STEEL MAGNOLIA.  (chiefly Southern US) A woman who exemplifies both traditional femininity as well as an uncommon fortitude.  IT PERSONIFIES AMY WILLIAMS:   THE GRACE TO HUMBLE HERSELF IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS, THE IRON WILL TO CONFRONT EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES.  IT’S A DESCRIPTION BORNE OUT IN HER ROLES AS WIFE, MOTHER, FRIEND, BUSINESS WOMAN.

BARELY TWENTY, AMY MANAGED A DENTAL PRACTICE IN MOBILE, ALABAMA, A DELICATE BALANCE OF CARING FOR, EMPATHIZING WITH PATIENTS, WHILE MAKING SURE THE BILLS GOT PAID.  AFTER SHE AND LANCE MARRIED AMY SO IMPRESSED THE JEWELERS WHO SOLD LANCE AMY’S ENGAGEMENT RING, THEY WOOED HER INTO RETAIL.

MOVING TO TAMPA AS LANCE TOOK A JOB WITH WLFA-TV, AMY CONTINUED HER RETAIL WORK, BECOMING THE BUYER FOR THE GIFTWARE DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH TAMPA’S ICONIC MAGNON’S JEWELERS.  IT WAS THE DIFFICULT CLIENTS SHE RELISHED THE MOST:  CHALLENGING HERSELF TO HEAR THEM, EDUCATE THEM, AND CREATE A RELATIONSHIP THAT SERVED EVERYONE’S NEEDS.

AS AMY TRANSITIONED TO MOM, SHE TOOK ON THE DAUNTING TASK OF HOME-SCHOOLING PALMER AND OLIVIA; MAKING HOME GROUND ZERO FOR LAUGHING, CRYING, PLAYING, PRAYING;  TURNING “HOUSE” FROM BRICK AND MORTAR TO A HAVEN FOR LIVING AND ENTERTAINING.

AND NO ONE ENTERTAINS BETTER THAN AMY:  SHE HAS MADE OUR HOME A CENTER OF GENEROSITY AND HOSPITALITY.

SO, WHAT BETTER ROLE FOR HER TO PLAY AT THIS POINT IN LIFE:  AN EXCEPTIONAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL WHOSE PRIORITIES ARE UNDERSTANDING THE CLIENT, THEIR NEEDS, AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER WITH HOUSES THEY AND THEIR FAMILY CAN CALL HOME.

THE COUPLE WHO INITIALLY SET AMY AND ME UP ON A BLIND DATE WAY BACK IN MOBILE, COULDN’T WAIT TO ASK ME WHAT I THOUGHT OF HER.  IN THE MOST UNROMANTIC, BUT GENUINELY CANDID STATEMENT, I SAID, “WELL, SHE’S A REMARKABLE WOMAN.”  

35 YEARS LATER AND THAT STATEMENT STILL APPLIES TO EVERYTHING SHE DOES.