This International Women’s Day, our four women in leadership reflect on the women in their life who helped shape them into the leaders they are today. Their stories — raw, spirited, and true — are a tribute to women who are leaders and waymakers in their own right, driven by values of faith, family, and freedom, and inspiring us all to authentically lead with truth and love. Leaders like those spoken about in these short reflections are the very heart of Cornerstones of Care, an organization with a deep history of female leadership and vision that sustains our work to this day, and we are grateful for all women who have made an impact on the Cornerstones of Care legacy.
Merideth Rose, President & CEO
As I think about this beautiful journey that has been my life, I find myself swelling with gratitude as I recall the many compassionate, caring, and courageous women who helped shape me into the leader I am today. Even though I was adopted at just six weeks old, my mother was blessed to be surrounded by a village of women who made it their personal mission to see that I was loved, nurtured, and supported.
My mother, Betty, whose name with Hebrew and English origins means ‘oath of God,’ represents the epitome of courage and selfless sacrifice. When she adopted me, she indeed established an oath bound by faith and a relentless trust in God. Although she had a life and dreams of her own, she made room for one more. As a young girl and one of eight siblings to two parents living in the deep, poor south of Winnsboro, Louisiana, my mother prided herself on achievement. She loved to learn and quickly internalized that higher education would be her pathway to purpose and a future outside of poverty. After putting herself through college at Southern University, my mother found success in many pursuits, including obtaining master’s degrees in mathematics and Statistical Engineering. She was one of the first black female engineers to be recruited for the notable aerospace and engineering company Allied Signal (Bendix, Honeywell FMT), where she served for 43 years before retiring as a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Although her professional path had been destined for greatness and distinction, she remained true to her oath. When she offered a very courageous “yes” in 1981, Betty promised to raise a daughter to value and love people from all backgrounds. She would foster a future servant leader who would do all she could to create good in the world through service and nurture a caring woman of faith to use humility as a framework by which to remain grounded with an insatiable desire to listen, to help, and to learn.
Today, I stand and thrive as the direct recipient and proud byproduct of my mother’s faith, strength, and courageously compassionate care.
Everything I have learned regarding how I see the world and the people in it, view life’s struggles and trials, and embrace traumas as an opportunity to demonstrate God’s miraculous healing power comes from my mother. I am because she was, and today still is… my hero.
Jill Beck, Chief Financial Officer
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My Great Aunt Becky had a profound impact on my life. Born in 1923, she endured the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam conflict, and many other prominent US events. With grit and determination, she was able to draw from these life experiences and, using the resources she had, make a difference in the lives of those around her.
Aunt Becky always cared deeply about social justice issues and did her best to better her community and those suffering for unjust reasons. During the World War II era, she supported her Japanese American friend in looking for a job by accompanying her to businesses where she had traditionally been denied work. Together, they approached potential employers and requested they consider hiring her.
She was involved in many community organizations, serving as a case manager and in leadership roles, elevating the voiceless’ concerns and seamlessly integrating her passion for social justice with her faith. She never sought praise or adoration for herself but instead put the spotlight on those around her whose stories ought to be elevated.
When I was pursuing my master’s degree, someone asked if I was the first woman in my family to earn the educational attainment. I was not – my Aunt Becky did it first in 1946, many years before it was more common for a woman to attain the status.
I have always been so proud to say that I stood on the shoulders and walked in the footsteps of a great woman who came before me.
I feel this excerpt from her obituary written by her son sums it up best: Becky was passionate about her faith and how it intersected with the society around her, and she spared no effort in seeing that the kingdom of God was available to all persons, no matter their race, color, or sex. In an era before women’s liberation was a catchphrase, she was a formidable proponent of the rights of women in the workplace, in the home, and in all of society.
Sarah Scharinger, Chief Administrative Officer
When I was a little girl, I had just learned to sew and was completing my first project for 4-H, which involved sewing buttons into a heart shape on a shirt. Except, when I went to cut the thread, I cut through the shirt instead, ruining it. I was so frustrated that I had destroyed my first sewing project and wanted to give up. My mother, Patty, in all her wisdom, calmly gave me the option of quitting or starting over. I recall this being an early lesson in not giving up and continuing to try things that mattered to me. What sticks out most is my mother’s encouragement to keep going when things got hard, her grace, and her consistent, caring reminders that I had not failed. Today this translates to safety in vulnerability and learning from mistakes and opportunities to achieve personal growth, grace, and resiliency.
Today, my mother continues to impact my life as my example of a strong woman who helped shape me into who I am today. I learned from her to encourage others that they can achieve what matters to them and to offer guidance that’s meaningful and realistic. My mom taught me to give people space to grow and try things that spark their interest and help them develop as leaders. She taught me to give others grace. Most importantly, she taught me to give myself grace, which can be hard but equally important.
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I still think back to that first lesson in leadership my mom taught me as a little girl learning to sew. I could have abandoned the project altogether, but it was important to me, and my mom encouraged me to keep going. That was the beginning of my journey of realizing that mistakes are not failures. It’s okay to fall, but that doesn’t mean you fail. These are opportunities for growth and times to give grace.
My mother wholeheartedly focused on family and prioritized self-care. I’ve always admired those qualities in her and am thankful for the example she set.
Thank you, Mom, for being patient with me, for being my biggest cheerleader, and for providing the encouragement that helped get me here today. You are an inspiration, and you have certainly left an impact on me.
Jamie Stevens, Chief Human Resources Officer
My late mother, Rita Pulley, and late maternal grandmother, Laura Holmes, created the soundtrack of my life. I hear them in my head all the time. I see their mannerisms in me, and I hear myself speaking their words. I love like they loved. I work hard like they did. They set the example of what it was to be an employee, woman, wife, mother, and follower of Christ.
My grandmother was my example of working hard. She was a domestic – think about the ladies in the movie “The Help.” She had eight children who she cared for, cooked for, and cleaned for. And during the day, some nights, and weekends, she did the same for the family she worked for. They were, in fact, her other family. She went to work daily in her white uniform, pantyhose, and sturdy shoes, with makeup on and love in her heart to make a living and support others as they did the same. I learned from her a spirit of love, acceptance, humility, and forgiveness.
My grandmother never let us see the internal pain she may have experienced. She only spoke to me one time about picking cotton as a youth in Arkansas. She fully relied on God for her strength. She instilled that same skill in her children and grandchildren. Although times have changed, and we feel more open to sharing feelings and teaching our kids about emotional intelligence, there is an inner strength that we know we can call upon for help.
My mother was the first woman I know who became a supervisor in the factory where she worked when I was a child. She introduced me to office supplies and desk work. My dad still laughs at the number of hours I spent at my desk as a girl “working.” Really, I was imitating my mom, wanting to be her. I would overhear her challenges at work and knew it wasn’t easy for her in the late ’70s and early ’80s to lead a workforce that didn’t look like her. But she did it! I wanted to be a boss just like her.
The gentle spirits of these ladies shaped me to be more supportive, loving, and gentle and guided who I am today. They were my biggest supporters, first critics, best friends, and first loves. I miss them dearly!