Author: Dr. Cynthia A. Bond Hopson

Meet child #3 of the Bond family, Attorney Linda Bond Edwards. Entering law school at the exciting age of 35 years old, Linda went through a faith-filled journey that led her to bounce around different corporate positions and move from one city to another.

She believes that the path that God has set out for her is far more perfect than what she could ever plan for herself… and this has guided her throughout a life well-lived.

Hear more about Linda’s story in this 14th episode of 3 Stores, 2 Cotton Gins, 1 Remarkable Life!

In this episode you will also discover:

• Linda’s journey to law school and beyond
• The walk of faith and following the Lord’s will
• A peek into Linda’s law school experience
• Being selected as one of the “25 Women to Know in Tallahassee”
• Linda’s life in Tallahassee
• Why it’s important to take a closer look at yourself
• Linda’s 2021 Word of the Year
• Having a stable support system rooted in faith
• The legacy Linda wants to leave behind

Find out the details by listening to the full 3 Stores, 2 Cotton Gins, 1 Remarkable Life episode  on Spotify, Stitcher and iTunes.

Quotes:

• “I think this is the time that the Lord has set aside for me to go to law school. Everything that needed to happen, happened just the way it was supposed to and there was no way I could’ve orchestrated all of it.”
• “The Lord has an interesting way of putting you in places at the right time.”
• “If you got the work, you have to respect that work.”
• “One of the things I learned is to take responsibility for my actions.”
• “God’s will for me is far more perfect than any that I can think or do on my own.”

This episode’s guest holds a special place in Dr. Hopson’s life, especially since this woman played a major role in Dr. Cynthia’s career as a writer. Meet Christy Smith, a former publisher of a weekly newsletter in the town Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson grew up in. They go back to 1987 when Dr. Cynthia pitched a story to Christy. And the rest, as you say, is history.

After conquering the world of journalism (with a cool byline, “CT Smith”), Christy went on to become a Disaster Consultant. She spent years supporting and helping survivors—an experience that changed her relationship with God.

Hear more about her story on working in disaster case management and how she values being a lifelong learner in the 13th episode of 3 Stores, 2 Cotton Gins, 1 Remarkable Life.

In this episode you will also discover:

• From being a journalist to becoming a Disaster Consultant
• How working in disaster recovery and with survivors shifted Christy perspective
• Liberal education and how it should be given more importance
• Being active participants in culture and politics
• The value of being a lifelong learner
• On leaving, remaining and contributing in this world

Find out the details by listening to the full 3 Stores, 2 Cotton Gins, 1 Remarkable Life episode  on Spotify, Stitcher and iTunes.

Quotes:

• “I learned more about God from the survivors, more than I ever learned in the Church.”
• “I always pushed back against the concept of being successful because I think that’s always an external idea.”
• “We are called to live in this world, to know as much as we can know.”
• “Read the bad stuff, read the good stuff. It will inform your own thinking.”
• “We were created to share everything in this planet.”

Angella P. Current-Felder is an author, a retired executive, and an active Methodist leader and civil rights icon. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she served as the Executive Director of the Office of Loans and Scholarships under the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry. She also worked as the Executive Director of several other human service organizations as well as the agency liaison for the Africa University Endowment Fund Campaign.

But before all those remarkable feats, Angella P. Current-Felder was a girl who grew up among a family which also made major leaps in their respective paths.

She’s the daughter of the first Methodist African–American woman bishop and a former Deputy Director of the NAAC. She was also a student in Morgan State College—a time in her life where she became more politically involved.

Learn more about her story in this 12th episode of 3 Stores, 2 Cotton Gins, 1 Remarkable Life!

In this episode you will also discover:

• The story behind Angella’s name and how her early years shaped the woman she is now
• On being a part of the Methodist Church
• Being actively involved in her school’s debate team
• That moment in her life that led to her becoming more politically motivated
• Learning how to ‘read with a political eye’ during her college years
• The lessons Angella P. Current-Felder lives by and the legacy she wants to leave to the world

Find out the details by listening to the full 3 Stores, 2 Cotton Gins, 1 Remarkable Life episode  on Spotify, Stitcher and iTunes.

Quotes:

• “I think that’s when I really became politically motivated myself, to take action, because I had experienced directly being attacked.”
• “You have to travel your own spiritual journey.”
• “All those issues help you learn to walk by faith.”
• “Life is hard, but the lord didn’t put you here to not make a difference.”