Her Mother’s Intuition Proved Right - The New York Times

Some mothers are met with large consternation erstwhile they connection observations astir their daughters’ idiosyncratic lives. Not truthful for Rhonda Powell.

Mrs. Powell of Charlotte, N.C. has what her daughter, Dr. Jenay Alexis Powell, calls “cheerleader energy.” When the 2 women met Marque Delvon Macon successful August 2018, “everything with her went each the mode to the max,” Dr. Powell said, referring to her mother’s enthusiasm.

Mother and girl were introduced to Mr. Macon successful Charlotte, astatine a enactment hosted by Mr. Macon’s fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. Dr. Powell and Mrs. Powell are members of Alpha Kappa Alpha, a sister sorority. Mr. Macon, present 34, grew up successful Gadsden, S.C., but lived successful Charlotte astatine the time. Dr. Powell, 31, grew up successful Charlotte, and was location from aesculapian schoolhouse astatine the University of North Carolina astatine Chapel Hill for a friend’s wedding.

When a household person asked Dr. Powell if determination was anyone she would similar to conscionable astatine the event, her effect lacked her mother’s zeal: “‘You know, I’m truly not present for that,’” she said.

The person sent Mr. Macon implicit anyway. He was arsenic charmed by Dr. Powell arsenic Mrs. Powell was with him. After securing Dr. Powell’s telephone number, Mr. Macon, a vice president and head astatine Inova Health System successful Falls Church, Va., texted the adjacent time to inquire her for a date.

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It took Dr. Powell a fewer weeks to instrumentality to Charlotte for the meal she said yes to astatine Cajun Queen, a section restaurant. But by the extremity of their Sept. 9 meet-up, she was impressed by his dedication to idiosyncratic maturation — spiritually, interpersonally and physically. She besides liked that helium seemed “adaptable and open-minded successful each situation.” She was acceptable to accidental yes to a 2nd date.

Still, she added, “my biggest takeaway was, man, we are some truly busy, some precise overmuch moving connected being movers and shakers.”

Until 2020, reaching the committedness signifier was dilatory going. But her feelings deepened successful the summertime of 2019, erstwhile she was admitted to Duke University Hospital for spinal fusion surgery. Mr. Macon sat with Mrs. Powell successful the infirmary waiting country passim the procedure. “I learned each astir Jenay from her mom’s perspective, however she ever makes definite she’s determination for different people,” helium said. “It was impressive.”

Dr. Powell is 1 of the founders of the White Coats, Black Doctors Foundation, which aims to beforehand amended diverseness successful the aesculapian profession. She presently serves arsenic the enforcement director.

Dr. Powell knew by the commencement of the pandemic that erstwhile Mr. Macon was acceptable to commit, she would be, too.

When she learned successful the outpouring of 2021 that she could implicit her aesculapian grooming astatine the University of Tennessee Health Science Center successful Memphis, wherever she is present a nonmigratory successful interior medicine, Mr. Macon arranged a getaway to Cancun, Mexico “to observe her accomplishment.” On June 5, helium bent connected 1 genu and asked her to wed him.

Their New Year’s Eve wedding for 230 vaccinated guests astatine the Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, was officiated by her puerility pastor, Silvester Scott Beaman, present a bishop with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and based successful South Africa; he gave the benediction astatine President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration. “I emotion his voice,” Dr. Powell said. “Having him determination was truthful moving.”

Dr. Powell’s father, Dr. John Anderson Powell, Jr., died of synovial sarcoma, a benignant of cancer, successful 2012. Mr. Macon’s stepfather, Lawrence Maurice Lindsay, died successful 2019 aft suffering respective strokes. The mates reserved seats for some men astatine the ceremony; Mr. Macon’s mother, Tammy Macon Lindsay, sat beside the 1 reserved for her precocious husband.

As the mates jumped a broom astatine the extremity of the ceremony, they were leaping into a beingness Mrs. Powell had possibly envisioned years ago, astatine the Alpha Phi Alpha party.

As Dr. Powell said: “I deliberation she knew we were going to get joined that day.”