QUICK FACTS

PERSONALITY

“I’m a redhead, so I’m a firecracker. I’m little bitty, and dynamite comes in small packages. I like that I’m very empathetic. I like the fact that I can still pray for people and worry about them more than I worry about myself. I love everybody. I tell everybody I love them. One of my strengths is my faith in God.”

STORY

“I had a rough childhood. We were very poor. After I got out of high school and foster care, I moved to Tulsa. I had been a pom pom girl in high school, and I saw this sign outside this club that said ‘dancers needed,’ and I thought to myself, ‘Okay, I’m a dancer,’ so I went inside and these girls had no clothes, but I needed the money, I had no place to stay. So I got the job. I was only 18. Then I got pregnant with my oldest son, and it got me away from a really bad situation, his father was very violent. It was me [and my two children]. And when my daughter was about two and a half, I was told that I was HIV positive. I don’t hide that I have AIDS; it made me the strong woman that I am. I’ve been fighting it for 30 years, and I’m not done fighting. I learned some humility when I became homeless, and I had to leave everything behind and start out brand new.’”

AT UNLOCKED

“I started working with Unlocked and fell in love and couldn’t wait to get started. It’s been a joy. I feel like I believe in myself. I feel like I can do something productive and people like it, they buy it. I love to talk, and I’ve gotten to where I’ve come out of my shell a little bit and can talk to people and tell them about the company and jewelry and why Unlocked is here, which is to help homeless women transitioning into housing to earn a good wage. It’s all love, and we’re a family. I love all of you. While I’ve been working with Unlocked, I’ve been saving a little bit back out of each check. It took me a few months, but I saved up enough so I could buy my very first laptop and a brand new phone. That was a blessing.”

UPDATES

“I have pancreatic cancer, and I was diagnosed in December, but I’ve been fighting it since about May or June last year. I may be going through a lot right now with my health, but I feel safe. I know I’m going to be okay. I’ll be cured if God wants to be, if that’s His will, but I’m not going to be mad at him if it’s not his will. Either way I win because I know I’m going to heaven. If I got a choice between being miserable or going to heaven, my choice is heaven. That’s my whole goal anyway. I know it’s all going to be in God’s time, all God’s will. And if I can turn these diseases into something that will glorify God, then this will be all worth it.”

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MB passed away on April 6th, 2019, peacefully and surrounded by people who love her. We, at Unlocked, will forever be thankful for the love and light that MB brought into each of our lives. Her spirit will live on in our company and community as we seek to love others well, emphasize the importance of laughter, and make the best of any situation with a resiliency previously unknown to us.