When AnnaBelle Weakley built her empire in Utah, some people feared that she had become too powerful. But Weakley wasn’t going to let anything or anyone tear down her name or her people.
Hosting jazz legends like Duke Ellington and B.B. King, Weakley’s nightclub, Porters and Waiters, put Ogden, Utah on the map. She earned the nickname “Queen of 25th Street,” but nobody served her. Instead, she served her community.
Weakley’s first major setback was having to close Porters and Waiters in 1959, but she bounced right back by becoming a probation counselor, helping people combat alcoholism. But that was only a small part of her philanthropic virtues.
Weakley worked on improving the prison system, welfare projects, and the overall community of Ogden. Despite personal losses and professional disappointments, Weakley never lost her commitment to helping her people.
Weakley faced continuous obstacles when trying to improve her community, but she still made an impact. We can all do the same, no matter what obstacles stand in our way.