Hinton’s Martha Braswell shares experience as daughter of Colombian immigrants

HINTON, WV (WVNS) – 59News is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting local residents that come from Hispanic backgrounds.

Martha Braswell is a local business owner in Hinton, West Virginia. Braswell is the Daughter of two Colombian immigrants. Her mother Martha, whom she is named after, and her father Marco Suarez migrated to the United States in the late 1960s.

Braswell told 59News her parents split up when she was younger, and it was a hard adjustment for her mother. Braswell said even with limited English her mother held down three jobs all so her children could experience the American Dream.

Braswell added that her mother inspired a deep, entrepreneurial spirit in her, that inspired her to open her own business.

“I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so my mom and dad were from Colombia, South America and they both had an entrepreneurial spirit. My mom owned a couple of restaurants in her time, and my dad also owned a business, an import export business and I guess it was just in my blood. So, when I got here, I wanted to do something to contribute to the community and it began to grow in spirit to do some kind of business,” said Braswell.

Braswell said whenever she thinks of her Hispanic heritage she thinks of how welcoming the people of Colombia are. She adds that in a Colombian household there are no strangers, anyone from any walk of life would be welcomed in like they were a part of the family.

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