Local support group helping girls grieving loss of their mothers

Published 7:00 am Saturday, July 13, 2024

A Milledgeville-based group is offering support to young girls in the community grappling with the loss of their mothers.

Strong Daughters, a support group founded on the principles of empathy and empowerment, provides services to address the emotional, psychological and practical needs of girls ages 18 and younger who have lost their mothers.

Emlyn Williams, founder of Strong Daughters, says that the group holds high expectations for the girls and strives to create a supportive network where young girls can survive and thrive despite their circumstances.

Williams founded Strong Daughters with her sister, Janice Hill, in 2018. Williams and Hill lost their mother when they were 6 and 8 years old.

Williams said that she wanted to reach out to girls experiencing the same loss that she has experienced. She had knowledge of grief counseling and support groups, but none specifically for daughters who had lost their mothers.

“I saw young girls losing their mothers,” said Williams. “I wanted to serve as an outlet for support, but I didn’t know where to start.”

According to the group’s Facebook, its mission is to “inspire, motivate, encourage and support our daughters to have a positive purpose in life while proudly moving forward and always knowing there’s a guardian angel smiling down upon us.”

When Strong Daughters originated, there was no designated place for the group to meet. The first meeting was held at a restaurant. Now, the group meets monthly at the Collins P. Lee Community Center in the Harrisburg community or Allen’s Market in downtown Milledgeville.

What started as an idea to help girls who have lost their mother now aids 10 girls. The group also has three alumni. These three alumni have graduated, with one serving in the United States Air Force and two attending college.

Strong Daughters provides support to girls in the community not only by providing them with a supportive group to share and express their feelings, but also through team-building activities, group discussions and camps. Strong Daughters members attend movies, dinners, waterpark trips, Vacation Bible School and the week-long Camp Good Grief program.

For the past two years, Strong Daughters has held a gala for its members. The formal event allows the girls to invite their families and friends to get dressed up the Saturday before Mother’s Day.

At the gala, a scholarship is given to any girl, even if she is not in the group, who is going to college and has lost her mother. Strong Daughters has granted three scholarships since its founding.

Strong Daughters receives support from businesses in Wilkinson and Baldwin counties in order to provide these scholarships. Williams said the group also receives support from Georgia College & State University, local sororities, Ivy Pearls of Service and Communities In Schools of Milledgeville-Baldwin County.

“I know what it’s like, having your mom missing big milestones in your life,” said Williams. “It’s hard. This group supports the girls. Having lost my own mother, I can help myself while helping Strong Daughters.”

For more information or questions about Strong Daughters email Emlyn Williams at sneadeshay@yahoo.com or Janice Hill at prn.nursingsolutions@yahoo.com.