“God gives you gifts in life. You get to practice using your gifts throughout different stages, with different people, different circumstances and at difference times, preparing you for what you are truly supposed to do,” reflects Lori Newcomb. “When I was younger, I was so passionate about being a great mom and making the best of my path in life. Now I’m on a new journey.”
Newcomb is beautiful, elegant and smart. She exudes warmth and grace, and her genuine care for others is refreshingly contagious. Newcomb grew up on the Ross Barnett Reservoir outside of Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from Northwest Ranking High School, she left for the University of Mississippi. While studying Public Administration and Economics, she often found herself relaxing at her favorite haunt, McAlister’s Deli.
“I was a loyal customer and went in all the time,” she laughs. “Chris Newcomb and his father had opened McAlister’s. One day I walked in to grab my signature sandwich, and Chris was working with a young lady in the kitchen. He looked at her and said, ‘I want to know who that girl is! I want to take her out.’ She just happened to be my roommate.”
Four years later, they became husband and wife and soon welcomed daughters Madison and Blair and son Hayes. Madison, age twenty-two, says, “She really is the best mom; she put all of her energy into raising us. She helped me with my homework, was always involved with my school and activities and most importantly, was always there to talk.”
In 2004, Chris opened his first Newk’s Eatery restaurant. In the past, Lori worked for the Gap Inc., training employees and opening stores in Dallas. The restaurant world was a perfect fit. “Though I have never worked directly with Chris, we both love the entertaining aspect of Newk’s. I came from the retail world, where you have total care of your clients when they come in. It is the same in the restaurant world! We love making sure our clients are happy.”
But in 2013, their world changed. “Every year for my birthday, I have an annual checkup with my OBGYN. I knew I wasn’t feeling well for a few months prior, but I kept thinking, ‘I feel better. I feel better.’ But I never felt well and it got persistently worse. I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer in February at my annual checkup.”
Lori loved to exercise, but suddenly found herself in bed, undergoing treatment. Opening her laptop changed everything. “I came across the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA) and noticed a spin event. I thought that was so cool; it combined my love for spin, raising awareness and finding a cure.”
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are blurry at best. Bloating, lack of energy and a loss of appetite are common. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, the rate of survival is high. “But with no early detection test, vague symptoms are the only warning signs.
That’s why we started the Newk’s Cares initiative. Our goal is to improve the rate of early diagnosis by funding research and creating greater awareness about the early symptoms of ovarian cancer,” says Lori.
Through Newk’s Cares, Lori started an Ovarian Cycle Ride in Jackson. In only three years, the high energy event has raised over $500,000, donated to the OCRFA.
Newk’s Eatery locations across the south are stocked with educational literature, and their red straws have switched to teal in honor of ovarian cancer awareness. Lori says, “September is awareness month, and we change out our signature black cups for teal cups. We also sell water bottles with information on them, and ten cents from every bottle sold is donated to the OCRFA.”
The community has beautifully embraced Lori’s fight against this silent killer. “It has been so rewarding,” smiles Lori. “We have received personal emails from women thanking us for putting educational literature in the restaurants. We now know what the symptoms are. Women are aware, going to the doctor, and finding out what is going on with their bodies.”
Lori remains completely devoted to her adoring family. “She is one of my best friends and we talk twice a day,” says Madison. “People who meet her never forget her. I have had so many approach me and tell me she made them feel so loved, even through one simple conversation.”
Lori is gracefully humble, yet passionate about her path in life. “I am not the greatest at bringing awareness to cancer, but I think God is helping me be the best communicator I can be. He has often taken me out of my comfort zone and walked me through some major mistakes in life,” Lori smiles. “But looking back, it humbled me. It helped me to be more open minded and hopefully a gentler person. That is part of sharing my experiences with this illness. When people are fighting cancer, they need to feel empathy. I am passionate about communicating that it is okay to be you in life through all of your experiences.”
Newcomb is beautiful, elegant and smart. She exudes warmth and grace, and her genuine care for others is refreshingly contagious. Newcomb grew up on the Ross Barnett Reservoir outside of Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from Northwest Ranking High School, she left for the University of Mississippi. While studying Public Administration and Economics, she often found herself relaxing at her favorite haunt, McAlister’s Deli.
“I was a loyal customer and went in all the time,” she laughs. “Chris Newcomb and his father had opened McAlister’s. One day I walked in to grab my signature sandwich, and Chris was working with a young lady in the kitchen. He looked at her and said, ‘I want to know who that girl is! I want to take her out.’ She just happened to be my roommate.”
Four years later, they became husband and wife and soon welcomed daughters Madison and Blair and son Hayes. Madison, age twenty-two, says, “She really is the best mom; she put all of her energy into raising us. She helped me with my homework, was always involved with my school and activities and most importantly, was always there to talk.”
In 2004, Chris opened his first Newk’s Eatery restaurant. In the past, Lori worked for the Gap Inc., training employees and opening stores in Dallas. The restaurant world was a perfect fit. “Though I have never worked directly with Chris, we both love the entertaining aspect of Newk’s. I came from the retail world, where you have total care of your clients when they come in. It is the same in the restaurant world! We love making sure our clients are happy.”
But in 2013, their world changed. “Every year for my birthday, I have an annual checkup with my OBGYN. I knew I wasn’t feeling well for a few months prior, but I kept thinking, ‘I feel better. I feel better.’ But I never felt well and it got persistently worse. I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer in February at my annual checkup.”
Lori loved to exercise, but suddenly found herself in bed, undergoing treatment. Opening her laptop changed everything. “I came across the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA) and noticed a spin event. I thought that was so cool; it combined my love for spin, raising awareness and finding a cure.”
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are blurry at best. Bloating, lack of energy and a loss of appetite are common. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, the rate of survival is high. “But with no early detection test, vague symptoms are the only warning signs.
That’s why we started the Newk’s Cares initiative. Our goal is to improve the rate of early diagnosis by funding research and creating greater awareness about the early symptoms of ovarian cancer,” says Lori.
Through Newk’s Cares, Lori started an Ovarian Cycle Ride in Jackson. In only three years, the high energy event has raised over $500,000, donated to the OCRFA.
Newk’s Eatery locations across the south are stocked with educational literature, and their red straws have switched to teal in honor of ovarian cancer awareness. Lori says, “September is awareness month, and we change out our signature black cups for teal cups. We also sell water bottles with information on them, and ten cents from every bottle sold is donated to the OCRFA.”
The community has beautifully embraced Lori’s fight against this silent killer. “It has been so rewarding,” smiles Lori. “We have received personal emails from women thanking us for putting educational literature in the restaurants. We now know what the symptoms are. Women are aware, going to the doctor, and finding out what is going on with their bodies.”
Lori remains completely devoted to her adoring family. “She is one of my best friends and we talk twice a day,” says Madison. “People who meet her never forget her. I have had so many approach me and tell me she made them feel so loved, even through one simple conversation.”
Lori is gracefully humble, yet passionate about her path in life. “I am not the greatest at bringing awareness to cancer, but I think God is helping me be the best communicator I can be. He has often taken me out of my comfort zone and walked me through some major mistakes in life,” Lori smiles. “But looking back, it humbled me. It helped me to be more open minded and hopefully a gentler person. That is part of sharing my experiences with this illness. When people are fighting cancer, they need to feel empathy. I am passionate about communicating that it is okay to be you in life through all of your experiences.”
{Blog post by Mitchell Walters. A special thank you to Karen Frasco Fine Art Photography for the beautiful pictures.}
RSS Feed