Life's Next Chapter: 20 Extraordinary Women Over 50

The story below is from our March/April 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you! 

Meet 20 extraordinary women thriving and redefining life after 50. 

In our vibrant community, age over 50 is not just a number; it’s a source of inspiration. Five of our writers introduce you to just a few local women who are making lasting impacts and living life to the fullest. Thank you to so many who are creating space for even more women to make their mark and inspire others!

Written by Dan Smith

Dina Imbriani, 58

Owner Mountain Shepherd Adventure School

It took a while for Dina Imbriani to find her niche and to overcome a challenging childhood, but she did. Today she is a leader, a teacher and a role model with her outdoor survival school in Craig County.

Imbriani was born in California but landed in Roanoke in the seventh grade. While she had absentee parents, her friends all but adopted her and made her early years not just bearable, but good. “People took me in, fed me and I called them ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad,’” she says.

She wound up with a good education (five colleges, degree from Mary Baldwin) and worked as a trainer (“I always found a way to train people”) and ad manager (Roanoke Times). Finally, her ex-husband, a nationally-renowned outdoor survival expert, worked with her and she became an expert and opened her school. “It was a perfect fit for me,” she says.

Sherry Quinley, 62

Advertising Account Executive for TV, Print and Internet, Regional Obituaries Executive

It takes Sherry Quinley quite a spell to outline what she does professionally and in the end you realize it is constantly changing shape. She is in demand because she is extraordinarily effective.

She has worked in media almost constantly during her career, selling ads, writing, photographing, training, directing and often “figuring out how to create a product that doesn’t exist,” she says. Quinley recognized early that “everything is connected.” She has also been a teacher (her retired husband was in education).

Her goal: “Trying to be more relevant, figuring out how I can make life better” for herself and others. “I’m not finished,” she says emphatically. “I don’t know what the next chapter will be, but I didn’t know what this chapter was going to be, either.”

Fran Ferguson, 65

Executive Director Salem Museum

The iconic McClung Lumber in Salem is Fran Ferguson’s heritage, but she has always made her own way, whether programming computers at the Pentagon, running museums, developing an email system for the Marine Corps, writing management proposals for an architectural firm, working for Public TV, taking a “horrible job” with CSX Railroad, writing for a notable business magazine and just “bopping around every couple of years.”

The job with the Salem Museum represents “coming home,” she says. “This was a village where everybody raised each other’s children and took care of each other.” The museum emphasizes that but does not shy away from the difficult stories many communities try to hide. She was a journalist at one time and retains that journalistic feel. “History explains why things are as they are,” she emphasizes.

“We’ve made a conscientious effort to weave African-American history in Salem through our narrative.” And that has had a positive impact.

Melanie Almeder, 59

John P. Fishwick Professor of Literature and Creative Writing, Roanoke College

It didn’t take long for Melanie Almeder to know what she wanted to do with her life. “After about 8, I was reading nonstop,” she says. “Mark Twain was a revelation.” And she was on her way to a teaching and award-winning writing career. She joined Roanoke College in 1999.

She was raised in Atlanta, but home is “mostly Maine.” She has degrees from UVa, University of Massachusetts and a PhD from the University of Florida. All that reading and writing “developed me as a person” and a teacher. She won Virginia’s Teacher of the Year, Roanoke College’s top teaching award, literary awards and became one of the most beloved teachers in Roanoke College history.

Her most cherished accomplishment is the Fishwick professorship because she so admires the entire Fishwick family. She is still expanding her reach and inventing her life, she says.

Written by Ashley Wilson Fellers

Chris Bryant, 68

Urban Forest Advocate

One thing is for certain: Chris Bryant loves trees. Over the last decade, she’s dedicated hundreds of hours – perhaps even thousands – to volunteering and leading with the Roanoke City Tree Stewards, Trees Roanoke and the Roanoke Master Gardeners. On any given week, you might find her planting, pruning and watering street trees, helping raise funds to plant more or publicly advocating for the city’s urban forest.

“Trees are so important for so many things aside from just being beautiful,” says Bryant. “They help us clean the air, sequester carbon, provide food and shelter for bees and birds and mammals … A tree can do so much to help us correct the problems of climate change.”

This year, Bryant has advocated for Roanokers to make 2024 “The Year of the Tree” – a chance to raise awareness about the urban forest’s importance.  She hopes residents of all ages will plant more trees across the valley … and protect and care for the ones they already have by removing ivy, vines and other invasives.

“I want to see us plant as many public trees as we can properly maintain, and also encourage good building regulations that helps us plan for and protect trees during the building process,” she says. “We’re trying to make Roanoke a healthier environment again by bringing it back to over a 40% tree canopy — that’s what the goal of the Year of the Tree is going to be.”

Helen Dean, 78

Arts & Culture Advocate

As a child in Roanoke, Helen Dean knew that money could be tight … but that the doors were wide open to art, culture and opportunity.

“I grew up poor, but my parents tried to ensure I was involved in a lot of community activities,” Dean says. “I think it’s something we need to continue to do with our children today.”

That’s why, after her retirement from a successful career that took her all over the world, Dean returned to Roanoke.

“This was home,” she says. “My parents always stressed, give back to your community. And that’s what I’ve tried to do … especially in education and the arts.”

Dean joined the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s education committee and began working to ensure that children from all walks of life could attend free or reduced-cost performances. She also became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for young people in the juvenile-court system who were facing challenges, abuse and neglect – a role that eventually led her to become president of the organization’s local board. And she got involved with Presbytery of the Peaks and, more recently, the Roanoke Arts Commission, where she advocates for arts programming that’s accessible to all.

Ultimately, Dean says she hopes her work inspires others to leverage their retirement for good. “Get involved,” she says. “It’s worth it!”

Anita Finkle, 57

Animal Advocate

As a military kid constantly on the move, Anita Finkle knew that life could be lonely… and that animals helped. “I went to a lot of different schools, and I was introverted,” she remembers. “So, animals were my friends.”

Maybe that’s why, when she finally put down roots in Roanoke, she decided to advocate for the four-legged members of her new community: “I’ve always had a soft spot for rescue dogs … especially the scared ones or the ones other people overlook,” she explains.

Finkle began simply by taking shelter dogs out for walks, but before she knew it, she was fostering, transporting … even making local television appearances with adoptable dogs. Then she tackled Roanoke’s 100 Miler challenge and the Seven Peaks in Seven Weeks – joined by furry shelter friends, of course. Finkle hoped that by logging “#100muttmiles,” she could raise awareness for dogs awaiting adoption – which is exactly what happened.

“I go running with a friend on the Greenway. We joke that she sees people she knows, and I see dogs I know,” Finkle laughs. “More than once I’ve met dogs I helped adopt.”

Today, Finkle volunteers with many organizations, including the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection. She encourages folks to consider the RCACP’s Adventure Dog program. “Take a dog for a hike!” she says. “You don’t have to make a big commitment to help.”

Donna Logan, 75

Outdoor Enthusiast and Appalachian Trail Advocate

Donna Logan defies many people’s expectations about retirement. After an award-winning career, the former educator didn’t slow down – she got moving.

“I retired specifically so that I could through-hike the Appalachian Trail,” Logan explains. “It changes your life!”

And when she was finished, she went back for more – this time as a section-hiker journeying alongside other women. She also joined a Couch-to-5K training group with Fleet Feet, ran her first marathon at 61, climbed Mount Katahdin for the second time at 73, became a Fleet Feet training mentor, a volunteer ridgerunner and a trail keeper with the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club and the McAfee Knob Task Force.

“I go out about once a week, at least once every two weeks, and I clip the trail to keep the branches and the weeds off,” she says. “After I hiked the trail, it was just such an important thing to me.”

These days, Logan is training for the Anthem Star 10k … barely a year out from a knee replacement. But whether she’s passing out water to weary hikers, teaching them the principles of Leave No Trace or cheering on fellow runners, she hopes a few themes ring true:

“I’d like to be remembered as a defender of nature, a defender of people,” she says. “I like the underdog, the person who doesn’t think they can make it … and I just want to be kind, to everybody.”

Written by Lindsey Hull

Antinette Beane, 58

Branch Manager, Melrose Library

As branch manager, Antinette Beane curates a welcoming space for the Melrose community. The library is an activity hub for everything from book clubs to community dinners.

Beane’s great aunt Louise Bowling worked at the Gainsboro library when Beane was young. Bowling inspired Beane to become a librarian, she says.

Beane has worked in library service for 15 years. Her biggest impact has been the work she has done in her community. She recalls that Sheila Umberger, director of libraries, recognized this several years ago when she offered Beane the job at Melrose. “If you won’t do it, who will,” Beane remembers Umberger saying.

There’s the boy she shielded from family trouble… the youth she encourages to stay in school… the people who come in for help with a job search or just to find belonging… Beane inspires her patrons on a daily basis.

“If I can do it, you can do it,” she tells them.

Nicole Cooper, 51

Fitness Influencer

Nicole Cooper founded Sports Broads in 2020. The movement began as a way for women to pursue fitness activities together – running, cycling, swimming, hiking and so forth – and to do these things regardless of body size or type.

Cooper has a tenacity about her, this spirit of never giving up. She takes on the biggest challenges and she throws herself into them. She’s completed marathons. Triathlons. Spartan races. Everything in between. She inspires everyone around her to do the same.

“A spirit of curiosity is what I sense from the [Sports Broads] and what I hope to instill,” Cooper says, explaining that sometimes people might try an activity and realize that they just don’t like it.

“I did one Spartan and I was like, I will never do that again. It’s one of my proudest medals, and I barely made it over the fire jump,” she says.

Pauline Kaldas, 60

Author & Professor of English and Creative Writing at Hollins University

Pauline Kaldas immigrated to the United States from Egypt in 1969. That experience has influenced much of her writing.

As a professor, she is known as an encourager. Students enjoy meeting with her in small seminars or one on one. She has taught at Hollins for 25 years.

Kaldas says she stumbled into teaching.

“I loved reading, I loved writing, and I needed to be in some environment that would allow me to keep reading, to keep writing, and to engage with others about books,” she says.

Last year, Kaldas helped found the university’s Faculty of Color Alliance.

“We want to create a community where people who are faculty of color have a place to go when they have things they want to talk about… you want someone to hear what you’re going through with a sense of understanding,” she says.

Kaldas’ latest book, “The Measure of Distance,” was released in September.

Ann Blair Miller, 62

Director of Business Development, Roanoke Regional Partnership

Ann Blair Miller has had a hand in many of the biggest moments in the region’s economic development history.

She has a passion for bringing jobs to the region, as well as the work she has done on a statewide level. She served as president of the Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) in 2013. That organization presented her with the prestigious Cardinal Award in 2015.

As a mother and grandmother, Miller offers advice to the younger generations of working women. “A lot of women have chosen not to take risks and pursue opportunities because they worry about balancing their family and their profession. I don’t think a career needs to be either-or.” Miller heard that sentiment early in her career and has tried to live by it, she says.

“You can’t be perfect at everything. And that’s just been kind of my thing all along… I just feel like I’ve really had the best of both worlds,” she adds.

Written by Aila Boyd

Dr. Kathy Wolfe, 56

Roanoke College Dean

Shortly after Roanoke College selected its new president in 2022, it also selected a new dean of the college—Dr. Kathy Wolfe. When the Nebraska native arrived on campus, she brought with her 28 years of experience in academia.

Despite rising to such a high level in academia, her path was less than certain given that she is a first-generation college graduate. In fact, she wasn’t even sure what graduate school was when her undergraduate mentor suggested she consider applying for it. However, when she was given a course to teach a year into grad school, her course was set. “I thought I really enjoy this. I could do this for a living,” she remembers. “So, I totally blundered into it.”

Various teaching and administrative positions followed, including a stint at her alma mater, Nebraska Wesleyan University. When Wolfe found out about the dean position at Roanoke College, she held a similar position at Hamilton College in New York. She had long been aware of the college, having used it as a model for a general education review at NWU.

Her first day on the job coincided with President Frank Shushok’s first day. Part of her initial work involved helping the faculty make curriculum changes. “What I love about this job is getting to think really big picture and think in terms of what higher ed and a liberal arts college like this will look like 10 years from now,” she says. The administration’s goal, she says, is to make Roanoke College into the “Roanoke Valley’s college.”

Upon relocating to the area, she settled in Cave Spring with her partner. “We love the area. We love to hike a lot. It’s beautiful,” she says.

Michelle Austin, 52

Bank of Botetourt President

Michelle Austin has always known she wanted to go into the business field. “I always had an acumen for math and business,” she remembers. Growing up, she helped her father with his small businesses by helping keep his books.

That sense of direction guided her well as she left her Botetourt County home and pursued a college degree. After taking a money and banking class, she knew that she wanted to go into banking.

An internship at Bank of Botetourt, then Bank of Buchanan, sealed the deal for her. From there, she started working at the bank during summer breaks, going from a humble check filer before moving up to a teller role. After graduation, the Buchanan resident’s first full-time role was as marketing director, which allowed her to launch the bank’s website. Years later, she wanted to beef up her retail experience, so she became branch manager in Troutville.

“I literally started at the bottom. I’m really glad I did all of that because I got to learn so much. I got to see how all the different parts of the bank work together,” she says.

In 2005, she took a leap to become the bank’s chief financial officer after several years of being groomed for it. She held the title up until a couple months shy of celebrating her 30-year anniversary at the bank last year when she was named its president. The promotion has brought with it a need to readjust her mindset, going from being laser focused on the numbers to now thinking about the bigger picture.

“Being rooted in this company, it’s given me some stability,” she says. “It’s good for the company too because people see us as familiar faces that they’ve become accustomed to seeing.”

She takes her role as a community banker seriously given the vital role banks like hers play in supporting local economies by lending to small businesses. A prime example of the importance of community banks, she says, is the large number of Paycheck Protection Program loan applications Bank of Botetourt processed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amy Whittaker, 51

Roanoke County Public Information Officer

It isn’t enough for local governments to simply collect the trash and send out tax bills; they also must communicate with their citizens. That’s where Amy Whittaker comes in.

For the past 10 years, the Roanoke Valley native has been keeping the residents of Roanoke County informed about what the municipality is up to as its public information officer. She views her job as a liaison between the government and citizens as being vitally important because it helps foster trust and transparency in the community.

“I share a lot of information…ensuring that it’s clear, timely and accessible,” she says. “Keeping our citizens informed about how their local government operates, the services we provide and how they can participate in their government are all really important.”

Prior to her time with the county, she worked for the American Red Cross for 16 years. Her first job after college involved working with volunteers, before she moved into a public affairs role. Her time in that position helped prepare her for all the challenges that now come her way, including crisis communication and serving as a spokesperson.

“I had no intention of leaving the Red Cross, but I was recruited to come to Roanoke County,” she says. “I enjoy it because the role is really versatile. I never know what may happen from day to day. There are so many things that go on in local government.”

As she’s gotten older, Whittaker’s perspective on life and work has changed. Notably, she reports, she’s become more flexible. She attributes the change to the various experiences she’s had as a working mother.

Amy Geddes, 54

Co-Managing Partner, OPN Law

Amy Geddes decided to pursue a career in the legal profession out of a desire to help people after being inspired by her third-grade teacher who passionately shared the impacts of the Civil Rights movement with her class. “That’s when the seed was planted to become a lawyer and to try to make a difference and help people,” she says.

The Midwest native first came to the Roanoke Valley for college but left after graduation to attend law school in Indiana. It was during that time that she realized just how much she missed being in Virginia, so she made a concerted effort to get a summer position between her second and third years in Roanoke. The firm later offered her a job after she finished her studies, which allowed her to permanently settle in the area. She brought her husband, who she met in law school, with her. The couple now live in Glenvar.

While she started off as a general lawyer who did a bit of everything, including criminal law, civil cases and divorces, she quickly developed an expertise in Social Security Disability. “I really enjoy that area of the law because I can help people that are no longer able to work,” she says. She later expanded her practice areas to include Virginia Retirement System Disability, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability and Personal Injury.

Having a husband who is also an attorney was certainly helpful when she was starting out, Geddes remembers. “It was nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of, even though it’s a different kind of law,” she says of her husband, who is now a general district court judge.

After nearly nine years at her first firm, Geddes moved to the Roanoke and Salem-based firm OPN Law where she started as an associate, but quickly become a partner and in 2007 co-managing partner. She now handles the day-to-day operations of the firm, which is comprised of nine attorneys. Despite her management role, she still carries a significant caseload.

Geddes will expand her influence in the local legal community this summer when she becomes president of the Roanoke Bar Association for the 2024-25 calendar year. The association holds regular meetings with guest speakers, helps attorneys meet their Continuing Legal Education hours, offers scholarships and engages in numerous charitable efforts.

Written by Shawn Nowlin

Nancy Hans, 67

Executive Director for the Partnership for Community Wellness

Nancy Hans has accomplished most of her life goals by utilizing her greatest skill: being herself.

Born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, since her father served in the Army, the family lived in California and Ohio before settling in Maryland. Hans’ mom and dad, who both went on to earn their master’s degrees, regularly emphasized the importance of education to their children growing up.

After graduating from high school in 1975, Hans furthered her education at Towson State University. There, she earned the distinction of being among the first certified special education teachers in the country.

“My life experiences have shaped me because of those who taught me, mentored me, stood by me and gave me opportunities,” she says. 

After working in Maryland for 32 years as a special education teacher, Hans left the Old Line State in 1999 and moved to Roanoke. Once she got acclimated, she began doing private contract work as an educator. Early on, she often asked herself, “What exactly did I say yes to?” Today, Hans considers the Star City her second home.

“One day I met JoAnn Burkholder with Roanoke County Schools and the journey into the non-profit world began,” she says. “Since then, I have been involved with grant writing, building community partnerships and working with school systems, among other things.”

She adds, “This the most challenging job I have ever had, but it has truly given me more opportunities to stretch myself than I’ve ever imagined.”

Lisa Robinson, 58

MCC/Team Lead at Member One Federal Credit Union

What a decade it has been for Lisa Robinson.

Five years ago, the mother of two witnessed her firstborn walk across the stage and receive his college degree. In 2021, she celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary. Two years ago, her daughter transferred to her dream school, James Madison University. Last year, she received a major job promotion.

Reflecting on how her childhood shaped her into the strong woman she is today, she replied, “I couldn’t have asked for a better mother. While we didn’t have much money, my two sisters and I were rich in the stuff that mattered more – love, lessons and memories.”

Robinson attended William Fleming High, graduating in 1984. Long before her current role at Member One Federal Credit Union, Robinson was an entry-level worker at another bank.

“In the banking industry, similar to real life, competition is often ruthless. I genuinely believe that dealing with adversity has made me a much better overall person,” she says.

Robinson’s life forever changed on September 14, 1991, when she married her soulmate, Clarence.

Despite everything that she has accomplished, Robinson is nowhere near satisfied. When she is not working or spending time with family, she loves helping the less fortunate.

“My story serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished when people believe in you. Without so many individuals over the years providing me with guidance, I am not where I am today,” she says. “It’s an impossible task, but I will continue to try to give as much to the community as it has given me throughout my life.”

Eva Shaw-Gill, 60

Community Servant

The number of times that Eva Shaw-Gill was told she couldn’t do something in life, only to use that opinion as fuel to eventually accomplish the task at hand is easily in the hundreds.

Growing up with two older brothers in a newspaper family thoroughly prepared her for the chapters that would later come in life.

“My grandfather founded the Roanoke Tribune in 1939. The paper took an early stand against segregation during the Jim Crow era with the motto, ‘Only Negro newspaper published in South Western Virginia,’” Shaw-Gill says, adding, “In 1971, primarily due to poor health from a car accident, my grandfather sold the paper to my mother, Claudia Alexander, who at an early age taught me the importance of hard work. I vividly remember sweeping floors, printing tickets, folding papers and other tasks as a young child at the Roanoke Tribune.”

Like many teenagers in the early 80s, Shaw-Gill was full of talent, energy and potential. After graduating from William Fleming High in 1981, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend Bauder Fashion College where she majored in Fashion Design and Modeling. While there, she worked part-time at Macy’s Department Store, eventually working herself up to a store auditor.

In order to accomplish her goal of becoming a division auditor at Macy’s, she needed to earn a degree in accounting. It didn’t happen overnight, but in 1995, at age 29, Shaw-Gill graduated with a BS in Accounting from Norfolk State University.

Four years later, she gave birth to triplets – Kenneth, Klaudia and Kaitlyn.

Having confidence in yourself, she noted, is often the determining factor between coming up short and crossing the finish line.

Always willing to give back, among the local organizations Shaw-Gill is involved with are the Roanoke Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Fidelity Chapter #54 of the Order of Eastern Star and Sophisticated Sisters with Style Motorcycle Club (Triple S).

“With each organization, the main focus is taking care of the community, whether that’s fundraising for scholarships, making or donating blankets for the homeless, collecting and donating books to children, collecting toiletries or clothing for the battered women’s shelter,” says the former President of the Roanoke City Public School PTA.

Paramount to everything Shaw-Gill has been able to accomplish, both personally and professionally, has been her family. Perseverance is simply rooted in her DNA. In December 2014, she tied the knot for the second time, marrying her childhood friend Demare W. Gill, Sr.

What would Shaw-Gill say to her younger self if she could go back in time? Beaming with confidence, she responded, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, be willing to outwork any and everybody and listen to your heart.”

LaVerne Norman, 58

Vice President of Human Resources at ETS Recruit

There are a lot of similarities between longtime Roanoke resident LaVerne Norman and Pamela Cooper-White, the Dean Emerita of Psychology and Religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

Like Cooper-White, Norman had a normal childhood, overcame many life obstacles and has never regretted giving her life to Christ.

Norman knew at an early age that words without actions are just lip service. Her family instilled in her that while not always easy, doing the right thing is always worth it in the end.

“My mother had the greatest impact on my life. Watching how she handled the household left a lasting impression on me,” she says. “I grew up in northwest Roanoke, and remember being bussed to elementary school. That really opened my eyes. Experience has taught me that there is so much more that unites us than separates us.”

When Norman graduated from Patrick Henry High in 1983, she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to do with her life.

“Long before it became popular, my family regularly emphasized that a four-year college degree isn’t the only way to enjoy success in life,” she says. “They gave me grace as I figured things out. I took classes at Virginia Western, which led to me working at Allstate Insurance. From there, I was able to work my way up to bigger opportunities.”

For the better part of the past two decades, Norman has served as the vice president of human resources at ETS Recruit. “I absolutely love what I do. Part of my job is finding and placing doctors in different positions all across the country,” she says.

Norman’s story is not hers alone, something she would be the first to admit. It also belongs to her children, mentors, lifelong friends and additional loved ones.

In the words of Cooper-White, “The narcissistically wounded person believes at the preconscious level that worldly benefits should accrue, and rules should not apply, because he or she is special and deserving of special consideration and rewards.”

The story above is from our March/April 2024 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!