Dorthea L. Hughes-Bell (Laaydee)

I am 55 and finally turning the page! Throughout these 55 years, I have lived many lives—as a survivor, a mother, a wife, an entrepreneur, and a woman of faith. Recently widowed, three times married, mother of four, proud Nanna to five, and an empty nester—today, eleven months after losing my beloved husband, I am alive and rediscovering myself again.

Surviving profound childhood abuse and silence, I found the courage to share my story in my bestselling memoir, Hushed Cries. Now, I am working on a special edition—a complete rewrite that delves much deeper into my past and expands on why I made the decisions I did throughout my life. Through this, I continue to use my voice to inspire healing, faith, and transformation—showing that no matter how deep the wounds, God’s grace can turn any mess into a message.

In this new chapter, I am focused on rediscovering who I am through a deeper spiritual walk with the Lord, gaining a healthier body through dedicated weight loss, and nurturing a healthy mind through therapy. With educational achievements in business management and human resources, and careers spanning entrepreneurship, insurance brokerage, travel advising, and community-building through my online book club, my life reflects resilience and purpose.

On my podcast, Black Coffee No Cream, I create a heartfelt space where real conversations about healing, hope, and strength flow freely. Here, women are reminded that they are not alone—that we each hold the power to reclaim our stories, rewrite old narratives, and boldly step into our second acts.

Through my partnership with my son, Nick, we are committed to providing knowledge, wisdom, and transparent testimony to help both women and men reach the next level in life. Together, we deliver the raw, unfiltered truth about all kinds of subjects—especially those that are often whispered about but rarely explored openly. It is our intention to bring honesty and authenticity every time we are before you, withholding nothing and watering down nothing.

Rooted deeply in my Christian faith and inspired by the unwavering love of my late husband, Ricardo S. Bell Sr., my mission remains clear: to inspire women to embrace their strength, live purposefully, and hold firm to the promise that “The best is yet to come.”

Join Laaydee and Nick each week on Black Coffee No Cream to sip truth, share your story, and ignite the unstoppable power within.