When Tammy Warren died suddenly at the age of 48 in December 2012, it was

devastating to her mother, Mary.

“I lost my mother, my dad, my brother, and my sister, but it was nothing compared to

Tammy’s death,” Mary said. “We were best friends. When a mother loses a child,

it’s a hurt. You live with it, you think about it every day.”

Tammy was a Head Start teacher at the Children’s Center. She was lovingly known

as “Mama Warren” to the staff. She lit a fire beneath her fellow teachers to do the right

thing and loved the children she taught for 23 years. When she died, Rosalind Cutchins,

who leads the bereavement group, invited Mary to the Parent Bereavement Group,

which meets at the Texie Camp Marks Children’s Center every third Monday of the

month. Mary decided to see what the group was all about.

“The support group helped me deal with the loss of Tammy. Talking to other people

and seeing that they are going through some of the same things I am going through helped,” Mary said. “The fellowship with each other, it’s like I have another family. And, I feel like I can help someone else, too.”

“Mary is a true example of one who gives and receives with grace. Tammy’s smile

is remembered each time Mary walks in the room,” said Rosalind.

The bereavement group also holds a candle lighting ceremony in December to re-

member children who have died. Mary has attended that ceremony, and suggested that

those who have lost children also attend at least once or twice.

“I really enjoy the candle lighting ceremony. It feels like I am communicating with

Tammy and that her spirit is here,” Mary said.

This year’s Worldwide Candle Lighting Day of Remembrance for Children will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 14 at the Workforce Development Center, 100 N. College Drive, Franklin. The event is free of charge. Those in attendance may bring a memory item such as a picture or toy to place by your candle, and take your candle home and light it during the holiday season and when you’re missing your child.

The next meeting of the Parent Bereavement Group is 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 19, 2015 at the Texie Camp Marks Children’s Center, 700 Campbell Avenue in Franklin.