Dear Eshaboo you are fantastic

Dear Kiesha Preston, you have inspired me in recent years more than anyone else. You once were a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling your 3 children and trying to finish your degree. Your husband walked out of your life and things changed drastically. No longer married to your childhood sweetheart and trying to find employment so you could care for your 3 children, was a real challenge but you turned every lemon into lemonade and have done some amazing things that benefit the least among us.

You found out that you had tapped out as far as financial aid and as a single mom could not afford to pay for your final semester of education in order to obtain your degree. In addition, you had to help out when your dad became ill and dealt with a roller coaster of doctors and hospitals during the pandemic and the devastation of his death.

Each time physicians, nurses, Palliative care, and chaplains said make him comfortable and let him go you were my strength. You pointed out that it was not for the medical professionals or us to decide what was or was not a quality life or when your dad should die. You gave me the fortitude to stand up to them and we got 5 additional months with him because we stood our ground. You were your father's princess and his last words before the massive stroke were your nickname "Eshaboo."

Since I had been with one man for 45 years I could not offer you any assistance or advice regarding your divorce, dating again and moving on alone but you had the courage to seek therapy and benefit from it and also to fight for and win child support. After the divorce, you legally reclaimed your maiden name of Preston and also began reclaiming your life.

You ran for the local city council, and although you did not win you received an impressive number of votes. You began working as a behavioral therapist and youth advocate for at-risk young people and their parents. You successfully appealed to Virginia legislators to pass a bill that would keep women from potentially becoming homeless due to a spouse leaving them with no income and ruining their credit.

You went public with your domestic violence story and your House Bill 99 passed and now other women do not have to be in the situation that she endured. You stated your truth regarding defunding the police and began experiencing harassment from high up but you did not back down. You also gave your ideas on how to deescalate local gang violence which has been increasing.

When the current Roanoke City council voted to keep homeless individuals from sleeping on downtown sidewalks you were outraged. You went to council meetings trying to get them to see the error of their ways but they did not. You then turned to the ACLU and now are trying to get them to overturn the recent ruling that prevents homeless people from sleeping on the sidewalks in downtown Roanoke, Va.

I am so proud of you for always thinking of those who are less fortunate and now you are a 2022 Honoree for the NAACP Youth Council Awards. You have also found a way to continue your education and will soon have your Bachelor's degree all the while continuing to homeschool your 3 children. You have looked out for me since I became a widow, helping me find a therapist that was the right fit, taking me out to get me out of the house, and bringing me food and I know your dad would be so proud of the woman you have become.

I am very proud of you my daughter for turning your life around and becoming an achiever. You fight for compassion for those who cannot fight for themselves. I hope your story will inspire someone else who has dealt with divorce, being left with no income, starting all over again with children to raise, and or dealing with the death of a parent.

You are a survivor and my Hometown hero so thank you Kiesha Nicole "Eshaboo" Preston for being such an inspiration and letting women know there is hope and life on the other side of relationships that do not work out. Kiesha you are a strong female who happens to be an African American woman and you are proof positive that you can begin again and be successful along the way. You are indeed an impactor of excellence ad deserve to be rewarded for it.