The Compassionate Friends, Wilmington, NC - Cape Fear Chapter

08/20/2026

Please join us on October 24, 2026, for The Compassionate Friend’s Fall Virtual Retreat. This special gathering will include workshop presentations on a variety of grief topics that have a Q&A opportunity at the end of each plus three keynote sessions. Whether you are newly bereaved or a more seasoned griever, a range of workshops will be offered on grief, loss, coping, and healing and will focus on support for bereaved parents, siblings, and grandparents. We invite you to join us for an informative, caring, and supportive day from the comfort of your own home.

There is no registration fee to participate in our Virtual Fall Retreat. We want everyone in the TCF community to have the opportunity to gather, reflect, and find comfort, regardless of their ability to give.

If you are able, we invite you to make a donation to help support this retreat and the ongoing work of The Compassionate Friends. Suggested giving levels of $25, $50, $100 or $250, but a gift of any amount is deeply appreciated. Every contribution helps us continue creating meaningful opportunities for bereaved families to find connection, understanding, and support.

For more information and to register, visit: https://cvent.me/8AVd35

08/16/2026

05/31/2026

Good evening! As part of our chapter’s leadership transition, we will be moving to a new page. This current page will remain available for the next couple of months, but you’ll begin seeing updates and new content posted on the new page going forward.

We’ve also put steps in place to ensure that any future leadership transitions will not require another page change. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this process.

You can find and follow our new page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590336519530

TCF is a support group for bereaved parents, grandparents, and adult siblings. We try to offer knowledge of the grief process, friendship, and a safe place to talk and ask questions. For more information, email [email protected].

05/03/2026

Today, on Bereaved Mothers' Day, The Compassionate Friends is thinking of all our moms. We'd love for you to share the name(s) of your child(ren) so that we can all remember them together.

03/30/2026

Join us for this panel discussion on Tuesday, March 31st at 7:30 pm ET. Over the past few years, this workshop has drawn significant interest at the TCF National Conference because many families find it incredibly beneficial for parents, grandparents, and siblings alike. We are excited to offer a panel of siblings from different backgrounds and experiences who will share their perspectives and answer questions in an effort to help families reopen the door to communication.

Parents and grandparents will have the opportunity to ask difficult questions—questions they may wish they could ask their surviving child(ren) directly. Listening to a panel of siblings can provide parents with valuable insight into what their surviving child(ren) may be thinking and feeling after the loss.

Presented by: Keith Singer whose sister, Lori, died in an automobile accident in 1998 while serving active duty in the United States Navy. Keith was 21 and away at college. Although attending TCF functions because his mom asked and in the belief it would make her happy, Keith talked with other bereaved siblings and came to realize that sharing his thoughts and experiences dealing with the death of his sister helped him and others. He is a Certified Grief Educator by David Kessler, He facilitates sibling meetings for his local chapter and has been presenting workshops at the national conference for the past 18 years.

03/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AqQko2gpk/

Join us for this free webinar tomorrow, on March 23rd at 12:00 pm EDT. This webinar will provide hope to those bereaved who do not believe they will ever find anything positive in life again. It will help them recognize the gifts or positives that they may have received following the death of their child, sibling or grandchild. We would give anything to have them alive again; however, since we know that cannot happen, we will open their hearts and minds to the gifts they may have received but did not realize them as such. These “gifts” can come in a number of ways, I.e., gifts we give ourselves (hope, courage), gifts given to us (kindness, compassion, understanding), and gifts that evolve with our “new normal” life (personality changes, awareness of nature, compassion, and friendships that are so very priceless). These are positives/gifts we would not have acquired without this loss in our life.

Presenter: Donna Goodrich is a member of the TCF Board of Directors and, (along with her husband, Ralph) is the recipient of the 2020 TCF Recognition award. Donna has had three children to die, a miscarriage, her son, Garth, at birth who was an identical twin and her 17 year old daughter, Lauren in an auto accident. Six months after the death of her daughter, Donna found a chapter of TCF and has been involved in some aspect of the organization for the past 26 years including chartering a new TCF chapter in Charlotte, NC, chapter leader, newsletter editor, served on the committees for the 2010 and 2018 TCF National Conferences, and has conducted 14 Chapter Leadership Training Programs in both North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. She is currently Co-Regional Coordinator (with her husband) for North and South Carolina. Donna has presented her workshop “Gifts of Grief” at the past 10 National Conferences, and is a moderator for the TCF private page “Loss of a Child” since it began in 2015.

03/10/2026

This is a copy of an email sent out by Becky Stout ... it's being posted by Tonya (Jeff and Marietta's daughter) in case anyone didn't get the email.

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Your future Chapter Leader (beginning April 1, 2026) Becky Stout, has temporarily taken over this email account to share an important message.

Our March meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026, will be a little different from our usual meetings. As many of you know, our beloved leaders, Jeff and Marietta, will be stepping down from their roles as Chapter Leader and Program Leader. Jeff and Marietta founded the Cape Fear Chapter in 1983, and have compassionately guided countless parents and siblings through their grief journeys.

This March meeting will be their final meeting in leadership, and we cannot let this moment pass without celebrating them and honoring all they have done for our chapter and community.

Please join us as we recognize Jeff and Marietta. Drinks and cake will be provided, and we welcome any finger foods or desserts you would like to bring to share.

If you would like to express your gratitude, notes and cards with your memories and well wishes would be deeply appreciated.
We will have a table available for you to leave them. While there will not be enough time during the meeting for everyone to speak, we invite you to stay afterward for refreshments and fellowship, and to share a few words personally.

If you are unable to attend but would like to send a note or card please mail it to:

The Compassionate Friends
C/O Becky Stout
PO Box 7181
Wilmington, NC 28406

If you know of any parents who are no longer receiving the newsletter but would like to attend or send a card, please feel free to pass this invitation along.

We look forward to gathering together in March at Wrightsville on Oleander, 5810 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC, to celebrate two very special people who have meant so much to us all.

With gratitude,
Becky Stout
Cape Fear Chapter
The Compassionate Friends

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