Helping Others Find Support

By: Jane Morgan

The first time I remember losing someone who meant the world to me was in 1973. Three days before my 21stbirthday, my maternal grandfather, Bill Sosebee, died suddenly from an aortic aneurysm at age 75.  I was a senior at Baylor. The news of his death stunned me, because my Granddaddy was one of the most influential persons in my life.  He was a Christian and treated people with respect and kindness.  

My Granddaddy and his wife, Gladys, had only one child, Nell Jane - my mother.  Nell Jane married John Olin Bates, Jr. on February 2, 1952.  He was a 1950 graduate of West Point and a career soldier.  Shortly after they married, he had his orders changed from Germany to Korea.  My mother and father only had a few months together before he left.  J.O. was killed in action on June 12, 1952, and my mother was expecting me.  It was a very difficult time for her and everyone one who loved J.O.  After I was born in November, my mother continued living with her parents for another 18 months.  

My Granddaddy was a steady presence in my life as I was growing up and instilled in me a love of travel.  My grandparents took my brother and me on educational driving trips across the U.S. and Canada. He had a large map on his bedroom wall with a pin stuck in every place he’d been in Europe. He loved memorizing passages in the Bible and went to the Holy Land more than once. His last project before his death was publishing a travel book that contained many of his photos that he took in the Holy Land.     

Several years ago, I volunteered in the preschool department at Wilshire Baptist Church and that was when I got to know Laurie Taylor who was the Minister to Families at the time.  She had a servant’s heart and cared deeply for the parents, children, and teachers.  After years of working with families and walking with them through life’s celebrations and losses, Laurie felt the call to do grief counseling full-time.  As a result, in 2011 the Grief and Loss Center of North Texas was founded. As time went by, one of our friends, Laura, invited my husband, Tim and I to a Silent Auction and Dinner, which raised funds to support the Center.  That was my first experience in hearing first-hand about people who had lost a loved one and received encouragement and support from Laurie and the Center.  

I retired in February 2019 and took some wonderful trips with my husband and visited our children and grandchildren who live across Texas.  Suddenly, in March of 2020 all our traveling came to an abrupt halt because of the pandemic. As March turned into April and April turned into May, I began feeling a strong need to connect with people.  I had no idea how long the pandemic would continue, and I needed something to engage my heart and mind.   It was about that time that Laurie called me and asked if I’d consider serving on the Board of the Center.  I strongly believed in the mission of the Center to provide hope after loss to children, teenagers, and adults who are grieving.  

Unlike many of the current Board members, I have not attended grief counseling and support services at the Center; however, I know that when I do face a difficult loss, I will not hesitate to reach out the Center. Now more than ever, the Grief and Loss Center is needed in our community.