CHATTANOOGA, TN (TN Tribune)— Young widow starts nonprofit organization which helped over 500 widow(er)s across the United States Widowed-by-lung-cancer in 2017 at age 27, while 5 months pregnant with her 10- month-old’s full little brother, Azurae Redmond, was always the demographic outlier of every typically conservative local widow group.
Realizing there was a niche for young, Black widow(er)s, who were underserved, she set out to start a new 501(c)3 nonprofit called Young, Black & Widowed in September of 2020. Since its inception the nonprofit has helped over 500 widows and widowers across the United States navigate life after loss during the Covid-19 global pandemic.
“Most of our young widows and widowers in our support groups were not able to say goodbye in person due to Covid-19 restrictions when their spouses passed away,” says Redmond.
Though Azurae was lucky enough to spend her last moments in person with her husband three years ago, veteran, father-of-four and widower, Marcus Waters, still mourns to see his wife in the flesh.
“You’re their rock just as much as they’re yours. Video chatting with somebody is nothing like being able to sit next to your spouse, hold their hand, tell them you love them and give them whatever they need as they pass away,” Waters says.
“Young, Black & Widowed is available to anyone who is widowed. One can call us daily on our peer support line, join one of our numerous online peer support groups, access our extensive grief resources, listen to our podcast and even apply for our “Matthew Holt Redmond Memorial Scholarship” to help regain stability after a spouse passes away. We are more than just a confidential ear, we provide a roadmap that answers everyone’s first question, “What do I do now?”
For more information please visit: www.YoungBlackWidowed.org
