About Us
At Cherish, our purpose is to ensure that every family has an intentional plan to begin healing at the time of loss and to help them establish the vital habits and behaviors they will need for a healthy grief experience.
Inspired by the journey of grief and the stories from families in our community, Cherish Board Members and Staff share their knowledge and experience in therapy and events to help build healthy communities.
Chapel Hill has been in operation since 1962 and has offered grief services for over 30 years.
We educate every family about the Acute Loss Period. We believe that each person should feel that their emotions and perspectives are validated and accepted.
At Chapel Hill, we know how important it is to remember the ones we have lost. Often, grieving people feel isolated, or they sense that others want them to move on. Here, there’s no pressure. At our events, we remember, for years and generations to come.
The people we meet at our events and support groups inspire us with their resilience and strength. Like them, we hope to inspire others as we work toward creating a healthier community.
Losing a loved one can feel like the end. While you may feel that you won’t survive it, you are not alone. Here, we share our stories and help one another through the healing process.
You will never be the same after the loss of a loved one. But it is possible to heal. Chapel Hill can help your grief journey be a healthy one for you and those you love.
Meet our executive officer, Vicky James
Victoria (Vicky) James started her career in 1994 as a camp secretary for a non-profit agency called Sunnyhill that provided services for children and adults with disabilities. Through her evolving role with the organization, she saw the need to expand programming and improve customer service. In 2007 she became the President and CEO and continued in that role until 2019.
In May of 2016, Vicky’s son Jared Jones and his wife Brittany lost a son, Jagger Christopher Jones. Having to deal with her own personal grief as well as helping with healing for Jagger’s brothers, Braydon and Jett, sparked Vicky’s interest in becoming more involved in the community. She felt a strong desire to help other families with their grief journey.
Bringing years of experience in the non-profit world to Cherish, Vicky’s mission is to help grow programs and support for other families that have experienced the loss of loved ones. Since joining the Chapel Hill staff in May 2019 as the Chief Operating Officer, Vicky has supported families, preparing services for children, siblings, parents, veterans, and other family members.
