Heaven Terrell, a former resident of Oakdale, began appearing on social media last week on what appeared to be a magazine cover. In reality, its an idea created by a friend to promote young black professionals and uprising leaders during Black History Month, which is observed in February.
Korey London, CEO of LNDN LOOKS in Lake Charles, asked his McNeese classmate if he could use her photo to create the photograph above. Terrell, a graduate of Oakdale High School and McNeese, is presently attending Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, Texas.
London can’t believe the amount of publicity he has received from his idea to promote some of his friends. “Truly, I was not expecting the publicity that I received, but being a man of faith I choose not to ask questions when God is in control!” London said.
McNeese State also reached out to him to feature a few of his creative magazine covers of previous students and graduates. London said, “I couldn’t have been more happy to agree to promote black excellence, black culture, and young black professionals!”
London said he began his photography business, LNDN LOOKS, to “promote and create memories with individuals and families by capturing the purity of a moment.” He said he always saw it growing, so with the start of February, which is Black History Month, he decided to share his work. “We really wanted to capitalize on young black professionals and uprising leaders! This is just a way to showcase who these individuals are and to show them how much I am inspired by them publicly! Sometimes being a young professional goes unnoticed until we are set in our careers. Some uprising leaders just need the motivation to keep pushing past the obstacles that we face everyday such as doubts, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and feeling defeated.”
He said each of his covers focuses on the theme, “Creating Black His/Her- Story.” He plans on featuring another young black profession or upraising leader each week. He said some have inspired him or they may have inspired others. He said anyone can nominate an individual.
Terrell was an easy pick for this cover. She graduated from McNeese in May 2020, but due to COVID, the commencement ceremony was held in December. She is now a year-and-a-half into the three-and-a-half year program at Texas Chiropractic College.
The quote on the cover, “As a woman, we have two choices in life; fold or flourish,” is what Terrell has proven to herself each day of her life.
She became a mother at 17 during her senior year at Oakdale High. A 2016 graduate of Oakdale High, she was a star track athlete. She also was a cheerleader, basketball player and band member in high school and wore the crowns of Miss Oakdale and Miss Allen Parish in 2014. However, her road to adulthood was not going to be easy once she learned that she would be a mother. With the support of her family, she was able to rise from those twists and turns of life and set a path to achieving her goals.
Terrell said she didn’t do track her senior year of high school due to her pregnancy, but McNeese still offered her a scholarship in track. Her collegiate track career set many records and wins for herself. She said her mother, Stephanie Brown, who now lives in Sulphur, moved to Lake Charles to assist Terrell with the care of her daughter, Skylynn. Terrell found herself attending classes, practice, competing, being a mother and working to make ends meet. She never thought about the “what ifs” in life, she just set a goal and worked toward achieving it.
Her first studies at McNeese were geared toward nursing before she decided she wanted to go to chiropractic school. She said it’s not as hard as when she was in nursing and she’s in school all day. It’s a vigorous, fast paced program. She takes 24 credit hours a semester now. Terrell said her tuition is designed to give her a stipend for room and board every four months, so she isn’t working. She said mornings start with getting up to get Skylynn ready for kindergarten and preparing for her day.
As an athlete, she was more disciplined as she laughed about whether she needed to study or sleep. Today, she’s just a regular mom. She still does some regular weight training. She doesn’t miss the workouts at 6 a.m. or working in the heat. She does miss her teammates, because she said they were her second family often helping her with her daughter and other things when she needed help.
“I miss that second family. It was nice.”
She was really surprised when her friend Korey asked her to do the cover and then posted it. And when she posted it, she said the feedback was great. “I’m super grateful of all the good feedback and responses,” she said. “You can always count on the Oakdale family.” She explained that coming from a small town, you always know the community is out there and supporting you. You always know where you’re from, and they never let you forget it. It’s nice to be able to continue to put the community out there (on the map).”
Terrell is the daughter of Stephanie Brown, Frederick Terrell of Oakdale and granddaughter of Joseph and Linda Brown of Oakdale.
