The Beginning
The birth of and love for a great-grandchild named Eleanor influenced the birth of American Grandmothers & Friends in the fall of 2025.
Eleanor’s name honors the attributes and accomplishments of one of America’s First Ladies, Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962). Her leadership as the first Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, advocating for women in the workplace, civil rights, the rights of World War II refugees, and human rights worldwide, made her one of the most esteemed women in the world. She was the mother of six and grandmother of 29. For her grandchildren, she was a guiding, supportive, and independent figure who stood 5 feet 10 inches. She focused on molding their character and influencing personal growth rather than spoiling them.
There are approximately 35 million American grandmothers, and each grandmother has their own unique story. What we share in common is love for our grandchildren. We hope they and future generations inherit the same American constitutional principles, rights, and freedoms we grew up with.
We want to hear from you and learn about you and your hopes and desires for your grandchildren. We look forward to hearing from you and reading your story.
Founding Grandmothers
Frankie Walters
Frankie is a grandmother of nine and a great-grandmother of one. Retired, she enjoys community volunteering/mentoring, researching/writing, and facilitating lessons for a women’s faith group.
She was a business owner, corporate manager, and a community-college career center instructor and coach. Her 40-year career included developing and facilitating workshops on personal branding and professional comportment, a head–and–heart approach to customer relations, job search process, and authoring a self-help book.
She was a team member of the “Civility Counts” international project, which partnered with Dr. P. M. Forni, founder of the Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins University, and author of Choosing Civility and The Civility Solution.
Frankie believes civility is like a strong three-ply strand that weaves together a person’s character, conscience, and interpersonal connections, creating an invincible fabric of respectful collaboration and community for the good of all, rather than one individual.
Dorothy Belknap
Dorothy, is a grandmother in a blended family with 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Now retired (PhD, Educational Administration), she volunteers at her church’s food pantry, participates in and facilitates lessons in her church’s women’s group, and is a participant in the Alzheimer’s Disease programs.
She has a 42-year nursing career, including general hospital/ICU nursing, Public Health nursing, University Nursing faculty, and Nurse Practitioner.
Her education, nursing practice, and volunteer activities have all provided understanding and appreciation of divergent viewpoints on important issues. They likewise have reinforced the importance and effectiveness of personal interactions based on civility, respect, and compassion for others, regardless of their circumstances.
Concerned with the rancor and incivility occurring in politics today, she champions political leaders who understand their role as a public servant, allegiance to the constitution, and who demonstrate civil discourse.