The Story of Maguerita Matthews

Life was hard back then. Not like it was today. People had to work for what they wanted. People had to fight for what they wanted. Jobs weren't handed out. You had to show yourself approved like the Good Book says. And you had to be smart, have a good head on your shoulders and think for yourself. That's was my life, Maguerita Matthews. I remember working on the farm with my family and quitting school at an early age. My mother and father taught me how to be a farmer. I would work with workers and help gather and plant. It was no easy job but I did it. I did it for the family. I did it because I was told to. I did it because it was life. And there were days I dreamed about going to school and doing something great. But I knew that farming is something great, something you can pass down to your children, something you can say you have done and lived through it. My younger siblings got to finish school you see because Daddy was sick when I went to school. He lost his other job and my mother wanted to make ends meet. My mother took over the farm and she recruited relatives as well as me. That was the life of the country, working hard in the field all day and night. The farm was the center of the life back then. Most people had jobs there. Most people started out on a farm. Things were simple back then. Then long after my father got better and eventually passed. My mother got a huge insurance check and she gave me half of it. And she told me that she was selling the farm and moving on. My mother did not want to continue the hard work. Times was changing and people wanted to live the easy life. I finally moved in with some friends and left home at the age of 25. I was trying to get back my education and so I tried to get into school but the schools were expensive. I tried at church and they only could get me a job cleaning. They taught me the trade and said Most of their women learned this. And they said that I could work for rich businessman. I know it was not what I wanted but it was a job in the big city. And I love my independence. It was first hard being a single woman and working in the city. It was hard getting to work on time. It was church that kept my spirits up and knowing there were others who were going through what I've been through. And God begin to bless me almost several years in, my boss gave me a raise. And I was shouting and prepare to spend when my sister came by. She said Momma is sick. I asked the pastor to pray for me and my family at this time. And I tithed ten percent and hold onto the rest in case of Momma passed. The pastor first was searching for me because I gave and left for Holloway, New Jersey. There I was quick to come to Momma's aid and there was this doctor. And I was ignoring but I just could not help notice that he was looking at me. They called him Junior and he was previously married. Momma talked to me and she told me that she was fine. And she pushed me away and Junior said he would look after her. And he took me out on some dates and just before I was gonna go back home on the train after saying good bye to Momma. Junior proposed to me with his son KC-David. And he showed me a big beautiful ring and I said yes. And I did not go back home but I took a cleaning job with a businessman in Holloway, New Jersey. And the marriage stood in honeymoon for several years. Momma was in a nursing home and feeling up and down sometimes. And my sisters were helping to take care of her. We each had turns and live closely by. I was pregnant with LaShara and I told Momma. Momma was delighted and she felt the baby bump. I was almost 33 years old. My son KC-David was 13 years old when I met his father and now he was on his way to college. Junior spent a great deal of his money helping the less fortunate. And because Junior was such a good provider and a doctor, I was able to save up $100,000. And I could not believe it. I asked the bank over and over and over. I went down to the bank and ask for the teller, ask for the supervisor, and ask for the manager. Then I knew I did something great. And celebrated with Junior and the kids. And so I paid for KC-David education and made sure he made A's and B's. And he would have to report to me everything he learned in writing. KC-David had other friends at college and eventually his father got the raised and I had several cleaning jobs plus Momma passed and left me $50,000 and I made another $100,000. My husband Junior promised to pay for LaShara's education. And he kissed me on the cheek and he promised me that I could do whatever with my money. And so I talked to KC-David and asked him what I should do. And he said Momma you were the only mother I know. You cared so much about God. People respect you Momma. You are noted in the community for character, working hard and you are funny. You went far for someone who had it hard and lived through those hard days. You taught me so much. And just because you did not get a degree or diploma and had to clean for your life. Doesn't mean you should not be remember? You could do what those rich folks do. You could pay for others' education and leave a lasting legacy at the university. And I asked him what should I call the college scholarship. And he said The Maguerita Matthews Besting It Scholarship. And that was my story.