OUR FOUNDER

Reneé Ward, an ordained minister, visionary and founder established “More Than An Overcomer” and “Just Because Boutique” following the passing of her mother Louise Matthews who succumbed to lung cancer on June 9, 2018. Ms. Matthews served as one of Pastor Ward’s caregiver during her courageous bout and victory against Triple Negative Breast Cancer (Stage IIA) for which she was declared ‘cancer free’ in 2018. Ward, a native of Detroit, Michigan and longtime resident of Portland, Oregon attributes the inspiration for this venture in part to the legacy of style, elegance and regalia that she remembers of her late Grandmother Alice Brink, a seamstress and designer for the former White Stag Company (aka Jantzen Swimwear) who succumbed in 1983 from Ovarian Cancer at the age of 63 years old. It wasn’t uncommon to see her Grandmother styling her ‘Sunday Best’ along with her mother and younger sister accompanying them to their family church where other matriarchs of the community fashioned the latest in couture from head to toe. Since 1988, Pastor Ward has been a steadfast advocate for access to quality healthcare among disenfranchised communities in the Portland/Vancouver metro area.