Beverly Barnett is a registered nurse and men's health advocate. She has dedicated her life and career to healthcare after developing a passion for Nursing as a young girl receiving treatment at a segregated clinic in her hometown. She drew inspiration from the compassionate nurses who cared for her during this difficult time.
Beverly shared her personal caregiving journey of caring for her husband after he was diagnosed with late-stage colorectal Cancer. Despite being a nurse, she struggled with feelings of anger that he had ignored symptoms for so long before seeking treatment. She cared for him at home for the three years he battled the disease, which took an emotional toll. After his passing, Barnett was inspired to help educate others, especially black men, about the importance of early detection and regular doctor visits.
Through her nursing experience and family health challenges, Barnett has gained valuable perspectives that she utilizes in her mission to promote proactive healthcare. She continues advocating for men's health issues while also caring for her Aging father with dementia. Barnett's story illustrates the lifelong impact of caregiving and how personal experiences can shape one's career and drive to help others.
About Beverly:
For Beverly Barnett, nursing is more than a job—it’s her calling. Inspired by a childhood illness, she pursued practical nursing right after high school and earned a bachelor’s degree within four years. Her dedication led her to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing, allowing her to teach and shape future nurses.
Beverly’s passion extends to men’s wellness, particularly the health of Black men, influenced by her husband’s battle with cancer. She believes chronic illnesses rob families of priceless moments and advocates for men to lead by example in health practices.
Beverly recommends four steps to promote proactive health among Black men: understand your family’s medical history, commit to annual check-ups, share your family’s health history with your doctor, and track health metrics. These steps aim to shift from reactive to proactive health management, fostering a healthier life journey.
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Known since childhood as “The Elliott Girls” or simply, “The Girls”, it makes sense that we work together to support our mother, and each other. Our trio begins with Jenefer Jane “JJ” who was and always will be “in charge”. She’s the peacekeeper. The responsible one, ensuring Natalie and Emilie remain alive. Next is Natalie, the middle child, who was and always will be Miss Congeniality. She’s the athlete. The rebel responsible for three babysitters exiting the summer of ’84. Then there is Emilie, the youngest, who was and always will be “the baby”. At 6’1”, she is the sensitive and quiet soul. The one responsible for the guinea pig that begged for lettuce and the stray dog we adopted from the bus stop.
After high school we went separate ways, from New Mexico to North Carolina. JJ would go on to get her Master’s in Business Administration and work in the finance world before partnering with her now husband, Dexter, to run a variety of businesses. Natalie would go on to get her Master’s in Social Work degree, and work in the mental health field, advocating for children and families to receive the most appropriate services. Natalie would marry and divorce early on but later marry Jason. Emilie would exit college early to marry and gift us with Owen and twins, Maxx and Natalie Jane aka “The Kids”. Emilie would later divorce and work with county government, focusing much time on caring for the kids.
The source of the sisterhood falls to Jim aka “Big Jim” and Connie, small town high school sweethearts married for almost 40 years.
In 2005, at the age of 52, mom would be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She hid the disease for years behind dad’s 6’2” frame. The tremors and sudden inability to move were both calmed and steadied by his arm and simple presence. He was her rock. Our rock. Close family and friends knew of her chronic illness, but to the rest of the world, everything was “fine”. Life would turn upside down when our dad unexpectedly passed in 2011 of a massive heart attack at the age of 58. The assumption was Dad would always be mom’s caregiver but that wasn’t God’s plan.
Mom would spend the years following our father’s death desperately seeking a cure for Parkinson’s while trying to manage her symptoms. As the years went by, the cruel symptoms associated with the disease increased, negatively impacting her body while her mind remained clear and in tune. We lived our lives checking in to make sure she was “okay” but knowing the day would come when we had to do more. And then it did. The summer of 2019 changed everything. That’s where the real caregiver story begins for us. Little did we know she would be only the beginning of our caregiving journey.
In March 2022, Natalie’s husband, Jason, was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. From the first time Jason detected something off about the swollen lymph nodes in his neck, to the formal diagnosis, and the decision to move to New York City to participate in a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the journey would push them to their limits. The silver lining of his diagnosis was the cancer brought them closer to God, restoring their faith in Him while also experiencing a myriad of blessings through the kindness of family, friends, and strangers. Their story is a testimony that will inspire and offer hope.
