In honor of Mother’s Day, we are celebrating moms by introducing you to a few Coastal Virginia community faces along with their amazing Moms
By Leona Baker
April Woodard (photo above with Mom)
Host, Coast Live on WTKR Channel 3
Lucy R. Wilson
Retired Associate Vice-President, Old Dominion University
April Woodard’s on-camera charisma and signature style are well-known in Coastal Virginia through her role as host on WTKR-TV 3’s Coast Live and her earlier work as a local reporter and anchor and national correspondent for Inside Edition. April comes from a large family of successful professionals, educators, athletes and more with strong ties to the community. Among those is April’s remarkable mother, Dr. Lucy R. Wilson, a retired ODU associate vice-president. The first black woman to chair the Norfolk School Board, Wilson has also served on the boards of Operation Smile and the American Red Cross. A mother of six who was instrumental in her late husband Harrison B. Wilson’s role as president of Norfolk State University, Lucy prioritized faith and family while pursuing a successful career. She nicknamed her daughter April “Steel Butterfly,” a moniker that April would come to embody as a symbol of resilience and strength.
My mom is amazing because …
“she showed me how to live by doing, being an example of how to balance career and family. Not just caring about how you present yourself visually to the world—although she’s quite a fashionista still at 94—but as a pillar of resilience and strength. She sacrificed so much for our family.”
People may not know …
“when my dad became president of Norfolk State, my mom was also on track to become a college president—at a time when very few women headed universities. She poured into my dad, fine tuning his appearance and presentation, writing his speeches, doing late night master planning. Most people also don’t know that we are a blended family. When my brothers’ biological mom died, my mom stood in and raised them, my sister and then me.”
Kiera Hill
Owner, Vino Culture Wine Shop
Trena Hill
“SommMom,” Vino Culture Tribe
Certified Sommelier Kiera Hill’s true passion is wine education. She started Vino Culture as a traveling wine education company, hosting wine classes around the region and later delivering wine to customers’ doorsteps with the help of her first employee: her mom, Trena. Since then, Trena has affectionately become known as the “SommMom,” including at Vino Culture’s retail wine shop in Downtown Norfolk, which opened in 2021 and hosts regular tastings, events and classes almost every day. A retired science teacher, Trena “always wanted a big family and she got it” with seven children and 10 grandchildren that keep her busy when she is not “delivering wine from the North Carolina border all the way out to Toano and every city in between.” Kiera spends free time in the gym training for powerlifting competitions or at the beach on her paddle board.
My mom is amazing because …
“she taught me what true hospitality is all about. It’s not just offering someone a beverage when they walk in the door or making sure your house is spotless. Hospitality is about genuinely welcoming someone into your life! Making someone feel seen, heard and loved is what it’s all about, and sharing food and wine with people is a beautiful avenue to accomplish that.
People might not know my mom …
“loves gardening and reading. She collects books like I collect wine bottles and is always in the middle of a few titles. She is also always looking out the window from her desk where she reads to plan out her next move in the gardens.”
Alex Q. Askew
Member, Virginia House of Delegates
Lee Newsome Askew
Educator
For Hon. Alex Q. Askew and his mother, Mrs. Lee Newsome Askew, faith, family and community service are paramount. Both alumni of Hampton University, Lee and Alex are also active members of New Jerusalem Ministries in Virginia Beach where they enjoy mentoring local youth. Alex currently works as a Community Relations Coordinator for Sentara Health and serves as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 95th District where he focuses on improving community safety and education. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and enjoys cooking and trying to improve his golf game. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Lee’s lifelong commitment to education is reflected in her work with the PTA, Vacation Bible School and more. Spending time with family is essential for both Alex and Lee, including Lee’s three grandchildren.
My mom is amazing because …
“she has always been “a source of warmth and comfort, welcoming my friends into our home with open doors, warm meals and a listening ear. After my father passed away, she raised me and my sister as a single parent, teaching me many life lessons. She showed me the importance of distinguishing between wants and needs and the value of appreciating what I have.”
People might not know my mom …
“enjoys quilting. “One of my most cherished memories with her is from the pandemic when we worked together to create a quilt from my collection of t-shirts from sports teams I’ve played on or supported, school events attended and campaigns I’ve worked on. It was a special way to bond and preserve memories.”
Jake Wareing
CEO, Wareings Gym
Jackie Wareing
Hardest Worker in the Gym
When the family business is the oldest continuously operating gym in America, sweat equity is a given. But, according to Wareings Gym CEO Jake Wareing, no one puts in the work like his mom, Jackie. “I’m technically my mom’s boss,” he says. “But she basically takes care of everyone and everything!” Theirs is a fitness legacy cast in bronze, literally. A statue of Jake’s grandfather John Wareing, who brought Wareings to Virginia Beach from New York City in the 1960s and was known for his big personality, strongman demos and dedication to healthy lifestyles, stands overlooking the Virginia Beach Boardwalk at 16th Street. Today, Wareings is still a place where people can crush their fitness goals and be treated like family. “This is our gym,” says Jake, “We trust one another, and we help each other. We’re a team. That’s
why I love my job.”
My mom is amazing because …
“she’s the most loyal person that I know. Through everything she is someone that I can trust no matter how tough things get. Her love is what keeps us going. She is an inspiration to the members and staff. She is the hardest worker in the gym. Period! She has seen the crowd come and go, watched families grow up here. We’re just like any family and stick together through it all.”
People might not know my mom … “was one of the first women to lift weights when it was still seen as a man’s sport. She went on to become a personal trainer and helped shape the culture of strength training for women. At 75, she is still incredibly active and running circles around most of us.”
Jessica Masciangelo
Co-Owner, Either Ore Jewelers Strawbridge
Donna Lambe Firestone
Owner, Either Ore Jewelers Strawbridge
Jessica Masciangelo started working at Either Ore Jewelers Strawbridge in Virginia Beach when she was just old enough to see over the counters. “I would clean glass and wrap presents,” she remembers, “but the true present for me was learning from the best.” Her mom, Donna Firestone, worked at the store before buying the business in 2005. After graduating from ODU, Jess started working alongside her mom and found sales was in her blood. “I love working with our customers and the relationships we’ve built,” Jess says, “I have started many new projects at the store over the years, and my mom has given me the opportunity and trust.” Among those projects is the store’s custom restORE line, jewelry made from reimagined heirlooms. “Family first, forever,” says Jess, who also loves spending time with her high school sweetie, their two daughters and beloved pets.
My mom is amazing because …
“she has been a hustler my entire life. I am still in awe when I see her work with customers and explain different business ideas and tactics to our team. I am constantly learning from her. Whether it is for personal or professional challenges in life, she’s never not been there for me or my brother. She helps us solve our problems and celebrates with us when we overcome them.”
People might not know my mom …
“is a great cook. “She jokes she’s supposed to be a chef and not a jeweler. Her true passion is cooking and simply being in the kitchen. We say her cooking is ‘love made edible.’ She loves to spend her weekends at their home on the Eastern Shore where she has found the quiet, easy way of living to be just what she needs as she teases retirement.”
Andrew Yancey
President & Founder, Tarnished Truth Distilling Company
Ronnie Yancey
Serial Volunteer
Andrew Yancey founded Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, located inside the Cavalier Hotel, eight years ago with the desire to become one of Virginia’s premier distilleries. From their Discretion Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey to their wildly popular Coastal Cocktails, Yancey and his team have found a successful formula. But it wasn’t a given, and one person who was always there to cheer him on was his mom, Ronnie. “She supports everything I do,” Andrew says, “whether it’s the dumbest decision or not, and that is why I love her so much.” Among the botanicals used in distilling Tarnished Truth’s Fourth Handle Coastal American Gin are rose petals from Bonnie’s Bay Colony garden. Both Andrew and Ronnie love giving back to the community, and Andrew enjoys the outdoors, surfing, hunting, live music and spending tie with his three kids and “amazing, supportive and understanding wife, Dana.”
My mom is amazing because …
“there is no one I can think of that has dedicated their life more to giving back than my mom. She has taught me how important it is to always have some part of your life dedicated to helping others no matter how little or big. She doesn’t do it for the recognition or because she will gain anything from it, she does it because she knows she is helping someone and that is all that matters.”
People might not know my mom’s …
“proud accomplishment of being an EMT and volunteering with the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad at the Oceanfront for 40 years. This has been a rewarding and humbling experience serving local citizens. She also loves spending time in her garden and sharing her roses with family and friends.”
MJ Biasi
Owner, Photography by MJ, LLC
JoAnn Jester
Retired, Former Redskins Cheerleader
MJ Biasi has made a successful career capturing the magic of motherhood and the beautiful babies that bring families so much joy. As an award-winning maternity and newborn photographer for nearly 17 years, her Chesapeake studio is filled with everything her clients need to feel comfortable and safe while creating cherished memories in the form of stunning images of mamas-to-be and their wee ones. But it’s MJ’s own mom, JoAnn Jester, that she looks to for inspiration. Good thing her mom spent some time as professional cheerleader. She also worked as a title clerk at a car dealership and was a stay-at-home mom. Coming from a fitness-focused family, when MJ is not in the photography studio, she loves lifting weights at the gym, cooking on her Blackstone, hosting get-togethers, spending time with her kids, date nights with her hubby and brunch with girlfriends.
My mom is amazing because …
“first and foremost, she is my best friend. We talk every day, and she listens to everything I need to vent about. She has been married to my amazing dad for 55 years. Seeing my parents build this strong bond is an inspiration to me and my family. In my business, my mom is one of my biggest supporters, always cheering me on from the sidelines, forever gushing about how proud she is of me, and just being there for me when I need my spirits lifted.”
People may not know my mom’s …
“biggest claim to fame is being a very proud member of the Washington Redskinettes in the late 1960s. She is an avid football watcher and never misses a Commanders game. She enjoys her time at home on her lake, bird watching and being with friends and family. She also enjoys baking and playing bingo.”
William S. Hunt, Jr.
Doctor of Dental Surgery, Hunt Smile Design
Dawn T. Hunt
Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry, Hunt Smile Design
With more than 100 years to their combined local dental legacy, the Hunts have plenty to smile about. William Hunt, Jr. recently completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at UNC’s Adams School of Dentistry before joining the family business, Hunt Smile Design in Poquoson, where he serves patients alongside his dad, Bill, and his mom, “Dr. Dawn.” Bill’s grandfather, John F. Hunt, Jr., established the original practice in Hampton in 1924. “Being a fourth-generation dentist and growing up with two parents as dentists, my mom played a vital role in my career path,” William shares. “My mom has always pushed me to be the best that I can be. She has relentlessly supported me throughout all my endeavors. I always have and continue to strive to provide the care and attention she gives to each patient. She inspires me every day.”
My mom is amazing because … “she always tries to look for the good in people and always finds a way to make the best out of any situation. Times may get tough, but my mom has always believed we are able to handle and grow from every situation we are dealt. My mom is the true definition of a role model.”
People might not know my mom … “likes to play tennis, golf, travel and spend time with her family. She is devoted to her community having served as a board member for Riverside Regional Medical Center and The Virginia Living Museum and participated in various clubs such as the Huntington Garden Club and Junior League.”
Jason Williams
Technology & Robotics Teacher, Thomas Hunter Middle School
Michelle Williams
Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher, Thomas Hunter Middle School
“My mom is incredibly dedicated,” says Jason Williams of his mom, Michelle, who taught math for 15 years before bringing family and consumer sciences and life skills (what many of us may remember as home economics) back to Thomas Hunter Middle School in Mathews County. Jason followed in her footsteps with a career in education, the last 8 years as a teacher alongside his mom at Hunter Middle, where he helps students learn about technology and robotics. Both Michelle and Jason have been named Hunter Middle Teacher of the Year and recognized as WAVY TV 10 Teachers of Excellence. Jason enjoys “all things creative” including music, art, woodworking, 3D printing and pyrography as well as looking for “any reason to be outdoors and find peace in nature.” He is happily married to his high school sweetheart, and they have two beautiful children.
My mom is amazing because … “She applies herself to the fullest in whatever she does. She pursued her career later in life but managed to attend and finish college while raising three children. Since then, she has earned her master’s degree, taught hundreds of children, and brought the spirit of middle school home economics back to our school. She showed my sisters and I that, through Christ, we really can do all things.
People might not know my mom … “enjoys cooking and sewing in real life, not just for work. She has her own line of handmade purses and accessories called Legacy Custom Boutique. She sings in her church choir every Sunday, enjoys the outdoors and loves spending time with her family and grandkids.”
Photos top to bottom: By Mike Dragon, Dragon Photo Studio; By Mike Dragon, Dragon Photo Studio; By Rob Ostermaier, Consociate Media; By Mike Dragon, Dragon Photo Studio; By Leona Baker; By Misty Pruitt, Misty Saves the Day; By MJ Biasi, Photography by MJ, LLC; By Jim Pile; By Rob Ostermaier, Consociate Media
Leona Baker
Leona Baker is the former Editor-in-Chief of Coastal Virginia Magazine. She is a writer, creative, communications professional, food freak, news junkie, nature and travel lover and mom. She holds a degree in English from James Madison University and a degree in Dance & Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She previously served as Senior Copywriter for Spark 451, Director of Marketing & Communications at Virginia Wesleyan University, and Senior Editor of Port Folio Weekly.
