My husband died in the middle of launching a business. I pivoted my career at 55 to take over, and it’s helped with my grief.
Jacqueline Gathers, a former civil servant with a 30-year career at the New York City Housing Authority, never envisioned herself as an entrepreneur. However, the untimely death of her husband, Joseph, at 58, prompted her to take a leap into the world of home inspection. A little over a year before his passing, Joseph had expressed his desire to purchase a franchise with Pillar to Post, a home inspection company. Although initially reluctant, Jacqueline felt compelled to honor her husband’s hard work and dedication by launching the business after his death. This decision not only allowed her to build a legacy in his name but also provided a vital distraction during her grieving process.
Starting from scratch, Jacqueline faced numerous challenges, particularly as a Black female home inspector in a predominantly male industry. She had to undergo extensive training and obtain a state license, all while navigating a landscape that often did not welcome her. Despite initial setbacks in less diverse areas, her business thrived in neighborhoods like Flatbush and Brownsville, where she built a reputation for excellent customer service and expertise. Over the past seven years, she has carved out a niche working with first-time homebuyers, many of whom are embarking on homeownership for the first time in their families. Jacqueline emphasizes the importance of providing ongoing support to her clients, ensuring that her relationships extend beyond the sale.
Today, at 64, Jacqueline reflects on her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship with pride. She has not only established a successful business but has also set a powerful example for her three children about resilience in the face of adversity. Her story is a testament to the idea that life can throw unexpected challenges, but with determination and the right mindset, new opportunities await. In addition to running her home inspection business, Jacqueline honors her husband’s memory by traveling internationally twice a year, embracing life and all its possibilities. Her journey serves as an inspiring reminder that sometimes the most fulfilling paths emerge from the most challenging circumstances.
Courtesy of Jacqueline Gathers
Jacqueline Gathers is a home inspector and owner of a Pillar to Post franchise in Brooklyn.
She worked for New York City for 30 years and had no interest in entrepreneurship.
When her husband died at the age of 55, Jacqueline became a home inspector.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with
Jacqueline Gathers,
owner of
JS Gathers Pillar to Post Home Inspectors
franchise. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I’m a third-generation civil servant. I spent 30 years at the New York City Housing Authority. I
enjoyed the work
and felt that I was helping people find safe and affordable housing.
When I first joined the
Housing Authority
back in the ’80s, my dad insisted I sign up for early retirement. At the time, the extra contributions to my pension seemed expensive, but my dad assured me the investment was worthwhile. A lot could change between 55 and 62, he said, and being able to retire early would give me choices.
He was so right. Decades later, that decision allowed me to take
early retirement
in order to be home with my husband, Joseph, as he fought brain cancer. Joseph died when he was 58, and I was 55.
When my husband died, I considered selling our franchise back
A little more than a year before he died, Joseph said he wanted to take me into the city. I thought it was a
date night
, but when I came out in my heels, he told me to put on something more comfortable.
Turns out, he wasn’t taking me to a
fancy dinner
: we were going to the franchise expo. That’s when Joseph dropped the bomb that he wanted to purchase a franchise. I said OK, but I wasn’t particularly interested. I didn’t have any plans to be involved.
Joseph researched Pillar to Post, a
home inspection
company, and underwent training with the organization. But before he could open the franchise, he died. The company offered to repurchase our franchise. I was tempted, but then I thought about how hard Joseph had worked to prepare the business. I decided to launch it in his legacy.
It took time to build a business as a Black female inspector
That’s when things got scary. I had retired from the Housing Authority, but I knew nothing about home inspections. I had to train with Pillar and Post and obtain a license from the state of New York.
Most home inspectors don’t look like me. That became abundantly clear when I tried to work in Staten Island and other areas known for their racial tension. I wasn’t well received there. However, when I expanded into more diverse areas of the city, such as Flatbush, Brownsville, and East New York, business picked up.
I initially got to work when other inspectors didn’t show up. In those situations, my customer service skills from the Housing Authority helped me stand out from the crowd. Plus, people saw I knew what I was talking about. Before long, people were asking for “that Black lady inspector in Brooklyn.”
I found my niche with first-time buyers
During the first year, I would go to work, then come home and cry. The business was a huge distraction and gave me a reason to get up every day, but my grief was raw, and the tears were never far. Eventually, I started crying less and focusing more on business.
Today, it’s been eight years since Joseph died, and seven years since I launched the business. I’ve created a niche working with first-time homebuyers. I also work with educational nonprofits in the city.
Particularly in my community, first-time buyers may be the first people in their family to ever own a property. They need guidance and a relationship that doesn’t end once the sale closes. My clients can reach back out to me whenever they have questions about their homes.
I’ve set an example for my kids
Joseph and I always lived below our means and planned to travel in retirement. In addition to running the business — which still bears his name — I try to take two international trips in his honor each year. Our first grandchild was recently born in Guam, and I’m looking forward to spending time there.
I’m surprised to find myself an entrepreneur at 64. I never imagined myself running a business, let alone one that’s super successful. In doing so, I’ve set an example for my three kids: sometimes in life, you get curveballs, and you just have to keep pushing. There’s something else waiting around the corner.
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Business Insider
