Weaving Strength & Legacy: Honoring My Grandmother This Women’s History Month

Every March, the world pauses to recognize the unstoppable force that is womanhood. Women’s History Month honors the legacy of those who paved the way, celebrating the everyday heroines who inspire, uplift, and pave the way for others. It’s about us—our mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, mentors, and the fierce, brilliant women we see staring back at us in the mirror.

Walterine Z. Dover

The Power of Her Story

For me, Women’s History Month is personal. It is woven into the fabric of my lineage, stitched with the strength and determination of my late grandmother, Waterine Zendaline Dover—her story lives within me. She was a very spiritual, yet stylish and feisty woman who loved accessorizing with fancy hats and her fine gold jewelry.  Granny, as we affectionately called her, worked hard to raise her six children—five girls and one boy during the colonial era of British Guiana.  She provided for her family by weaving and handcrafting exquisite raffia (Tibisiri) bags. Her creativity passed down through generations, filling our family with many diverse talents and inspiration. 

As a little girl, I remember my cousins and I carefully trimming stray threads from the beautiful bags she had crafted ensuring each one was perfect before she set off to sell them in Georgetown, the capitol. Her hands wove a legacy of hard work, perseverance, and self-sufficiency that she passed down to us.  Coming from a family of creative women, I spent years feeling like the spark had skipped me—until I finally discovered my own creativity, a gift that had been quietly nurtured by my grandmother all along.

Born in June, just like me (only a few days separate our birthdays), my grandmother was a pillar of strength. When I think of my own entrepreneurial journey, I know exactly where I got my spirit from. She was never afraid of hard work, never shy about her talents, and always carried herself with pride. She didn’t just make and sell bags—she crafted beauty, built security, and carried the weight of her family’s future with every stitch. This year, my grandmother would have turned 100—a milestone that reminds me of her enduring legacy. She was, in every sense, a woman who made history in her own way.

You Are Part of This Story

Women’s History Month is about reflecting on the past and recognizing the history we’re making right now. It’s about you. Yes, you—the woman juggling a career and family, the one chasing a dream no one believes in yet, the friend who always shows up, the leader, the nurturer, the creator. You are writing your own chapter in this great book of determination and triumph.

This handwoven placemat set, created by my grandmother many years ago, was gifted to someone who still cherishes it today.

So let’s celebrate. Let’s honor the women in our lives who have shaped us. Let’s remind the young girls watching us that their dreams are limitless. Let’s hold space for each other, cheer each other on, and never forget the magic we carry.

Affirm Your Power

This Women’s History Month, let’s affirm our strength, our worth, and our place in this world. Speak these words into existence:

• I am the legacy of strong women before me, and I walk boldly in my power.

• My voice matters, my dreams are valid, and my presence is a gift.

• I honor the women around me by lifting them up as I rise.

• I am fearless, unstoppable, and worthy of every dream in my heart.

This is our month, our celebration, our history in the making. Keep rising, keep shining, keep making HERstory.

Happy Women’s History Month!