Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Dr. Portia Lockett of Detroit Metro

Dr. Portia Lockett shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Dr. Portia, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
A Morning Ritual of Intention and Purpose

For me, the first 90 minutes of the day are non-negotiable. They form the foundation of how I show up in the world. I begin with prayer, scripture reading, and meditation, quiet practices that align my spirit and ground me before the busyness of life sets in. This sacred time isn’t just about routine; it’s about creating stillness, receiving clarity and being led by the spirit to guide the day ahead.

From there, I shift into movement. Some mornings it’s light stretching, energizing cardio, or I put on one of my favorite songs and dance around my living space. No matter the form, this movement awakens my body and deepens the connection between mind and spirit. Accompanying this practice are two glasses of room-temperature water, simple, yet powerful in rehydrating and replenishing my system after a night’s rest.

The final step in my ritual is one I call “glam and go.” It’s not simply about appearance but about stepping into the day feeling confident, vibrant, and ready to embrace whatever comes my way. By the time I walk out the door, I am fully aligned—mind, body, and spirit—prepared to live not by accident, but with purpose on purpose.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Meet Portia Lockett ✨

I’m Portia Lockett, and everything I do is rooted in faith, purpose, and service. Over the years, I’ve built a brand that reflects my heart—uplifting others, creating spaces of healing, and helping people live intentionally. I wear many hats: chaplain, speaker, mentor, and community builder. At the core, though, my mission is simple—to inspire, empower, and remind people that they can live “on purpose, with purpose and push through grief”.

My story has been shaped by both triumphs and challenges, including seasons of loss that have deepened my compassion and strengthened my faith. Out of that, I’ve created platforms and organizations that blend wellness, culture, and community. Whether through the Azal Benne Lockett Foundation, Healing Within, or my mentoring work, I’m committed to guiding people toward growth, resilience, and joy even in the midst of a loss.

What makes my journey unique is that I bring my whole self into everything I do—faith, wellness, even a touch of glamour. I believe when you show up fully aligned—mind, body, and spirit—you not only change your own life but also leave a lasting impact on those around you. Right now, I’m continuing to grow my work in mental and emotional well-being, while creating experiences that celebrate community, healing energy, and the power of connection.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
What was meant to be shattered was just a shift!

Four years ago, my life was forever changed with the loss of my son. Grief could have silenced me, but instead, it became the seed for something greater. I knew I wanted to honor his life in a way that would not only keep his memory alive but also bring comfort and hope to others walking through the same kind of pain. That’s when I started a nonprofit in his name—an organization dedicated to celebrating his legacy while creating healing spaces for others.

As I walked through my own grief, I realized how often people need practical tools, something tangible to hold onto in moments of deep sorrow. That inspired me to create a healing card deck, a collection of words and guidance designed to support individuals through loss. The cards became more than just affirmations—they became a lifeline, a gentle reminder that healing is possible, one step at a time.

Writing has also been part of my healing. Each month, I share my heart and experiences in the Michigan Chronicle, writing on grief and the many ways it shapes us. Those pieces are not just articles to me; they are conversations—between me and every reader who might be searching for language to express their own silent pain.

From there, I developed what I call The Permission Series. It was born out of my own journey of realizing how important it is to give ourselves grace. Permission to grieve. Permission to heal. Permission to live, laugh, and love again. Permission to plan for the future and to even find joy and celebration in the midst of loss. The series has touched many, reminding us all that grief is not the end—it can be a passage to growth.

Along the way, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to share this message on platforms like Detroit’s Fox 2 News, where I’m invited regularly to speak on different aspects of grief and healing. I’ve also been a guest on multiple podcasts, each time opening up my story in hopes that someone listening feels less alone.

This journey was not one I chose, but it’s one I’ve committed to walking with faith, resilience, and purpose—turning my deepest wound into a mission of hope for others.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Some of the defining wounds in my life have been tied to loss—not only of people, but also of stability, security, and the things I once thought I could depend on. I remember the pain of watching a business I had worked so hard to build slowly dismantle during the recession. What I had poured my time, energy, and resources into crumbled before my eyes, leaving me questioning not just my future, but my worth.

Not long after, I experienced the heartbreak of divorce—a tearing apart that left me carrying both emotional and practical burdens on my own. The weight of it all led me into seasons of financial hardship, where bankruptcy became my reality, the foreclosure notice arrived at my door, and the car I depended on was repossessed. Each one of these moments felt like another layer of loss, stripping away not just material things but also pieces of my identity.

And yet, as dark as those seasons were, they did not define my ending. By the grace of God and a surge of inner energy I didn’t even know I had, I was able to rise again. Each setback became a setup for resilience. I discovered strength I didn’t know lived inside me, and I learned that even when everything else is stripped away, faith, courage, and perseverance remain.

Those wounds taught me something invaluable: that my worth is not tied to possessions, titles, or roles. My identity is rooted in God and in the love I share with others. Today, when I look back, I don’t just see the losses—I see the foundation they laid for my purpose. Those struggles sharpened my compassion, deepened my faith, and positioned me to walk alongside others in their own valleys with empathy and hope.

I didn’t just rebound back—I was rebuilt stronger, wiser, and more determined to live “on purpose, with purpose.”

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Over time, I’ve learned there’s a big difference between fads and foundational shifts. Fads are temporary—they come and go like waves, and even sometimes return years later. They’re exciting in the moment, but they don’t have lasting roots. Whether it’s a trendy way of thinking, a new buzzword, or even a popular movement, a fad often captures attention but fades once the spotlight moves on.

Foundational shifts, on the other hand, are lasting. They aren’t about quick excitement but about deep transformation. A foundational shift is when something actually changes the way you see yourself, others, or the world—and that change sticks. It becomes part of who you are and how you move through life.

For me, the difference shows up in the impact. Fads leave you with a memory; foundational shifts leave you with new habits, new perspectives, and sometimes even a whole new way of living. Fads may inspire you, but foundational shifts transform you. And in my work, I’m not chasing fads—I’m committed to planting seeds that grow into lifelong change.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I lay down my name, my role, and even my possessions, what remains is the essence of who I am. Titles can shift, roles can change, and material things can be gained or lost—but my spirit, my character, and the love I’ve poured into others will always remain.

What’s left is the imprint of my faith—the prayers I’ve prayed, the encouragement I’ve given, and the hope I’ve carried even in hard seasons. What’s left are the lives I’ve touched, the seeds I’ve sown, and the legacy of compassion, resilience, and purpose.

At the end of it all, I believe it’s not what I’ve owned or the positions I’ve held that define me—it’s the way I’ve lived, the love I’ve shared, and the light I’ve left behind in the hearts of others. That, to me, is what truly remains.

Contact Info:

• Website: drportialockett.com /AzalBennelockettFoundation.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/drportia/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/drportialockett/
• Facebook: https//facebook,com/portialockett/
• Youtube: Dr. Portia Lockett

Image Credits
Robin Gamble
Christopher Hankins