Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Thornton.

Hi Renee, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

RENEE
THORNTON
Active Retiree and a Committed Community Worker. Throughout my life’s journey, I have been given a vast number of opportunities, chances, moments, memories, mistakes, rewards, forgiveness, and do-overs. God has afforded me to reflect on the ability of fulfilling my lifelong purpose of making possible connections and resources to help meet the needs and concerns of people in our community, in our country and throughout our world. All have afforded me the time and freedom to work with a wide range of groups of people and personalities bringing patience to complete amazing results. I am not trying to reach anywhere in my career. This is my story.

My Future-Rich-Platform has been developed through a life of constant challenge of choices and firm commitments. Due to two men that are most influential in my life, my father and older brother, I realize the importance of commitment. It is through their selfless dedication, and the personal fulfillment they derive from assisting others that I can too pass on to my children, who keep me spiritually entrenched in God’s Richest Blessings.

Helping individuals has been a major motivating force in my life. I have been involved in a variety of activities that reflect my desire to be of assistance to others. Through work as Chair of The Housing and Human Relations Commission – Village of Matteson, Certified Boy Scout Leader, volunteer shopper for people with disabilities, American Cancer Society, President of the American College of Health Professions, member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and member of the Young Executives in Politics. Presently, craft instructor at Rich Township Senior Service Center, which was recently awarded the top senior services center in the state of Illinois, for two consecutive years. I have personally participated in programs and events that directly and constructively impact individuals, as well as community groups of all ages. Participation in these activities has sharpened my skills in leadership, team effort, public speaking and safety, current technology, and has allowed me the opportunity to become an organized and disciplined worker.

My education, skill and experience has given me more chances to engage in strong commitment while building bridges to help countless people. It is evident that by my work as an employee for local and state government, and the Education System reflects my strong desire and willingness to help others. Being a Health Administrator and Counselor has allowed me to assist individuals eliminate barriers and become productive and independent citizens in our community.

My story does not end here. This is only the beginning, a snippet, of a small town Ohio girl, raised by my father to become a self-sustaining woman. My past time for the last several years has been a social media influencer “Ms Renee the Barber” bringing videos views of over 5 million on (how to shop for garbage bags), over 350 thousand views on (how to make a chopped sub sandwich), over 50, thousand views on (how to clean your bathtub with an extended long handled sponge) and more… Just enjoying the fruits of life. drrneethornton@yahoo.com

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

My life has been far from a smooth road! Every now and then my Pastor will ask me to share my testimony, maybe this is the time. I look nothing like what I’ve been through. Yet, this path has helped me to become the person I am and love her, today.

Early in life I lost my mother due mental illness which later ended in a successful suicide attempt. At the tender age of six, unbeknown to me the obstacles and challenges I would face without her motherly guidance, had already began. My father raised me and my older brother during a time when it was not fashionable for single men to raise their children. I love and respect my father, he was a good provider, teacher and supporter. He instilled, in me, many life lessons, encouragement of goals and self-respect all which I followed through to this day based on his words and actions. My father did not have a college education nor a high school diploma, but he planned and guided both my brother and I to become college educated. My father transitioned years before I received my Doctorate.

As I got older and developed into a young woman, I never had the vision of being married or even who my husband would be. My father in pursuit of finding a wife to be a mother for both me and my brother, after my mom’s death, lead him into four difficult marriages. I experienced every marriage along with him. When I went away to college a young man asked me to marry him and presented me with a ring, I said “yes”. The night he gave me the ring was the very night he began pledging a fraternity. He became very popular on campus and forgot who the “HELL” I was! From that moment marriage was not part of my vision. My vision was to get my education, own a home, and raise children by myself. I dated through the years which lead absolutely nowhere. My goal was to do something I had not fully experienced. To provide the covering as a mother with or without a husband.

When I reached the age of twenty-four my father passed away leaving me to navigate through life without parental love and guidance. I held on to God’s unchanging hand, not always doing the right thing. I dropped out of school, I moved from Ohio to Illinois. I finished my education not before having children and becoming a single mom. Once I had children and still in college pursuing an education, I built a house. I wanted my children to grow up in a house just like my father provided for me.

I had my children at a late age, I was 39 and 40 years old. I remember sitting in church on a beautiful Sunday morning and for the very first time I caught the Holy Spirit. I didn’t shout but I just cried for all that God had done for me. Despite the fact my child support stopped abruptly. I had my wonderful children, a brand-new beautiful home, my dream car, which was fully loaded, and all of my finances were in line. I did not have late payments, slow payments nor delayed payments. I was educated; I had two Master’s Degrees. My children were about 11 and 12 years old at the time, they were bright, smart and respectful. We all had good health including beautiful teeth for a beautiful smile. When I left church that day full from the sermon titled “Thank You” I had no idea that in less than four months my life would begin to unravel.

It was a slow spiral down……to nothing at all. I went from a high paying job to I can’t find a job at the age of 52. When I lost my home for failure to pay mortgage and homeowners association fees my oldest was in college. Depression began to creep in. I had little to no support from what I thought were friends and family. Infact, I was recently reminded of the time during my life’s unraveling of when my dream car was being repossessed.

While attending Barber College my car was repossessed. That Saturday morning, embarrassed in front of the barber school’s owner, fellow students and everyone near and in the strip mall my car was being repossessed for lack of payment. With a fellow barber trainee, we both ran to get my car. I jumped onto the back of the repo truck, opened my car door, started it up, put it in reverse, and drove it of the back of the repo truck. The car was damaged and in pieces (just like me) however I was able to drive it home and parked my Volvo in my garage for the next four years until I was evicted. From that day on my children and I walked everywhere. Just like my car, I felt damaged, broken, hidden, useless and unable to be repaired. It was cold, like a hunk of metal during a cold winter night. I prayed everyday and every night asking God to hear my prayers!

It was two years, after my eviction, before I began to see some symbol of light. During those two years, both my children where thankfully in college and doing well. All my belongs where placed in a public storage facility. It seemed as though I moved every other month, from hotels, to different individuals’ homes, homeless shelter, neighborhood park or sleeping in my car. My living room was the neighborhood community park in an affluent community. The park had a picnic table, electrical outlets, and a clean bathroom.

During the two years of homelessness, I became a licensed barber and began working in a barbershop. Remind you, I had a Doctorate Degree, but people called me Ms Renee and I was feeling so low I never corrected them. One day at the barbershop I was introduced to Facebook Live now Meta. I was at the barbershop, as a barber, but my clientele was little or few. So after the shop closed and all the barbers were gone, I would go Live. I had no other place to go, where was I in a rush to go? Facebook Live was new! It had launched in August 2016 and I started my Live show on December 06, 2016. My friends on Facebook grew exponentially overnight. I felt something and it felt good! It was my therapy because I could be and say anything I wanted to say and do without interruption. My followers were loyal, faithful and we had fun! I would buy and wear cheap make up, cheap jewelry and wigs. I started wearing wigs and I changed wigs every day, I had about 70 wigs! (I recently gave them to the American Cancer Society). People were tuning into me from everywhere even as far as Great Brittan, others on their lunch hours with friends and co-workers tuning in just to see what I was wearing. It was unbelievable! They would ask me to pray for them and remind me of who they were and how we met 40 years ago. All along no one knew that I was homeless and hurting deep, deep, deep inside. After about eight months on facebook Live it got to the point I had nowhere to take a shower therefore I didn’t feel comfortable barbering. Meaning reaching over someone’s nose. I left the barbershop and I moved to the neighborhood park. Eventually I stopped because the park closed at dusk and the season was changing.

Shortly after, I found a place to live and become stabilized. God continue to cover me with good health, and I began working four low paying jobs. Some nights I didn’t sleep. Four jobs and still barely enough money for food. I got caught up in the advanced pay check system which seemed like it would never end. I kept saying to myself “Lord I have my health, Thank You”. When I found my place and removed my belongs from public storage all my items were destroyed due to mouse infestation. And my new place of residence was mouse infested too, but it was home. My kids didn’t want to come home from college and visit me because of the living conditions, the neighborhood they just weren’t used to this lifestyle.

I began missing my therapy, aka, social media content creator. I started a YouTube channel during August 2019, right before Covid. During Covid I became monetized. I intended to barber on YouTube however after seeing how I looked on my first video, I quickly changed to “healthy living with ms renee the barber” and began my weight loss journey. It was at this time my financial situation began to change.

I started seeing signs of prosperity. First my bank account did not consistently reflect over drawn status. Then I noticed, I wasn’t borrowing money from people. That Volvo, I finally let it go and bought another car. Not only did I purchase a car, it was ordered to my specifications, bad credit and all. I was able to carry car insurance and renters’ insurance. People began coming to me asking me for money. When I say people, I mean everyone but my children! My children graduated from college with Masters Degrees, they have become successful and independent citizens, giving back to our community. Everything I wanted to give them when they were younger through my hardship and couldn’t, they are reaping. With passports in hand we travel. My children remind me when I’m sad about my failed accomplishment that they are my accomplishments, and I never gave up on them. Motherhood, fully experienced!

I am now retired and enjoying life. Recently, I built a half of a million-dollar home. I am Thankful and grateful God is restoring me and my family with prosperity and good health. This story does not end here, this is only the beginning. Marriage……….. I may have my eye on someone.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I am a digital creator on YouTube five years and Facebook/Meta seven years

I love cooking. On YouTube I show my creations old, new and trending. Quick to complicated recipes, if I can make, you can too. I’ve learned cooking for my family and want to share my tips. I find cooking to be creative just like barbering. So I guess you might say I am cutting up in the kitchen. If you like my recipe(s), please take a peek at more of my videos.

Through YouTube, I have had the opportunity to meet and develop friendship with some great folks as well as YouTubers outside the realm of cooking, for example Crafters. My love for crafting has grown. I am a craft instructor; you can find me on Facebook. My Facebook page for crafting is Renee’s Craft Corner. I also have a website link: Craftstinger.com where you can purchase my products and view my tutorials. Otherswise for more than crafting check me out on FaceBook Renee Thornton

Enjoy! I read all comments. Like, share, and subscribe. See you next video. Have a wonderful day and Thank you for your support. For more content you can find me at the following locations:

https://facebook.com/renee.thornton.79
https://twitter.com/ReneeHealthy Healthy Living by Renee @ReneeHealthy

@msreneethebarber

https://www.instagram.com/msreneethebarber/

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Craftstinger.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msreneethebarber/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/renee.thornton.79
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@msreneethebarber