For Darlene Taylor, the timeline of grief is still acutely fresh. She lost her husband, Dallas Taylor, on February 24, 2025, after 36 years of marriage—a partnership that began with a whirlwind courtship and wedding just three months after they met at a Valentine’s Day banquet.
In the devastating months following his passing, Darlene struggled.
“I’ve been crying a lot, staying home, maybe leaving the house once every seven days to check my PO box, take my trash off,” she shared.
Enter two local organizations that would restore Darlene’s faith in more ways than one: Esther’s Place & Chasing Freedom Recovery. In what some would consider fate, Darlene discovered the services that local nonprofit organization Esther’s Place, founded by Lori Brent and Tonya Wright, offers.
After three weeks of procrastination and fear, Darlene finally walked through the doors of Esther’s Place and into the arms of the Widow to Widow group.
“It’s wonderful. I haven’t missed a meeting,” Darlene shared, noting that she has now been attending for six weeks straight.
The organization hosts a separate weekly trauma support group led by Sharon Smith called The Healing Circle, which also provides a vital faith-based community for women walking through similar struggles. Darlene credits the group’s support, both during meetings and through texts and calls, with helping her navigate the non-linear path of grief.
“It really, really does [hit you out of the blue]. I’ve already had to pull into Friendship Baptist Church off Riverside Drive heading to Esther’s Place ’cause I had to stop and cry for 10 minutes, because I just couldn’t handle the vehicle and I knew it wasn’t safe for me to continue driving,” she shares.
The emotional toll of losing her husband was compounded by the physical work remaining around her property after Hurricane Helene, which had hit before Dallas passed. Her husband, who was battling health issues that had caused his weight to drop dramatically, had desperately begged his oncologist for permission to clean up their yard before he died, but that day never came.
The property, just under three-quarters of an acre, was covered in large limbs and debris, including the top of a tree.
It was Tonya Wright of Esther’s Place who, recognizing Darlene’s need, connected her with a second incredible local organization: Chasing Freedom Recovery. This Christian-based program sends men recovering from addiction to serve others in the community.
“Tonya says, ‘I know a gentleman who is from Chasing Freedom Recovery… how would you feel about them coming out and helping you with your yard? I mean like mowing or cutting up limbs or whatever,'” Darlene remembers. “I hugged her and I just started to cry.”
Just days later, a group of men from Chasing Freedom Recovery, including the organization’s director, Jeremy Dyches, arrived on Darlene’s property five minutes early and worked tirelessly.
“It was such a blessing to have them,” Darlene said. “They were hard at work… My yard is gorgeous. Compared to what I started with, I mean, I had the top of the tree down on the ground.”
The experience was more than just physical help; it was a powerful exchange of hope. Darlene shared a meal with the men and listened to their stories of finding faith through service.
She was moved by their sincerity and dedication to helping others as they helped themselves.
“The great work that [these] gentlemen are doing in the community, how they’re reaching out to help others in order to help themselves… They’re serving God and they’re seeking him to help them through their recovery,” she emphasized.
Today, Darlene is focused on her own continued healing, aided by her attendance at both the Widow to Widow and Trauma Support groups, and by spending quality time with her 16-year-old granddaughter, who lives with her. She encourages anyone in a similar situation who is apprehensive about seeking help to take the leap.
“I would encourage them to try it at least once. Just walk in, you don’t have to say anything, you can just sit and listen… Because I can guarantee that they will walk out of there with a fresh perspective, and they will have a calmness in their heart that they didn’t have when they walked in the door.”
For Darlene, the support of Esther’s Place and Chasing Freedom Recovery has been life-changing.
“If it wasn’t for that place and Tonya and Sharon and all the good work that they’re doing there, believe me, I would be in a much worse place than I am now.”
For more information about Esther’s Place, please visit their website or Facebook page. For more information about Chasing Freedom Recovery, please visit their Facebook page.