Sheila was born in Detroit in the mid 1960’s by a single mom who struggled with alcohol. Those struggles led to Sheila becoming a ward of the state by the age of 10. For those first few years Sheila was allowed to live with family members, but by the age of 13 she was placed in a group home. “The administrator of that home became a strong mother figure to me. We continue to have a good relationship to this day,” says Sheila.
Sheila graduated from Northwestern High School in the early 1980’s and shortly after had her first child and moved to California. While in California, Sheila had 2 more children and a short-lived marriage.
She decided to stay in California and began working as the head of evangelism outreach at her church. Sheila says her walk with the Lord started when she was 13 and it has continued ever since.
“Even through the hard times, I have never turned my back on God or lost my Faith”
Twenty-three years later, Sheila returned to Detroit to be closer with her family. Sheila went to college and received her degree in Biological Science. “A lot happened in my life once I returned to Michigan,” Sheila says. “My daughter had given birth to my grandson, Isaiah, and by the time he was two it became apparent she was not capable of being a parent, and I was awarded full custody of him.”
In 2017, Sheila started her own home health care business and was contracted by the state and a large non-profit to serve clients with many of their needs. “I was able to use my degree and start my own business which was successful at the start,” said Sheila. However, Sheila soon became overwhelmed by the business side of things. By 2018 she had to close her business and lost her home. “It was me and Isaiah without a home,” she recalls. “I was blessed that my family was able to pay for an extended stay apartment, but I knew it could not go on forever.” That’s when Sheila heard about Grace Centers of Hope.
Sheila remembers, “I had prayed to find a place which was Christian based with a community. I had no idea there was a place like Grace Centers.” Sheila called GCH, and she and Isaiah were welcomed with open arms into the program. “My case-worker, Crystal, and the staff were so wonderful to me and Isaiah. I was blessed to become part of a wonderful church at Grace Gospel Fellowship and to continue my relationship with the Lord.”
After becoming very involved at Grace, Sheila soon started volunteering at Hands of Hope Childcare Center while in the program. She graduated the One-Year Life Skills Program and has moved into Aftercare. “I have been hired as a full-time support staff member at Hands of Hope” Sheila says. And to add to her accomplishments, Sheila was honored last month by the Detroit Tigers and Pepsi as an essential front-line worker at Grace Centers of Hope.
Sheila not only receives structure, love, and support from Grace Centers but is giving it back to the women and children in the program. “I love to see the things I teach the kids at the daycare play out in their lives,” she says. “It’s great to see patience, focus, and trust start to shine through in them.” Sheila’s reward comes daily with the children. “It is so great to walk down our streets and have the kids’ wave and yell hello.” The kids feel the same way about her. Manny, a 9 year old at the center says, “Miss Sheila is my favorite thing about daycare.”
Traci Cunningham, Director at Hands of Hope says, “Sheila is a great asset to our program and has become a mother figure to so many of the women. She takes many of them under her wing and teaches them the skills and trust they need to continue moving forward.”
Sheila not only receives structure, love, and support from Grace Centers but is giving it back to the women and children in the program. “I love to see the things I teach the kids at the daycare play out in their lives,” she says. “It’s great to see patience, focus, and trust start to shine through in them.” Sheila’s reward comes daily with the children. “It is so great to walk down our streets and have the kids’ wave and yell hello.” The kids feel the same way about her. Manny, a 9 year old at the center says, “Miss Sheila is my favorite thing about daycare.”
Traci Cunningham, Director at Hands of Hope says, “Sheila is a great asset to our program and has become a mother figure to so many of the women. She takes many of them under her wing and teaches them the skills and trust they need to continue moving forward.”
Now, without the fear of being homeless or alone, Sheila and her grandson Isaiah have settled right into Little Grace Village. Isaiah attends school and is surrounded by friends and community, and Sheila looks forward to expanding her role at Grace. “I know God has something bigger planned for me and He is taking all the necessary steps in getting me ready,” she says. Sheila has a favorite Bible verse which she says has carried her through the darkest of times. Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sheila knows even in the hardest of times she has been protected by the Lord and the future is very bright for her and Isaiah thanks to God and the help provided by Grace Centers of Hope.
