Our 2023 10th Anniversary Mama Said, Mama Said Cast

Jody Grizzel-West leads an incredibly full life. Between being a published author, public speaker, Mary Kay Sales Director, owning a property renovation company and a non-profit organization, she keeps it moving. She is a mother of two incredible teenagers, as well as the late Amazing Gracie. She also has an entrepreneur husband that travels. 

Jody knows what working families go through with a special needs child. She had the freedom and flexibility to never leave Gracie’s side. She realized not all families have the same ability. With Gracie’s passing, Jody took the energy and love spent on Gracie to support and serve other families through her non-profit, Amazing Gracie's Legacy. Jody wanted to continue Gracie’s impact to encourage and support others to live life with grace, the tagline of the organization. 

Her book, Miracles of Grace, details her experience of choosing to see her daughter’s short life through the lens of a miracle.

Shaquan Grove can be best described as an extreme extrovert and ultimate conversationalist

who can make a long story worth listening to. Since losing the instruction booklet to marriage

and motherhood, she has somehow mastered the art of “winging it” and is still deeply adored by

her husband, Reggie, two sons, Mason and Anderson, and Goldendoodle, Tucker.

Established in 2013, she is owner of PRT Coaching Services--a life, relationship, and leadership

expert firm with a primary focus on self-awareness strategies and mindset tools. Services

include certified coaching, leadership awareness programs, and professional speaking for

individuals, groups, and organizations. Shaquan is a Certified Life & Relationship Coach,

member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and spirit-lead philanthropist at heart.

Best known as Coach Shaquan, she studies how people communicate, connect, and show up in

personal and professional relationships. Partnering with her witty wisdom, relatable approach,

and pure brilliance, she created a transformational coaching process called Check Your BS®

designed to target your unhealthy thought-action patterns.

Shaquan can be described as a memorable experience who loves to laugh, cook, and spend

quality time with family and friends. She believes Grease 2 is better than the original and when

in doubt, she can easily be bribed with gourmet popcorn, bourbon or red wine!

Darcy Smith is a unique individual.  Different. She lives her life colorfully and fully.  Her focus is on experiencing joy without embarrassment. She embraces the colors and commentaries resulting from her lifestyle.  Her family, friends, love, and her pooches are her lifeblood.  Darcy’s paintings bring her quiet contemplation when needed, and, well, help pay the bills.

You may find her art on facebook “Studio Impressions”.

Samiya Issa has lived in St. Louis since November 2021, after living in an Iraqi refugee camp for 8 years.  She and her husband Muhsen are from Syria, but had to flee their beloved home during the Syrian Civil War.  She works non-stop being the most loving mother of 4 - three daughters, and her son Milad, who was born at BJC on August 7, 2022.  In her free time (that is a joke), she is learning English, very close to getting her driver's license, and is such a wonderful baker - that she gives Miss Hullings a run for her money when it comes to her 7 layer chocolate cake.  (Just ask her ESL tutor (Co-Producer Laura Ray) about the 4 lbs. she's gained since they first met.)

  Hannah Mayer is a freelance writer - comedic, ghost, PR and otherwise. She has won several national writing awards and her work has been featured in: The Huffington Post, Forbes, Country Living, Pop Sugar, Scary Mommy and several ransom notes. She has three daughters aged 11, 12 and 13 and discovered that mainlining Lexapro delivers the fastest and most effective relief.  

She is honored to be a part of this event for the third time and like most hobbit-like writers, super comfortable speaking in front of large crowds - especially when it's recorded and broadcast on TV. Loves the way her voice sounds, her excessive use of random filler words and most of all the thrill of teetering on the verge of a massive heart attack for a potentially life-altering amount of time. 

Aaron Murray is a passionate husband, father, and occupational therapist. He is adored by his 2 young sons Ian and Eli. His dedicated wife Tamieca, of 13 years, has to tolerate a lot of boy shenanigans, but does so with grace. He currently is a Lead Adaptive Exercise Specialist at the Stephen A. Orthwein Center of Paraquad.  Working with individuals with disabilities, he helps them perform a variety of exercises and pushes them to improve overall function for a better quality of life.  Having survived  multiple gunshot wounds in 2012 and living as a paraplegic allows him to connect with his clients on a much deeper level than more therapists. He is an accomplished adaptive CrossFit athlete, having competed in the finals at Wodapalooza, an international CrossFit competition.  Aaron is always willing to try something new just to gain life experience and add that extra "Je ne sais quoi" that life has to offer. 

 I am the mother of two children: Bridget Mary, who was

diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and died in her sleep at

the age of 17 from an enlarged heart; and Matthew, a

professional jazz drummer living in Cincinnati.

I am also an artist and retired art teacher. I have worked in

many media in both painting and drawing and have been

fascinated in recent years with painting on silk with dye.

The subject that continually captivates me is Nature. My

artwork has been exhibited nationally and I have been

awarded best of show awards in watercolor, silk painting

and drawing.

In my art studio “Artistannie”, I sell art, cards and hand

painted silk scarves. (artistannie.com)

I am musician and singer/ songwriter who has also worked

for Young Audiences and the Sheldon Concert Hall

performing educational shows for school children, both at

the Sheldon and throughout schools in the St. Louis

community. I have been writing original songs for some of

these shows.

I have recently written, designed and published a book about

my late daughter with Asperger’s “Bridget the Most

Beautiful Star in the Sky”. Bridget was a fabulous artist and

writer and I am most proud of this book showcasing her

talent.

Website: artistannie.com

Instagram: artistanniestl

Facebook: Annie Scheumbauer

Rosalynde Turner Mathews - Scott taught Creative Writing for 15 years of her  thirty-four-year career with the St. Louis Public Schools. She worked as a Writing Teacher Consultant for the Gateway Writing Project at University of Missouri-St. Louis and served as a Co-director of the Urban Sites’ Action/Research Project for the National Writing Project. Additionally, she writes and recites poetry and pens plays. Her play, “1875 – A  St. Louis Horse-Drawn Streetcar Boycott -Based on a true story of Captain Tandy” has been performed at the Missouri Historical Museum, the Heritage House and presented by The Shared Vision Group, LLP. Currently, she is an active member of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church. She says her most precious gifts from God are her children, Harriette and William, grandchildren and great grandchildren.