder to upper management and became a program analyst.

I am blessed to have retired early from federal service. Currently, I am CEO and Founder of Beverly Jones-Durr Enterprises, LLC which offers several enrichment programs for women, children and young adults. My programs, Every Child Has a Story and Speech Crafters, builds confidence and self-esteem and enables children and young adults to find their voice, write their stories and prepare for life’s journey. Sistahs Unlimited is an academy of learning I specifically designed for women to develop skills to manage their lives, nurture their children and create a legacy for their families. I believe that it takes a village to raise a child and equip the mothers who nurture them with the tools they need to live their best lives. I am a bestselling Author, Artist, Motivational Speaker and Certified Life Purpose Coach. I’m a member of Toastmasters International, Women Speakers Association (WSA), International Women’s Leadership Association (IWLA), International Membership of Professional Advisors, Coaches and Trainers (IMPACT) and the International Association of Professional Life Coaches (IAPLC). My latest book, “Nurturing a Grateful Heart: The Power of Possibilities has been selected as one of the Top 10 Inspirational Books by Aspire Magazine.

What motivates you to do what you do?

God is my Primary motivator. I am so in awe of his mercy and all he has done for me and mine. I will never forget the day God was truly there for me. It was February 6, 2010. That was the day everything changed. I was at work on the Arsenal. I wasn’t feeling like myself, but I had meetings and a busy schedule so I pushed on. I was so focused on work that I ignored the symptoms. I actually chalked it up to being clumsy because I stumbled a few times and dropped my coffee cup. I figured I just needed to take a few minutes to relax. It’s the stress of the day. At least that’s what I told myself. It wasn’t.  During my final meeting, I found myself unable to understand the words spoken. They sounded like a foreign language to me. I was alarmed, but still not enough to seek help. After the meeting, I drove home. I don’t remember getting there. By that time, my speech had become slurred and my vision blurry. I decided to call 9-1-1-.  When I arrived at the emergency room, they told me that I had suffered a stroke and more than likely I had suffered several mini strokes throughout the day. I couldn’t feel the right side of my body. I understood what was being said to me. However, by then, I could no longer speak.

Can you imagine how it feels to have people surrounding you speaking to you and you can’t speak back? It’s horrible. Two nurses discussing my condition said that I’d likely always require assistance to walk and may never speak again. They didn’t know I heard, but I can’t tell you how angry I was hearing them. I knew this was not God’s plan for me. I leaned on God and He did not disappoint. I worked hard.  Whenever I felt overwhelmed and frustrated, I felt God close to me. I did not want to disappoint God! God motivated me to keep going. When I say it was tough, it doesn’t begin to explain the difficulties I endured. After several months of intense speech and physical therapy, I was walking without assistance and God gave me back my voice. I vowed to use it in any way God intended. Nobody can motivate you like God!

What is one verse that has been significant in your life and why?

Jeremiah 29:11-13

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

My entire life is directed by God. I use God’s Positioning System (GPS) to navigate this journey I travel every day. This scripture assures me that I can call on God and He will listen. That His plans for me are for me and there is no need to compete, withhold my knowledge or be jealous of the gifts others have been given. My gifts are for me and although they might be similar to others, nobody can use my gifts the way God has positioned me to do. It keeps me grounded and confident that I am on the right path and doing God’s work.

What is God speaking to you right now?

Recently, I entered my prayer room and asked God to make my mission clear. “Please tell me who I am and what I do in your name, God.” He spoke to me.  I am to use the gifts He has bestowed upon me to empower the world.  Who am I and what do I do? God says that I am a woman with an Intentional Purpose. I am an active member of the “Village it takes to raise a Child.” I work with the world’s children, helping them embrace and write their stories, speak their truths, love who they are today and stretch to touch who they will become tomorrow. I am an adult woman, mother, sistah, and wife. I know that we can learn so much from the children;especially when we stop trying to silence them by disconnecting them from their creativity and turning them into who we wanted to be, but lacked the courage to seek. I help women, “My Sistahs” to embrace their power, hear their inner voice, find their direction and identify their purpose so that they will be able to teach our children how to navigate their lives, manage the peaks and valleys of living and pass along a legacy of empowerment and truth.  It is not enough to empower children to live their purposeful best lives without helping the women who have been gifted the responsibility of nurturing these children, learn to do the same.  I AM THE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS AND BRINGS THE TWO TOGETHER…” 

What is one of your most memorable God moments in this city?

Four years ago, I had lung surgery. The entire experience was a God moment for me. I was in Huntsville Hospital’s Pulmonary Intensive Care Unit with a collapsed lung and a very determined virus that caused fluid to fill both lungs. I was scared and very sick. I closed my eyes and told God that I was afraid and please don’t leave me. God is amazing! Every person who entered my room touched me and said, “God’s got you!’’ Imagine the lady who cleaned my room, the nurses, the technicians even the doctors and the surgeon who performed the surgery all saying to me, God’s Got You! My surgeon even said a prayer before starting! As I closed my eyes in the operating room, I saw a beautiful red scarf floating above me moving as if my breath caused it. I heard a whisper before falling asleep, “You are coveted by the blood of Jesus; don’t be afraid.” My recovery was a God moment too. It was supposed to be a six month recovery period and it was actually only fifty-six days. I am a super blessed child of God. I am loving this journey God has created for me.   

 

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