Looking to get inspired from experience of the elders, Doris Brown Kimbrough does just that in her memoirs that she has co-authored with Nikki Gillis titled, I am Allergic to Gray Hair. This beautiful Winston-Salem woman and Forsythe County native takes us on a journey of her life and teaches lessons on many topics relevant to today.
With Winston Salem being the fifth most popular city in the state of North Carolina, it only takes a quick stroll through the town to understand why. Being a city rich in history and diverse in culture makes its’ residents proud to call it home. This is especially the case for one woman who’s had a seat front and center watching two sides of town, one Winston, and the other Salem merge to form what is prominently known today as Winston Salem, NC. This special lady is Ms. Doris Brown Kimbrough, a 95-year-old long time native of the city.
Doris recalls the city being the foundation of a few brick and mortar businesses such as Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and RJ Reynolds Tobacco serving the community and providing jobs for residents as early as the 1930’s. With such growth brewing for this city, it presented challenges such as job security, racism, stability and education that as a community all must do their part to learn to collectively overcome. In her latest memoir Doris describes her love/hate relationship with gray hair and the funny stories and lessons it’s taught her over the decades. She speaks of the value in growing up during a time when neighbors were like family, you rarely met a stranger and the less you had the more you appreciated it. Doris made her mind up early to be an advocate of education and to serve her community to the best of her ability. She’s proud to still be here today and watch her family and the city of Winston Salem march into success in their own ways.
Today Doris can be found promoting her debut book, spending time with her family, and still displaying a mentality of servitude. She strongly believes in giving back and can be counted present at various events within the community supporting others. Ms. Kimbrough’s book can be purchased online at Innergchic.com and at a bookstore near you.