We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Betty Joyce ( Nickname, Bj) Chester-tamayo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Betty Joyce ( Nickname, BJ), so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I am Betty Joyce Chester-Tamayo,, the baby girl and only child of Alcenia and HS Chester.
Confidence & self esteem was instilled in me in my Mother’s womb.
My mother saying was “ you start raising a Child at Conception.”
I was born in Meridian, Miss in a time of Segregation.
Wow, how surreal.
This is the first time I have put this in an Article and really said it to myself.
I can remember going to Colored Only movie theaters , parks, back door to the segregated doctors office and in the hospital basement the only time I was in the hospital as a child.
However, let me tell you about My Mama and Daddy they showed me so much love, instilled in me I could achieve anything as long as I kept God first and I must always give back.
At the age of fifteen every first of the month I would pay the house hold bills for my parents.
My father told me, we have this two bedroom house but no one will come and take it from you because you will know all about our finances.
I know that was the start of my desire to become an Entrepreneur because my parents and ancestors believed in ownership .
Ownership, esteemed and confident was willed in my Spirit by my parents.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My dream was to own a Boutique. I loved Clothes as a teenager.
My Journey changed when I became an Adult I realized how important heritage and legacy were.
My mom ( Alcenia) was an amazing cook and I didn’t want that to die with her.recipes.African American are some of the greatest cooks in the World and majority of the time the recipes died with our ancestors.
I knew how her food bought so much love, happiness, and community togetherness.
I didn’t not want this to happen to the Legacy my Mama ( Mrs. Alcenia Clark-Chester) had created.
In 1988 when my only child Will A. (Go-Go)Tamayo III was 14 we took my first Jar of Peach Preserves to someone and asked “ What did I need to do to Manufacture my mama Preserves, but did not receive an answer or help.
Eight years later the worst day of my life occurred, August 3, 1996.
My heartbeat and only child Will A.Tamayo 111( Go-Go) was killed by a US Postal Truck at the age of 22.
Six days prior to that he told me he was expecting his first child.
My response to that was “haven’t I asked you not to have a child out of wedlock “. Go told me” Mom she was planned”.
When Will accident happen I completely shut down I couldn’t work or sleep.
It was like my Heart stop beating.
The Colors in my World will never be as bright again.
The one thing I knew after one year, not working I couldn’t go back to a 9-5.
How was I going to survive mentally and physically because I was just existing?
I thought about how my mama food made people happy.
I had the one thing I needed to survive and that was the Greatest Soul Food cook my mama, Mrs. Alcenia Clark- Chester.
I had graduated from College May 1996. But, I didn’t know how to run a business.
On November 7 1997 a little girl that never cooked growing up or worked in a restaurant opened Alcenia’s Desserts & Preserves Shop.
I wasn’t planning on cooking food, just serving Desserts & Preserves.
I was thinking this would be my first step to get them manufactured.
That changed on day one when Alcenia’s open.
The largest Convention was in Memphis and the people wanted food. Remember, I didn’t cook going up. What was I going to do?
The answer Mama . So mama trained me over the phone everyday until she came to Memphis. Remind you she didn’t measure so I had to figure out how much a sprinkler or dash was.
Mama continue training me until she left this World, December 29, 2019 at the young age of 98 years young.
Mama recipes are the only ones used Alcenia’s restaurant.
My Granddaughter is 9 months older than the restaurant. Her name is Alcenia Altovise Nia (Purpose) Tamayo both 27 years old now.
Alcenia name has so much meaning to me. She’s name after her
Great- Grandmother and Nia means Purpose. Why wasn’t her father her to greet her in the World?.
She think she is my boss.
Alcenia’s, Restaurant has the World Largest & Greatest family from all over the World.
Alcenia’s produce our own Products.
They are Unique because of my Mama recipes.
They are the Old Fashion Products, Alcenia’s Homemade Apple Butter
( I call it my Million Dollar Baby), Bread Pudding, Cha-Cha, Pickle Tomatoes, Go-Go Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Pie to name a few..
There are two Alcenia’s Cookbooks:
Alcenia’s Autobiography / Cookbook
Healing The Soul ( how I dealt with my Son death through cooking)
Soul 2 Soul
from Alcenia’s To The World
During COVID I created a YouTube cooking show called Alcenia’s Family with Southern Girl.
www.alcenias.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The Three qualities, skills or area of knowledge that has most impact my journey are my lessons learned from, my belief in God, my parents ( Alcenia & HS) and I love bringing Joy to others begin through Food and Financial.
In operating a Restaurant after 27 years there is still so much for me to learn.
Also, have as many good Mentors as you can in Person, Books or Social Media is important.
What ever their Journey is first, I can’t stress this enough keep God first, believe in You, Love what you are going to do, be kind and give back.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mother Mrs. Alcenia Clark-Chester has given me something that I never knew as a child would change my Life and Journey like this. Mama gave me her unconditional love and her delicious products.
All the Products I want to Manufacture is my Mother’s own recipes and the process she used to create them.
The World recognition is because of the confidence & self esteem my parents instilled in me, I can do anything with God.
Alcenia’s has been Featured All over the World from Television Shows, Local & National Newspapers, World Travel Guide & Magazines, Food Network, Today Show , Good Morning America, CBS, now Bold Journey
The US Civil Rights Trail Book, New York Times, & O Magazine to name some.
0ne of my Proudest moments was when I became the First African American Female to become an Owner & Landlord on my dad’s birthday December 2, 2020 in Downtown Memphis,.
All of my accomplishments is because of the mother, father ,God gave me.
Also, the Ancestors before them.
I am so blessed and at 70th years old I am still trying to decide what I was to be when I grow up.
I am so grateful, thankful and blessed for the parents God gave me.
I just want to make them, my son and granddaughter Alcenia and my bonus granddaughter Marlescia proud of me.
Alcenia & HS Chester ( baby girl)
Betty Joyce
Contact Info:
- Website: alceniascookbook0506@yahoo.com
- Instagram: B. j. Chester-Tamayo @ alceniascookbook0506
- Facebook: B.j. Chester-Tamayo , Alcenias
- Linkedin: BJ (Betty Joyce ) (Betty Joyce) Chester-Tamayo
- Youtube: Alcenia’s Family with Southern Girl
Image Credits
Betty Joyce (BJ) Chester-Tamayo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
