Her Memory Makes Me Brave

Karen Smith Finds Strength in the Legacy of Her Great-Grandmother, Born into Slavery

“My mother taught me as a child that I was my master’s property and that I must be good, honest, and believe in God’s word—because He would set me free.” — Mary Grant, born into slavery in 1857

March 25, 2025

Karen Smith, president of the YWCA Delaware Board of Directors, has carried these words with her throughout her life. Her great-grandmother, Mary Grant, lived through unimaginable hardship, yet she instilled in her family a sense of resilience, faith, and self-worth.

“I realize just how deeply her story has shaped not only my professional aspirations but also my sense of self,” Karen reflects. “Mary’s resilience, her unwavering determination, and her boundless love instilled in me a profound sense of empowerment, strength, and dignity.”

Mary Grant passed away in 1977 at the age of 119 in Scotia, South Carolina.

Born into slavery on a South Carolina plantation in 1857, Mary was told she would not survive long enough to see freedom. But one day, as she toiled from sunup to sundown on the Solomon plantation in Hampton County, a Union soldier approached her and spoke the words that changed her life: “[N-word], you are free.”

Yet freedom did not come with security. “After emancipation, my great-grandmother and her family had to focus on survival,” Karen explains. “They remained on the plantation, working for just 30 cents a day.” Over time, through hard work and perseverance, Mary and her family saved enough money to purchase farmland of their own—never again to be at the mercy of another. They became successful farmers, determined to build a future on their own terms.

Lessons That Span Generations

One of the most enduring lessons Mary passed down to her descendants was simple but powerful: Never let anyone make you feel less than you are.

Karen leaned on these words during a pivotal moment in her son’s life. During an interview for a prestigious high school program, an administrator began scrutinizing and questioning his credentials in a way that felt unnecessary. Karen turned to her son, interrupting the interview. “Do not let anyone make you feel less than who you are,” she told him, refusing to let another person’s judgment define his worth.

Each summer, Karen and her extended family gathered in South Carolina to honor Mary, sitting at her feet to hear her stories. Mary, who had ten children of her own, also opened her home to six more. By the time of her passing, she had over 100 grandchildren, over 200 great-grandchildren, and countless great-great-grandchildren.

“There were so many of us,” Karen recalls, “but we each had our moment with her. My great-grandmother’s love knew no bounds.”

A Legacy of Faith and Strength

Karen attributes Mary’s resilience—and her refusal to be consumed by hate or bitterness—to her deep faith in God.

“My great-grandmother was always looking forward,” Karen says. “She told us never to let anyone stop us.”

Whenever Karen faces challenges, she turns to Mary’s example. “How can I complain about my problems when my great-grandmother triumphed over slavery?” she asks. “Her memory and empowering story make me brave.”