Family History...

Nanny once said to make sure that your name meant something to people. You see, she (my fathers mother) owned Stanly Dairy in Albemarle, NC in the 1950's. I loved to hear about the stories of how my grandmother made it (in business that is). Nanny is exactly everything I hope to be. A little late, yes I know. I am almost 30. She was independent yet married to a wonderful man [check], she enjoyed learning [check], she had a passion to make sure things were done right [check], she was a successful business woman [half check], etc...

Katherine Isenhour Crowell Kerner was a very strong woman. She was educated in Greensboro at a time many women didn't go to college. She tried for years to have children and was blessed to be able to adopt my dad and aunt. She saved like a mad woman and she pursued her dreams and passions with every bone in her body. I remember one story going like this (forgive me if the details are a bit fuzzy): Sometime in the 1950's dairy farmers were wanting to water down their milk or something similar to that. Now mind you that she was a woman owner of a dairy amongst many men dairy owners. During a meeting (perhaps like a town gathering), they all began to lean toward doing this and not telling anyone. Well they except for my grandma and a few other brave souls. Now here she is standing up in a crowded area telling folks they aren't going to water down her milk. And guess what? They didn't! Her integrity with her customers was more important that camaraderie or profits.

So when I say I want to be just like her, I mean I want to keep that spunk. I want to have the drive to succeed no matter what. And I hope I can keep channeling my grandmother through me to be the successful business woman that I hope to be one day. Until then, I will pledge to make sure that my name always means something to me.

My grandmother died in March of 2004. I still think of her often and always think of questions I wanted to ask. I am sure you are wondering if her name is Kerner...what is up with the Crowell? Well the short of the long is my dad's father died when my father was very young and my grandmother remarried the man that I knew as my grandfather. My father kept the Crowell last name and it was my maiden name as well.