My beloved mother was born during a critical year of the Southern Freedom Movement, 1963. She was a January Capricorn and there was heavy snow on the ground in our hometown of Nashville, Tennessee when she made her arrival. Ms. JoAnn Hathaway was the second of six (6) children and the only daughter of Mr. Joe Miller Hathaway, Sr. and Mrs. Willie Mae Hathaway (née Hunter). She was the smallest in weight of all her siblings at just over six (6) pounds. She grew to be a stately woman at over six feet (6’0”) tall, full of style and grace.

She was a wordsmith and bibliophile, articulate. She read the dictionary and the Holy Bible for leisure. A nerd. With that same mouth and intellect, she would “get you” if you “rattled her cage.” She put herself through college. Ms. Hathaway was a 1984 graduate of Branell College with an Associate of Science in Business with an emphasis in Highly Technical Clerical Career Pathway. Moma had elegant calligraphy-style penmanship. She could type and dictate at one hundred percent accuracy and write shorthand. She aspired to be a paralegal, but becoming my mother changed her trajectory.

My Moma began her professional career as an alternative school educator and worked in the human resources department for Metropolitan Nashville Public School District. Following in her footsteps, I became an educator and the longest I remained in any school setting was in alternative education. Life is a funny thing.

J.A. was a woman of religious conviction and faith. She was a baptized believer and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior as a child. She went on to serve as a Sunday School teacher and was a faithful member at the congregation where my father and she met, and both sides of my family still worship until this day. Church was the way of life in our household. I would wake up on Sundays to Vickie Winans’ gospel song, “We Shall Behold Him” and Aretha Franklin’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” My Moma could sing. She dedicated and sing “If I Could” by Regina Bell to my Sissy and I.

She had an air of confidence and beauty. I used to sit on the floor or in the bathroom as a child and early adulthood and watch her "put her face on." Petroleum jelly moisturization to start, Black Opal and Black Radiance blend of cream and powder foundations applied with a red round makeup sponge, curved black drawn on eyebrows, dark red shade or brown lipstick, eyelash curler used before and after mascara application, special occasions would consist of thin short eyelashes for enhancement, all tucked in a small neutral or floral colored makeup bag.

Moma enjoyed old school music and kept a collection which rivalled some disc jockeys. My fondest memories were me asking her to “Play me a song” when I would come into town. She would say, “What do you want to hear?” My response, “Whatever you want to play, or you know I am always down to hear some Luther, Atlantic Starr, the O’Jays, Johnny Gill, some Babyface, or the Commodores.” She would say, “How long are you going to be here? I know you are going to stop by see Moma and Daddy and Shelia before you get away.” I would usually say, "I will stay at your house longer if you cook. Who cooked today? I will catch Moma and Daddy tonight and before I get back down the road. I had to see you first.” That was an ongoing conversation, like on replay. My favorite dishes of hers were caramel cake, the best turnip greens on the earth, macaroni and cheese, Jack Mackerel salmon patties, mashed sweet potatoes, beef flavored Ramen noodles with ground beef added (that was one of the best simple meals I have ever had), a thick slice of egg cornbread, multilayered tossed salad, spaghetti, and cream of wheat/farina and smothered pork chops. I know I have not eaten eat pork or red meat for nearly twenty (20) years. So, sometimes I would ask for poultry or seafood. She would sometimes make either or her response would be, “I am not your granny and granddaddy. You may go pick up some or you can get a plate at their house.”

My mother worked so much that while coming up, I would play sick to miss school just so I could spend some time with her. Out day usually consisted of eating ice cream while watching All My Children and Bold and the Beautiful soap operas.

She owned a cleaning service. We cleaned houses and office buildings together from the time I was a pre-teen to my early twenties (many times for free). Looking back, I now recognize that she needed my help, and I wanted her to know that I was never too old or educated to be there for her. She paid my modelling and acting school tuition and my pageant dresses and contestant registration fees. As I matriculated through undergraduate school, my mother held as many as three (3) jobs, one (1) full time and two (2) part time. We used to write each other notes and letters and send greeting cards on special holidays and just because.

Ms. J.A. Hathaway was attractive, classy, sassy, a fashionista, bold, authentic, and had an eye for interior design. Our nicknames for one another were, “Lady and Little Girl,” “JoAnn and Quinnia,” J.A. and Andrew (calling me my father’s name),” and she gave me extra syllables like “Quintessia,” and abbreviated it to “Quinnie.” Every day I miss her. Nothing prepares one for the loss of a parent, but I hold on to hope that we will meet again. For she is my air and I am her heir. All that I am and will ever be is because of Thee. We shared a body for nine (9) months, and for that reason Ms. JoAnn Hathaway is my Creator.

Happy Mother's Day,

Dr. Quintessa Hathaway

2022 Democratic Nominee

118th United States Congress (2023-2025)

Arkansas' Second District (AR-02)

Founder, Chief Executive Officer, And Lead Consultant

Q. Hathaway And Associates, LLC