WIDOWED PERSONS SERVICE
of Tarrant County, TX
"Touching the lives of widowed persons every day"
GRIEF SUPPORT MESSAGE & MEETINGS
GRIEF SUPPORT MESSAGE
July 2026
Good morning WPS Frends. Join me with a cup of coffee, a morning chat, and a think about. What makes July special? I like celebrating our beautiful USA, the fireworks, the get togethers, wearing red, white, and blue and flying our flag.
July 4th is the Birthday of our Nation. Did you know? Our 16th President Abraham Lincoln was remarkably familiar with grief, having buried three sons….and….then Mary Ann Todd Lincoln, a widow, faced picking up her life after he was assassinated. President Lincoln wrote these words before his death…. “In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all. It comes with bitterest agony. Perfect relief is not possible except with time. You cannot realize that you will ever feel better, and yet this is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make this somewhat less miserable now. I have experienced enough to know what I say.”
They say it takes a village to raise a child. With nine Grief Support Five Week Programs, many trained Volunteer Facilitators and Assistants in easy to get to areas north, east, south and west of the Metroplex, you have your own personal village to guide you through one of the most difficult journeys of your life. Grief Support is open to anyone who is widowed regard-less of age or length of time. We are the village, who learn from each other and support each other through this wilder-ness we are wandering through. If you need help getting through your grief, this is the place to be.
Your Bill of Rights
You have the right to realize your grief is unique and personal.
You have the right to talk about your grief.
You have the right to expect and feel multitudes of emotions (ignoring those who tell you to get over it!).
You have the right to tolerate some physical limitations (tiredness; sleep too much or not enough; eating too much or too little).
You have the right to search for your own spirituality.
You have the right to treasure your memories.
You have the right to make your own choices.
This July 4th, let us celebrate, honor, and remember the opportunity of living in this great Country of ours. Happy July 4th! Hugs!
Ruth Turner, Outreach Chair and Certified Grief Support Facilitator
GRIEF SUPPORT SCHEDULE 2026
All Support Meetings are 2:30 to 4:30 pm on
Sunday except for certain afternoon classes on Tuesday.
Following each session, those who wish to go meet at a nearby restaurant for dinner, which provides a good opportunity to get to know each other.
*NOTE: Any changes to this schedule will be announced in both the newsletter
and on our Facebook page, so check each month for any changes. For other information on Grief Support, call the WPS office 817-551-2922 Mon-Fri, 10AM-2PM or Ruth Turner 817-713-9372. If no answer at either number, please leave a voicemail and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
*This year there are two Grief Support sessions scheduled at the same time in February (one in Mansfield and one in Hurst).
JAN. 11,18, 25, FEB. 1, 8: Pleasantview Baptist Church 4400 Pleasant View Dr., Arlington, Facilitator: Merryl Kloster.
*FEB. 15, 22, MAR. 1, 8, (Daylight Saving) 15: St. John Lutheran Church, 1218 E. Debbie Ln., Mansfield, Facilitator: Phyllis Weisheit.
*FEB. 15, 22, MAR. 1, 8, (Daylight Saving) 15: Lucas Funeral Home 1321 Precinct Line Rd., Hurst. Facilitator: Sharon Ellershaw.
MAR. 22, 29, (skip April 5) APR. 12, 19, 26: Pleasantview Baptist Church 4400 Pleasant View Dr., Arlington, Facilitator: Marcia Devoll.
MAY 31, JUN. 7, 14, 21, 28: Lucas Funeral Home
1321 Precinct Line Rd., Hurst, Facilitator: Sharon Ellershaw.
*JUN. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Tuesdays, 2:30 – 4:30 PM: St. Barnabas United Methodist Church, 5011 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd., Arlington, Facilitator: Marcia Devoll.
JUL. 12, 19, 26, AUG. 2, 9: Trinity Episcopal Church 3401 Belaire Dr. S., Fort Worth, Facilitator: Ruth Turner.
AUG. 16, 23, 30, (skip Sep. 6) SEP. 13, 20: Pleasantview Baptist Church, 4400 Pleasant View Dr., Arlington, Facilitator: Merryl Kloster.
SEP. 27, OCT.4, 11, 18, 25 First Baptist Church, Burleson 317 W. Ellison St., Burleson, Facilitator: Ruth Turner.
Substitute Facilitator: Arlyne Clements.
HOLIDAY GRIEF SUPPORT : NOV 1 (Daylight Saving): 2:30 - 4:30 PM. St. Barnabas United Methodist Church, 5011 W Pleasant Ridge Rd., Arlington.
CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL SERVICE : NOV 8: 3:00 PM, St. John Lutheran Church, 1218 E Debbie Ln, Mansfield - All Facilitators and Assistants.