About the Book
Join Shevalle as she guides us through the winding road of her journey. From childhood to womanhood and beyond, readers immerse themselves in each moment of Shevalle's life. Drawn in by her wit, humor, honesty, and "Shevalle-isms," this memoir is a story for all people. Shevaluable offers poignant lessons about enduring and finding joy in every moment through love, loss, triumph, and learning to rise from the ashes. Raised by her mother- a solid, no-nonsense woman in 1970s New Haven, Connecticut, Shevalle shares her journey through becoming a teenage mother and learning the truth about her mother's adage, "grown folks take care of their own." Through marriage, divorce, raising children, illness, attending school in her late 40's, and being accepted into Yale Divinity School, Shevalle shares her disappointments and successes with candor, pragmatism, and acute self-awareness. Her innate tenacity and inquisitive nature ground her through life's challenges. At each turn, she bravely questions her purpose, identity, and where God is leading her. Scriptures act as guideposts throughout Shevalle's journey as she remains rooted in her faith through all life's storms. We experience family celebrations, Sunday worship, hardship, and heartbreak, all through the lens of love. Shevaluable is a fascinating story of a woman of soul and substance evolving into gospel ministry while navigating what it means to be human in touch with the Divine. This memoir bears witness to all the details and events that have forged Shevalle into the Unconventional Pastor who stands and speaks as a woman of God. As readers, we witness her liberation from self-deception to the acceptance of her true self as she discovers exactly what makes her Shevaluable.
About the Author: Shevalle Turner Kimber, a native of New Haven, CT, is a product of the New Haven public school system. After graduation, she attended the Amore Institute of Hair Design. Kimber was a successful licensed cosmetologist for over 25 years before being forced into early retirement due to a wrist injury.
Rev. Kimber is a Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention Christian Leadership School graduate and holds a Biblical Studies diploma. She is a proud graduate of American Baptist College of Nashville, TN, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and received a BA in Bible and Theology. She was also inducted into the Delta Epsilon Chi, The Association for Biblical Higher Education Honor Society.
Additionally, Rev. Kimber graduated from Yale Divinity School, where she earned a Master of Divinity. Shevalle is forever mindful of 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Rev. Kimber answered her call to the ministry of preaching and teaching on April 25, 2016, and preached her initial Sermon on July 3, 2017, entitled, Don't Be Scared, Let the Lord Use You. She was ordained on July 1, 2018.
Shevalle is married to Rev. Dr. Boise Kimber, Senior Pastor of the First Calvary Baptist Church in New Haven, CT, where she has served side by side in leadership for the past 17 years. She is the proud mother of Ronald, Shevalle, and Savion and is happy to be the grandmother of Sean, Tristan, and London.
Shevalle enjoys walking, reading, eating, dancing, and planting/gardening. Her favorite scripture is Galatians 8:31-- what, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
