Uncrowned Community Builders

Our mother is known as the diminutive dynamo. Many years ago, I remember her speaking of and praying on her vision to become the proprietor of her own shop. It was her dream to create a place where folks would come in, look around and purchase fashionable, affordable items. Raised in Buffalo, NY she attended grade/high school here; then left to make it in "the big city" - New York, only to return years later to the place that she holds so near and dear to her heart - Buffalo.

She is - Thelma Keith, affectionately known throughout the community as "Sis. Keith" or "The Hat Lady", the proud parent of four children - Denise, Kim, Nat and Nadine as well as grandmother/great-grandmother of quite a few. She had worked for a time at Belk Stores in NYC, and after leaving there decided to venture out and open a store of her very own. With not very much in the way of finances, she went forward with sheer determination and by the grace of God opened up her first place, "T & N Boutique" in Brooklyn, NY. Things were going very well, but she longed to return to Buffalo to be near her family, and it was then that she decided to "do it again" -and opened "Hats and More" a store set up on the East side, providing classy and elegant hats, outfits, and accessories for women, men, boys and girls.

Sis. Keith is a member of The Greater Refuge Temple of Christ, where on any given Sunday you will see her wearing a sharp hat and or suit; committed to "serving the Lord with gladness". While at the temple, she serves as a member of the GRT Praise and Worship Ministry and the GRT Bereavement Committee. She also enjoys baking her delicious Sweetie Pies, home-made miniature sweet potato pies to help support church initiatives. It warms her heart to give out tracks as a part of the Street Ministry, has performed with the "500 Voices" Choir and is ready, willing and able to assist whenever/wherever she is needed.

Our mother, the diminutive dynamo, Sis. Keith is an Uncrowned Queen.