New support group for widows to hold organizational meeting November 7

By Christa Jennings

Senior Staff Writer

 

A new support group is being formed in Coosa County for those who have lost a spouse, with an organizational meeting scheduled for November 7.

Equality resident Jodi McDade is spearheading the support group effort along with Dianne Perrett. McDade’s spouse, Larry, and Perrett’s spouse, Paul, both passed away in January 2021.

“Dianne Perrett and I have talked about this for several years, and now is the time,” McDade said.

McDade does not like the “W” words of widow or widower, so that word is not being used with the support group’s name or description.

Instead, the group is called Sunago, a Greek word which means “gather together,” and it is “a support group for those who have lost their spouse.”

McDade said that the support group is non-denominational and is meant to help each other through the day-to-day things they face alone. She emphasized that it is not going to be a group for finding dates and said that it will be set up based on what participants say they need the most.

She and Perrett are working to get the word out to anyone who has lost a spouse and asks individuals to help share the word with anyone they know who has lost a spouse.

“Only people who have also experienced the loss of a spouse can fully understand the issues we face, so we need to help each other,” McDade said.

An organizational meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, November 7, at the Rockford Baptist Church Family Life Center, located at 9575 U.S. Highway 231 in Rockford.

Sunago is currently described as “a group of people who come together to share their experiences and talents to help others on the same journey, to include spiritual and emotional support, as well as the new day-to-day challenges.”

McDade said that she will help in organizing the group and answering any questions people might have. She said while this will not be a counseling group, their focus will be on networking support.

The initial organizational meeting will give interested individuals the opportunity to talk about how to go forward, with McDade stating that everyone’s opinion is needed. At that time the support group can decide how often to meet, where to meet, if the meetings will move around to different locations, and what time to meet.

McDade added that participants can just talk among themselves or bring in speakers to give them ideas on how to move ahead with their lives.

Those who plan to attend the organizational meeting or who would like additional information are asked to email McDade at coosacountyrecreations@gmail.com. McDade also asks that those who cannot attend this first meeting, but would like to stay informed about the group and upcoming meetings, send her their best contact information for updates.