The story below is from our March/April 2022 issue. For more stories like it, Subscribe Today. Thank you!
Roanoke’s Vice Mayor didn’t envision a political future, but one fell into her lap. She has run hard with it since, using the lessons she’s learned in business and in life.
Brenda Hale, the voice of Black activism for more than a generation in Roanoke, was recently asked to evaluate Roanoke Vice Mayor Trish White-Boyd. She boiled down her assessment thusly:
T- Tough
R- Resilient
I - Independent
S - Sincere
H - Honest
She could have added “tenacious,” but that would have given her two Ts. Those traits dominate the conversation with those who know White-Boyd.
Says Mayor Sherman Lea: “Trish is compassionate, yet firm. She’s intelligent with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. I appreciate her boldness to stand solid on issues she believes are better for all citizens. That’s something that’s truly needed in today’s political arena: a person who is not intimidated. Last year she made the motion to move municipal elections in Roanoke to November. It was a controversial move, but she stood her ground. Shortly thereafter the General Assembly moved all elections to November.”
She has “stood her ground” on controversial and confrontational issues like restricting guns at council meetings, people’s right to protest, and publicly asking Councilman Robert Jeffrey (who was under indictment for embezzlement) to resign.
Behind that airplane landing light of a smile stands a tough, stubborn woman who fights. Adversity has not stopped — or even slowed — her, says the Mayor. “I gained so much respect for Trish given that in 2016 she was declared the winner in the city council election but later was advised that there was a miscount and she lost by 50 votes. For most people, that would have caused them to not become involved in politics again. However, Trish had the determination to seek a seat on Council because, as she described it to me, she wanted to make a difference in our community.”
Hale calls White-Boyd “an excellent role model for the youth in the community. She is married to an absolute phenomenal husband [Colbert Boyd] and they have raised successful children. She has set the bar high as a businesswoman and as a minority entrepreneur.”
City Manager Bob Cowell says White-Boyd “brings a tenaciousness [there’s that word] to the council that ensures progress on priorities continues and that good work keeps happening. [She also] brings the perspective of a small business owner and entrepreneur, helping the council keep in mind the impact of its decisions on those owning and operating businesses in our community.”
Former Vice Mayor and current council member Joe Cobb believes White-Boyd to be “a fantastic Vice Mayor. She is passionate about our city and works hard to keep citizens engaged in the process of making a difference in keeping our city healthy and vibrant. Her efforts in leading our Equity and Empowerment Advisory Board are keeping us focused on being the most diverse, equitable and inclusive city we can be.”
The Roanoke Vice Mayor is actually a native of Florida, born 59 years ago in the ultra-conservative Panhandle community of Chipley, which has 4,000 people now, about the same as when she was growing up. “It doesn’t change a lot there,” she says. Indeed, Chipley is as much an extension of South Alabama — less than 50 miles away — as it is a part of Florida, she says. The attitudes and hide-bound prejudices remain in place, but “I’m still close to a lot of my classmates” and she returns for occasional visits.
In high school, she not only excelled academically, but also as an athlete (track, basketball and cheerleading). She enjoyed studying foreign languages and had vocational training for half a day before moving on to Miami Dade Community College. She ultimately took her degree in business administration from Averett College’s (now University) satellite program at the Roanoke Higher Education Center.
She has been the founder/owner of Blue Ridge Senior Services for the past 16 years and before that she worked with the Virginia Division of Child Support Enforcement. She and Bert have been married for 28 years, combining previous families (her two boys, his five daughters). He is retired from the Department of Veterans Services and is a busy and respected community leader.
Bert says this about his wife: “Trish is anchored. I think she believes to serve is to be a servant of people and to a Higher Being [she is a member of the Pentecostal Church]. She serves our parents and children honorably. She’ll serve our country, state and neighborhoods as the need arises. She serves the love of her life and her passions by showing love first.”
She began her home-care business because “I always wanted to be in business, to dress up, carry a briefcase and wear power suits.” She laughs at the thought. In business, she says, “Everything falls on me. … Home care is not something I grew up wanting to do, but I did a market study [and found a need]. This is not glamorous, but it is much-needed and rewarding.”
Her own life skills, she says, “help me run the business.” Her late mother, one of her heroes, “helped me figure out how to get it done. We were partners.”
Business has educated her on her community, she insists. “In Southwest Virginia, there are a lot of people with very different views and values.” Race,” she says, “can be an issue, but I don’t let it. I know how to deal with it.” She works hard to avoid public controversy, but it occasionally follows her anyway.
The Roanoke Valley is “segregated to a certain degree and progress has been made. I’ve seen it since the 1980s. This is 2021 [when this interview was conducted] and I’m still seeing [racism and segregation]. But look at City Council as an example: five people of color, one gay councilman. … It’s a good council. We are facing some tough issues and it takes time and work with good colleagues.”
It also takes time and attention to run a successful business and, says White-Boyd, “Yesterday I spent 35 minutes on business and the rest of the day on council. I’m going to do it for three more years and I may not run again. My interest is in doing what I can” for Roanoke. That includes “breaking the cycle of poverty, economic growth, boosting small business and bringing to Roanoke larger businesses with good jobs.” She pauses. “Thank God for Carilion!”
After that? She and Bert will circle the globe, she hints. They love to travel and do a good bit of it. “He wants me to retire so I will go with him,” she says, chuckling.
And eventually, she will. But she has this council thing to do first.
Trish White-Boyd at a glance
Q: Who is your hero/heroine?
A: Barack Obama.
Q: What is your political goal? Your personal goal?
A: I would like to retire in 7-10 years as a personal goal and political. I’m hoping that I will be able to remain on Council long enough to make a significant impact on poverty, growth, in the business sector and in particular small businesses and find viable options for affordable housing.
Q: What event (outside your family) has provided you the most satisfaction in your adult life?
A: Being a delegate at the National Convention for President Obama in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Q: What event has been most traumatic for you?
A: The loss of my mother.
Q: What is your No. 1 priority as Roanoke’s Vice Mayor (or in any other post you may hold)?
A: My priority is to make the best decisions I can in hopes to have a positive impact in the city overall whether it’s education, jobs, public safety or affordable housing.
Q: What is your most effective character trait and why?
A: Tenacity – where there’s a will, there’s a way. That has been my motto for a long time. I can get mad.
The story above is from our March/April 2022. For more stories, subscribe today or view our FREE digital edition. Thank you for supporting local journalism!