Spotlight on Mom: Lilkeyta Goodlow

November 25, 2009

Lilkeyta Goodlow was a sophomore in high school when her mother was murdered. Goodlow's grandmother got custody of her and her brothers, but instead of moving to Massachusetts with her, Goodlow decided to stay in her native Chicago to attend every day of the trial of her mother's murderer. "I couldn't leave her behind like that," she said.

Goodlow rebuilt a broken relationship with her biological father while finishing high school. She attended college, but realizing her brothers were growing up without her, she moved to Boston without finishing to be with them and her grandmother.

She eventually got a job as a legal analyst with Bank of America that took her to Atlanta. When she lost that job and was unable to find a new one, she moved to Memphis to live with family. When the relationship soured, she found refuge at The Salvation Army Purdue Center of Hope Emergency Family Shelter Downtown.

Goodlow, who is separated, is determined to succeed, find a job and provide for her three children, Chynna, 8, Brianna, 2, and BJ, 1. A devoted Christian, Goodlow finds strength in her faith. She recently took the time to answer questions from Midsouthmoms.com:

How do you feel about living at a shelter? It is so scary to start over. Not that this is a bad place, but this is the very bottom. Not to be able to care for your kids is the most hurtful thing -- to wait for someone else to tell you it's time to eat when I want to make my kids' meals on my own. But in some way, I feel like God had to bring me here for some realization, to show me that I have to be humble, to appreciate my family and that all you need is yourself and your kids.

What is your goal right now? I want to get the stability back for the kids. I am up there every day at 5 a.m. with them, taking them to daycare and looking for any opportunity to go find a job and go back to school to better myself. I hope to find a job, a new apartment for my kids and me and, at some point, to save so that -- if God gives me another chance -- I will have something to fall back on.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? I pray and listen to inspirational music.

Do you have any insecurities, either work-related or about being a mom? I always pray that I am preparing my children as much as possible to face this world, to be able to deal with the many stresses of today.

What inspires you? My children inspire me to do more and push harder. God gives me the strength to keep on going.

Top Picks

Favorite book:The Bible, of course. I also love Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman."

Favorite recreational activity: Double dutch -- jumping rope with two ropes. My aunts taught us in Chicago. It was a big thing there.

Favorite music: Gospel.

Favorite TV show: Lord, forgive me, but I love my soaps: "All My Children" and "One Life to Live."

To read complete profile, go to Midsouthmoms.com

Listen to 98.9 Kim-FM every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. for an interview with the subject of "Spotlight on Mom" on the Morning View with Tom Prestigiacomo and Dr. Susan Murrmann.

-- Sonja Luecke

Sonja Luecke
The Commercial Appeal
November 25, 2009