Meet Our Mentors
The stories of the Grief Coaches at First Hour are born of personal experience, We’ve been where you are right now, each of us just a little different from the next, but all of us bound together in this journey called Grief.
Regardless of your story, we know your loss is raw and real. We get that.
That’s why we’ve assembled an incredibly compassionate group of Grief Mentors standing-by and ready to meet you where you are.
But we won’t know you’re there if you don’t let us know.
Please use our Contact Us form to ask for more information about grief counseling options or call (502) 791-9938. We now have two locations to serve you: 409 Marquette Drive (In Lyndon) and 3407 Ralph Avenue (Just off Cane Run Road). All meetings are by appointment only.
Nicole Goodin
Director of Operations & Advancement
My grief journey began in March of 2004, just five months into my marriage, when my mother-in-law passed away. I admired her deeply and cherished the time we spent with her and my father-in-law. Her loss was a significant blow.
In August of 2007, my grandfather, the pillar of our family, passed away. His death left a void that we have struggled to fill ever since.
Most recently, in March of 2023, my father passed away unexpectedly. He was our rock, our comedian, and our biggest cheerleader. His absence is profoundly felt every day.
To navigate through these painful times, I leaned heavily on my family. Being together and supporting one another was crucial in managing our grief. We found strength in our shared love and the collective effort to move forward despite our losses.
Prayer, family, and conversations with others who have experienced similar grief have been invaluable tools for me. Surrounding myself with loved ones and keeping busy helped me cope with the pain.
A quote that resonates deeply with me is, “All things happen for a reason.” I firmly believe this, whether the events are good or bad. In the end, I find solace in the idea that everything happens for a reason greater than myself.
Michelle Stotz
Grief Mentor
My grief journey began in November of 2019 when my friend tragically took their own life. The shock of that loss shook me to my core, leaving a deep scar that I struggled to understand. Then, in 2023, I faced another heart-wrenching loss when my mother passed away due to a traumatic brain injury. These two sudden and unexpected events taught me that grief has always been a part of my life, woven into the very fabric of the human experience. With grief now a constant presence, I find myself contemplating how I can harness its power to propel me toward health and wellness.
To navigate this journey, I sought help and support from those around me. I spoke openly and honestly about my losses and the profound impact they had on me. Sharing my pain allowed me to begin healing, even when the process felt overwhelming.
Several tools and resources have been instrumental in my healing. God’s word has been a source of comfort and guidance. The support from First Hour Grief Response, specialized loss groups, and counseling has provided me with a safe space to explore my emotions. EMDR therapy has helped me process the trauma, while a book called Zachariah’s Story offered insights that resonated deeply with my experience. Above all, the trustworthy friends who have sat with me in the depths of my grief have been a lifeline, offering understanding and compassion when I needed it most.
One quote that has profoundly impacted my journey is, “Let your pain be your teacher, not your master,” by Sandy Gross. It reminds me that while grief is a powerful force, it does not have to control me. Instead, I can learn from it and use it to grow stronger.
Kimberly Cassady
Grief Mentor
My grief journey began in 2020 when my 19-year-old daughter, Karleigh, was tragically killed in an act of intimate partner violence. Shortly after this devastating loss, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer and suddenly passed away after contracting COVID. These profound losses, along with other instances of ambiguous grief, left me emotionally overwhelmed. Recognizing the need for support and coping strategies, I sought help for my grief and healing.
To cope with the unbearable early months after losing my daughter, I immersed myself in reading, prayer, and community connections. During this period, I obtained a certification in grief coaching and mentoring, with a focus on “joy restoration” after loss. Experiencing firsthand the healing and growth possible after loss, I dedicated myself to sharing what I had learned, helping others navigate their grief with the hope that they too could find healing.
My go-to prayer during struggles is, “God, I don’t understand, but I trust You.” I remind myself that grief is the price we pay for love, and I am profoundly grateful for the time I had with my loved ones. Understanding that grief is not something to cure or get over, I have committed to allowing grief and joy to coexist in my life, leaning on God’s strength to carry and sustain me. Importantly, I believe we are not meant to grieve alone; we need each other more than ever during times of loss, and it is an honor to support others on their grief journeys.
Lindsay Merrifield
Grief Mentor
My grief journey began on January 15th, 2019, a day forever etched in my memory. It was the day our beautiful son, Bryant, took his last breath at just 36 hours old. Bryant passed away due to severe complications from scoliosis. We had learned about these complications during our 20-week anatomy scan, but we never anticipated that we would leave the hospital without him in our arms.
Navigating this journey has been a gradual process, and to be transparent, I am unsure if I will ever truly be “through” it. Instead, I am learning to walk alongside my grief rather than letting it control me. I find solace in honoring Bryant and creating a legacy for him—one he was unable to build himself. I say his name often and strive to create change so that others may not have to endure what my family and I experienced. In doing so, I find a measure of comfort.
One of the greatest sources of support for me has been the group offered at First Hour. Initially, I joined as a participant, and now I have taken on the role of facilitator. This group has provided me with love and comfort, helping me feel less alone and isolated in my grief. It is a place where people understand my emotions and my journey, and they walk alongside me.
A quote that deeply resonates with me and my journey is: “I’ll be your legacy. I’ll be your voice. You live on in me. So I’ve made the choice. To honor your life by living again. I love you. I miss you. I will see you again.” – Unknown.
Marianna Boyd
Grief Mentor
My journey with grief began on December 29, 2011, with the loss of my mother. Though I had always been a deeply empathic person, understanding others’ pain, it was this moment that truly initiated my personal experience with grief. The loss of my mother was profound, stripping away the joy of the holidays and leaving me without a home base. Navigating marriage and raising a child without her presence added to the complexity of my sorrow.
Years of infertility also marked my path, introducing another layer of grief. Despite this, I found joy in the gift of my son, holding onto the happiness he brought while grappling with the pain of infertility.
Support from friends and family was crucial, but it was the guidance of a counselor that made a significant difference. Talking through my grief with a compassionate professional allowed me to process my emotions and find a path forward. I was fortunate to find a great counselor who truly helped me.
Several tools and resources aided me along the way. Books provided comfort, conversations with others offered solace, and honoring my mother on special occasions helped keep her memory alive. Allowing myself to feel sadness when it came, looking at old pictures, and cherishing the good memories all played a part in my healing process. While the loss will always be a part of me, time has helped ease the pain.
Two quotes have resonated deeply with me during this journey: “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11), and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” These words have provided comfort and guidance, helping me navigate the complexities of grief.
Roberta Ethington
Grief Mentor
My journey through grief began when I was just 14 years old. It started with the sudden loss of my mother to cancer when she was only 40. This tragedy forced me to leave behind my family and friends from my mom’s side and relocate across the country to the bustling city of Louisville, Kentucky, to live with my dad and stepmother. I had just started high school and felt utterly alone, with no support system. Talking about my mother and her death was forbidden, so I bottled up all my feelings.
Throughout my life, I have lost friends and family members, but the next significant blow came in 2015 when I found my father dead at his front door. He had suffered a sudden heart attack, and even though there was nothing I could have done to save him, I was overwhelmed with guilt for not being there sooner, for not being able to help.
Finding solace, I turned to my church and connected with others who had similar experiences. This support system has been instrumental in my grief journey. Though the road becomes easier to walk, the thoughts of my parents and my relationships with them remain just as poignant. There’s always a part of me that feels incomplete. However, talking about my grief with others and finding ways to honor my parents in positive ways helps transform my memories from painful to joyful.
Currently, I find comfort in reading books on self-healing and books about heaven, which help me maintain my faith that I will see my parents again someday. Through this journey, I’ve come to understand that the only constant in life is change. One of life’s hardest lessons is learning to let go—whether it’s guilt, anger, love, or loss. Change is never easy; we struggle to hold on, and we struggle to let go.
Ericka Mingus
Grief Mentor
My world shattered on a Saturday night, November 19, 2022, when I received a call that would forever change my life. Someone informed me that they believed my son had been shot. In that moment, time stopped, and life as I knew it ceased to exist. The future stretched out as a painful and broken journey, filled with a complex web of emotions, thoughts, choices, and battles that I would face every day.
In the midst of this devastation, I found a will to survive for the sake of my other two children. Only nine months earlier, I had divorced their father, and I couldn’t bear to abandon or neglect them now. They had already endured so much, and this incomprehensible tragedy added to their burden. Despite the overwhelming sorrow, I resolved to fight hard. My faith in God became my anchor.
I turned to the church for strength and joined a grief group the week after my son’s death. Surrounding myself with people became a necessity. I went back to work almost immediately, fearing that stopping might mean I wouldn’t make it. Books on grief filled my nights, and therapy sessions offered a space to process my pain. Medication provided a temporary lifeline.
My children’s well-being became my focus. I sought out other grieving mothers, meeting for coffee to share stories and find solace in empathy. I attended meetings on gun violence, journaled extensively, and exercised to cope with the turmoil inside. Isolation and distraction were my companions, yet I also allowed myself to be loved and cared for by someone special. Community support and meeting with my son’s friends brought moments of connection and comfort.
Every few months, I tried to escape for brief periods to rest and recharge. I learned to say no to things that made me uncomfortable, prioritizing my healing. Through it all, my faith sustained me, giving me hope that I would see my son again.
My faith is what carries me through this unending journey of grief. I have to believe that one day, I will be reunited with my son.
Deb Toussaint
Grief Mentor
When my grandfather passed away, it was a devastating blow to our family. My siblings and I affectionately called him “Dad” because our birth father had been separated from our mother for many years. His death was sudden and tragic; he was repairing a water heater at home when he fell and suffered a fatal brain injury.
During this time of loss, being around family provided a source of comfort, especially spending time with my grandmother. She often reminisced about the memories she shared with him throughout their 58 years of marriage, which brought a bittersweet solace to our grieving hearts.
I tend to internalize my grief when I’m around others, finding it challenging to express my sorrow outwardly. Instead, I seek solace in quiet moments, offering my thoughts and prayers directly to God. One particular Bible verse has been a source of strength for me during this difficult period. Joshua 1:9 (KJV) reads: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” This verse continually reassures me of God’s presence and support, even in the darkest of times.
Ashley Jaha
Grief Mentor
In November 2013, my husband and I experienced our first of four miscarriages. Over the years, we faced more losses and tried various fertility treatments without success. Finally, in 2019, we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Two years later, we were filled with joy as we anticipated the arrival of our baby boy. However, on March 18, 2022, our happiness shattered. I woke up to no signs of movement or a heartbeat. We rushed to the hospital in panic. When my husband joined me, the doctor confirmed our worst fear—the baby had no heartbeat. Our world came crashing down.
After going through the hospital procedures and the funeral, we felt lost and unsure of how to cope. That’s when we discovered First Hour Grief through our research. This organization provided us with a glimmer of hope and guidance during our darkest times. Although my grief journey is ongoing and may never truly end, I am learning to live with it and make use of the tools and support I have received. Now, I have a newfound passion for helping others who are going through similar experiences.
“I have cried so much this year that I’ve almost drowned. So, when you see me smile don’t think I’m no longer in the water, understand that my joy is my lifejacket.” -unknown
Caroline Dawkins
Grief Mentor
My grief journey began when two cousins were killed by a drunk driver in 1988. Then in 2007 my husband died suddenly of a heart attack. I had three young children, and had to navigate their grief while trying to come to terms with my own. I found myself reading up on everything I could, as well as searching for someone to talk to. This taught me so much about grief, and the journey. Also how others don’t understand it if they haven’t been through it. I have counseled many people since that time, and really feel there is a need for grief mentoring.
Karen O'Hara
Grief Mentor
My grief journey officially began on February 2, 2021, when I received the devastating news that my daughter Hannah had passed away. The shock and pain of that moment marked the beginning of a path I never expected to walk.
To navigate the overwhelming grief, I turned to one-on-one counseling and found solace in group sharing. I embraced the support of my friends and made new connections with those who had been on this journey for some time. I immersed myself in grief-related activities, including yoga, art, and reading, seeking anything that could offer some comfort or understanding.
The tools that have helped me along the way include journaling, which allowed me to process my emotions, and reading, which offered insights and perspectives on grief. Sharing my experiences with others and developing friendships with people who could truly relate to my pain has been invaluable.
A quote that has provided strength and comfort during this time is, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” This quote, which my grandmother often used throughout my formative years, has always resonated with me, and its significance has only deepened during this difficult period.