Local Artisan Goes Viral After Granddaughter’s Facebook Post

Written By Marlene Bishop – Senior Writer at Durham News
Published: May 16, 2025 – Updated: 2 hours ago

Lara Green never sought out fame. For over 35 years, she quietly made jewelry by hand in a modest studio behind her home in Durham, North Carolina. No website. No storefront. No social media. Just one artisan, a lifetime of dedication, and a lot of love.

But it was her granddaughter, Jackie, who changed everything.

Last month, Jackie posted a heartfelt message about her grandmother on Facebook. Lara had just announced her retirement — her hands no longer worked the way they used to. Jackie wanted the world to know what kind of woman Lara was. The kind who stitched meaning into every necklace, and care into every clasp.

“She’s too humble to show off her work," Jackie wrote. "So I’m doing it for her.”

The post exploded overnight. 17,000 reactions. 1,300 shares. Hundreds of comments from people touched by Lara’s story — and eager to support her final chapter.

Discover the Legacy of Lara Green

At just six years old, Jackie learned to string her first beads under Lara’s gentle guidance — a quiet legacy that shaped her forever. (Photo: Durham News)

Jackie’s love for her grandmother runs deeper than the post that went viral. She grew up in Lara’s studio — sitting on a tall stool, legs dangling, stringing her first beads at just six years old. Lara didn’t just pass down her skills — she passed down her heart. Jackie says the moments they shared at that table shaped everything about how she sees the world.

“She taught me how to make jewelry, yes — but more than that, she taught me how to care.”

Every piece begins here — sketched by hand, crafted with intention, and finished with care only a lifetime artisan could give. (Photo: Durham News)

Lara never expected to sell her final pieces. But when she saw the response to Jackie’s post, she was moved to tears. With Jackie’s help, she agreed to open up her last collection — a once-only release of her life’s work.

Each piece is made the way she was taught — slowly, by hand, and with love. No shortcuts. No mass production. Just timeless design and heartfelt craft.

“Every time I wear one of her necklaces, it feels like I’m carrying a piece of her with me," Jackie told us. "Now others get to feel that too.”

In the soft light of her studio, Lara shapes what may be her final necklace — a piece of her story, ready to be passed on. (Photo: Durham News)

For decades, Lara crafted quietly in the background. Now, thanks to one loving granddaughter and a single Facebook post, her story — and her jewelry designs are reaching hearts across the country.

Jackie says her grandma still doesn’t quite believe it.

“She thinks no one would want her work. I tell her, ‘They don’t just want the jewelry, they want the love that comes with it.”

Each order arrives gift-wrapped, just as Lara would’ve done for a neighbor — with love, history, and a handwritten note. (Photo: Durham News)

Lara’s final collection is now available, but only while supplies last. Each piece is handcrafted, gift-wrapped, and comes with a handwritten thank-you note.

Some are one-of-a-kind. All are irreplaceable.

“A farewell collection like no other — handcrafted from sketch to finish, and signed with love.” — Durham News

Jackie and Lara today — two generations, one story, and a legacy of love they’re proud to share with the world. (Photo: Durham News)

What started as one granddaughter’s tribute has become something much bigger — a celebration of legacy, love, and the handmade magic that can still go viral.

Shop the Collection Handcrafted with Love