I first met Cissy Lacks about 10 years ago. I was cutting hair at a particularly busy hair salon in Clayton. After many years at this salon, I grew accustom to meeting unusual people with various backgrounds and shared conversations on assorted topics, but after 5 or 6 visits with Cissy, it became clear that she was no ordinary customer.
Perhaps from the attempt to fill my own life with unlimited interests and learning, I swiftly developed an affinity and admiration for her boundless energy, accomplishments and historical wonderment.
She has been an inspiration and a reminder that life has enormous possibilities and to live without acting on an insatiable desire for expression is a terrible tragedy.

-Lyla Turner