Zora Neale Hurston Performance

When Strength and Grace Carried Me Through

We are not alone. Strength arrived when exhaustion said, “Sit down.” Grace whispered, “Stand up.” The show had to go on, and it did.

There was a set to build, a book table to decorate and prepare, and a story waiting to be told. Since December, the flu virus had left my body drained. Being tired or afraid of being tired had not been an option. The Tuesday before the Friday night Zora Neale Hurston performance, I finally surrendered and accepted medical help in the form of prednisone. I was deeply grateful for that support as I prepared to restore and rebalance from taking this steroid.

Even while sick, my mind kept moving, designing social media posts, imagining the book table, creating bookmarks and business cards. I was thankful beyond measure for my graphic designer Ivy, and for Xerographic Copy Center and Renaissance Printing, who made sure every printed piece was ready on time. When my strength ran low, community carried the load.

The backdrop images were breathtaking: dusty Eatonville roads, Joe Clark’s General Store porch, and the quiet cemetery where Alice Walker found Zora Neale Hurston’s grave. The images didn’t just frame the story, they held it with tenderness and power.

Because I had been ill, Friday night was the first time I ran the full script, songs, and costume changes in real time. I sang while changing costumes. I became the next character backstage while still singing. There had been no full rehearsal, only faith.

Pamela D Marshall as zora neale hurston. A performance.

Interruptions in My Zora Neale Hurston Performance

As my husband Scott read my introduction, I suddenly knew I needed a scarf on my head, something Lucy Ann Potts would have worn. With seconds to spare, I took the apron from Lucy Ann’s costume, tied it around my head, and tucked the ends just as Scott announced: “Help me welcome Pamela Marshall-Koons’ transformative Zora Neale Hurston performance of The Zora Neale Hurston Story: Passion Dey Couldn’t Steal.”

And in that moment, uncertainty turned into light. I can testify that the Holy Spirit shines brightest when we step forward afraid. The show must go on, not just on stage, but in life.

It was an honor beyond words to give voice to Lucy Ann Potts, Alice Walker, and Zora Neale Hurston, women who carried truth, memory, and legacy. My husband Scott stood beside me every step of the way, setting up the set and serving as announcer. Family and friends prayed. Three sisters from our weekday Prayer Call sat in the audience. Some who planned to travel could not come because of winter storms and health challenges, but I felt their fervent prayers.

And now, the next chapter has begun. We chose to donate a portion of the proceeds from the performances and book sales to help renovate and reopen Zora Neale Hurston’s last home in Fort Pierce, Florida. This was more than a show. It was a mission. A memory. A movement. And this was only the beginning.

Stay with me. The road ahead is opening.

The Practice of Acceptance

Acceptance is not giving up. It is giving over, releasing the struggle with what is, so your energy can return to where it belongs. Notice where your body has been holding tension. Breathe into that place without trying to change it. Whisper to yourself: This moment is allowed.

Acceptance does not mean the journey ends here. It means you stop fighting the ground beneath your feet and let it hold you while you rise. Practice gently. Acceptance is strength resting in trust and truth, truth that you are, because of the I Am.

Thank you for reading, remembering, and helping keep her legacy alive.

Ready to reflect on your own moments of resilience? Share your story in the comments below.

If this message stirs something deep within you, I welcome you to dive into the Go Thru It movement. No matter if it's inherited trauma, systemic injustice, reclaiming your identity, or the heavy burden of ancestral stories left unspoken, there is a sacred path thru it all. And waiting on the other side?

True resilience. Deep peace. Profound healing. Lasting freedom.

Uncover resources to guide your own journey toward peace:

• Dive into my latest Zora inspired book, When Zora Spoke, I Remembered My Name.

• Become part of the Go Thru It community for uplifting stories of resilience and ongoing inspiration. Sign up here.

• Schedule a speaking engagement or transformative workshop for your group or organization.

Remember, you're not walking this path alone. Let's go thru it together, forgiveness awaits, and peace is your birthright.