Rest in Peace Zelda Grant March 6, 2014 It is hard to believe I am writing these words. This morning at 4am east coast U.S. time my friend Zelda made the crossover. I am very sad but also glad that she is no longer suffering. About 5 years ago Leah Greenberg invited me to a party to talk to people about Project OKURASE. After 5 minutes I had no idea what I was doing at this downtown penthouse party of Charlestons wealthiest. Not one soul was interested in hearing about Project OKURASE and I was clearly a fish out of water. About the time I was considering taking off because there was not a conversation I could engage in or relate to Leah showed up and said let me introduce you to a fabric artist, Zelda Grant who was another fish out of water. I was very blessed that day to meet a special person who started sewing at age 10 and has an eye for putting together fabrics for clothing, bags, pillows and her infamous magic wand repair kit. We have been friends from that minute. She did some workshops with Djole and made many pillows for Asaasi Yaa, my daughter, and Nana Serwaa. She made a fabric sculpture after the Haiti earthquake called Angel of Hope that is in my home. A few years ago Zelda was diagnosed with breast cancer. She basically lived at my house while she was going through chemo because her home was a long drive to the doctor. The chemo caused her to lose beautiful waist length dreadlocks. She was beautiful bald for some time and when the hair grew back she decided to dye it blonde. She was a better blonde than me and it was stunning with her brown skin. The breast cancer had progressed so much before she ever saw a doctor because as a self-employed artist she had no health insurance, couldnt afford it. When she told me of feeling the tumor I told her to go to a doctor no matter the cost -we would find a way to work it out. She was in the process of radiation and her doctor gave her a 2-week break to come to Ghana. She was with us doing the work of Project OKURASE for 10 days. I thought how brave she was to take such a long journey in the middle of difficult treatment. After a year of being clear of cancer it came back in her neck, stomach, bone marrow, and bladder. Even in her last days she wore lipstick and earrings and looked stunning. Her final days were days of family, friends, music, and joy. So.. here is much love to you Zelda. May you rest in peace but also I expect to catch glimpses of you in Ghana, Charleston, and anywhere there is music, color, fabric. Here is a picture of my daughter, Nana Akosua holding a pillow Auntie Zelda made for her. We will treasure it always - it reads, Always Kiss Me Good Night.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 20:54:40 +0000