Latest news with #AngelTree
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'She was a hero': Tennessee woman fostered more than 400 children, many with special needs
Nancy Arlene Woodall's phone rang in the middle of the night. It was her brother-in-law, Mike Beach, then the chief of police in Smyrna. Two young boys had been abused. Could she take them in? "That's what started everything," her daughter Michelle Brown recalled. That spontaneous act of kindness in the 1980s launched decades of Woodall serving as a foster mom to more than 400 Tennessee children, many with disabilities. She died June 8 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She was 71. "The community is truly losing a gem of a person who had a selfless heart for one of the most vulnerable populations — foster children," said Kassie M. Davis, director of the Rutherford County CASA (court-appointed special advocates for children). "Most people would look away at the hardest foster care cases, but she opened her arms and welcomed them into her home multiple times over the years." Brown, 52, is the oldest of Woodall's three biological children. "What she did was amazing," Brown said. "She was a hero." Early on, Woodall cared for as many as 10 foster children in addition to her three biological children in her house at one time, her birth daughters and one former foster child said. Woodall made it work with strict house rules and expectations — each child did chores, and older kids helped care for the younger ones. Woodall also stayed in touch with her foster kids and mentored them long after they aged out, relatives and former foster kids said. "She changed lives and saved lives, and her legacy will never be forgotten," the state Department of Children's Services said in a June 10 Facebook post. One of her first foster children, Jennifer Ulrich, 50, said she and Woodall occasionally butted heads, but they stayed connected until Woodall died. "Coming to her in such a young age in 1987 was one of best things that could've ever happened in my life," said Ulrich, a storage facility manager in Smyrna. "Because of her, I am the person, the mother I am today." Woodall launched new programs to meet foster kids' needs as they popped up in her house. When she found out the state only gave foster parents an extra $50 for Christmas presents, Woodall started an Angel Tree program for all foster kids in Rutherford County. Woodall found sponsors and raised money every year until she died. When foster kids started arriving with belongings in trash bags, Woodall started a program to get luggage for youth in protective care. "Her impact extended FAR beyond her Rutherford County front door," DCS said in the Facebook post. "Nancy played a key role in shaping the Foster Parent Bill of Rights [and] she served as a foster parent advocate to mentor others." In 1991, Woodall took in a 4-month-old baby who'd been abused so badly that the girl would grow up unable to walk or talk. Woodall stopped working outside her home to have more time to take care of the girl, Amanda, whom Woodall adopted when the girl turned 16. After Amanda Woodall died in 2012, Nancy Woodall almost exclusively fostered children with disabilities or medical challenges. Those included children who'd had organ transplants, children with autism and children with Down syndrome, her birth daughters said. "Once she lost Amanda, she had a fear that nobody would take care of those kids, and she had the experience and knew how to do it," Brown said. "She didn't want a child left in a hospital room or a facility where they wouldn't get the attention they needed." Woodall's own medical issues stopped her from being able to foster kids in 2023, her birth daughters said. But she kept raising money for the Angel Tree program, and she kept advocating for foster kids and parents. Memorial services are planned for June 14. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the funeral immediately following at Woodfin Memorial Chapel, located at 1488 Lascassas Pike in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In addition to her hundreds of foster children, Woodall, born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, is survived by her biological children, Michelle Brown (Aaron), Hannah Reynolds (Brent), and Matthew Adam Woodall (Whitney); grandsons, Knox and Cooper Reynolds; and siblings, Robert Butler (Cindy), Barbara Croft (George), Brenda Beach, Mike Trotter (Deborah), and Renee Butler; and nieces and nephews. The family has requested donations to the Rutherford County Angel Tree, P.O. Box 3135, Murfreesboro, TN 37133, or online at Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Remembering Tenn. woman, foster mom to hundreds of kids, many with special needs
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
North Charleston Rallies for Beloved Community Leader
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)–The parking lot of Revive Charleston on Remount Road was filled with purpose and unity early Saturday morning as dozens of residents gathered for a community yard sale benefiting a man who's spent decades serving others. The event, called 'Spring Clean for a Cause,' featured rows of tents offering everything from children's clothing to home decor. But beyond the bargains was a deeper mission supporting Tony King, a longtime mentor, youth leader, and outreach volunteer who recently experienced a life-altering health crisis. 'Tony, he's a brother to me,' said Steve Fowler-Vaughn, pastor of Revive Charleston. 'He's poured into this community for decades. Food banks, church events, youth mentorship—you name it. Now it's our turn to be there for him.' King, a fixture in Lowcountry outreach for over 40 years, has helped lead programs like Angel Tree, back-to-school drives, and community food initiatives. But after a recent leg amputation and cardiac arrest, he's had to step back from the work he's loved. That's when community members like event organizer Lanetra King stepped in with a plan. 'We wanted to take the spirit of spring cleaning and turn it into something meaningful,' Lanetra said. 'This was about love, support, and showing how much this community cares.' All items at the yard sale were donated, and 100% of the proceeds will go toward making Tony King's home handicap accessible and more comfortable as he continues recovery. Organizers are encouraging continued support. To donate or learn more, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
