JSue Williams’ son, Bernard Calvin Williams, was born August 22, 1985 and she adopted him on March 30, 1989.  The grief journey started for JSue  when her 20-year old son, Bernard, was murdered on December 30, 2005 while on Christmas vacation in Pontiac, MI.    He was smart , popular, a lover of books, math, listening to music and playing video games. Bernard was in College at Alabama State University majoring in Business Administration. 
 
 
 
 

JSue’s first meeting was February, 2006  in Montgomery, Alabama.  JSue began folding the Chapters Newsletters in 2007, became a member of the Steering Committee that same year, and started Co-Leading the meetings in 2008 and became Co-Leader of this chapter in February 2009. JSue has an interest in raising community awareness about The Compassionate Friends and has been a guest at the local television news station for the past several years.  She also has been a guest speaker at different events to bring awareness about the bereavement of a child and a child loss to homicide. JSue attended her first Chapter Leadership training in 2010. 
 
 
 

JSue became the Regional Coordinator for Alabama in 2015. She was the Homicide Workshop presenter at the National Conference. She is National Conference Chair for the 2020 Atlanta Conference and is a 2021 Candidate for National Conference Chair in Detroit, Michigan
 
 

My name is Ann Walsh and I became involved in The Compassionate Friends in 2004 after the death of my 14 yr old daughter, Erika, as the result of a car accident.  She was killed, as were 2 of her friends. Because I experienced seven early births/miscarriages, I attended the first local TCF chapter meeting 5 weeks after Erika’s death and I have been actively involved since.  As I had no support system, I began attempting to find ways to help others during this difficult time. I continue to advocate for those having the same issues, and am involved with programs for those experiencing miscarriages, early births, or stillbirths.

I attended two chapters, doing publicity/chapter awareness for one and organizing events, planning and facilitating meetings for the other. This led to becoming a PA Regional Coordinator, and I am currently a Southern GA Regional Coordinator. 
 

I was able to introduce my mother to TCF 50 years after she lost an infant child, (making me a bereaved sibling). I taught elementary school for 35 years and worked extensively with child bereavement groups through the school system counseling program.  I present programs on grief to school faculties, administrators, local emergency responders, and work in conjunction with various agencies to help bereaved siblings. 

Since music and theatre are integral parts of my life, I have developed ways for both children and adults to implement the creative arts into the healing process. I conduct chapter leadership trainings, present at National conferences, and helped to present a regional conference in 2015.  I hold a BS in Elementary Ed with a concentration in the arts, and a Masters Degree in children’s theatre and counseling.

I continue to be active in education as a literacy consultant, children's theatre instructor, and home school music and arts teacher. I play in a ukulele band, sing and play guitar, and am very active in local little theatre. 

I represent TCF as an Eastern PA and southern Georgia Regional Coordinator.  TCF saved our family after Erika’s death, and I will be forever grateful for this organization!