WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown

My beautiful mother, Deborah Jean Brown, was laid to rest on December 7, 2020, and my siblings and I haven’t slept much since. I’ve tried many times to convince myself that my mom is in a better place, which I know she is. But, then in the middle of the night, my flesh and heart cries out, there’s no better place for my mom to be than here with her children who love her dearly. I miss her far more than any words in a book or song. I’m in tears right now, struggling to write this story. But my mom would say, “Boy, push on, boy.”

As a man of God, I know my mom is at peace, yet I can’t let her go. I’ve yet to call any of my friends who are pastors, nor my Christian friends, because there are times you just need to vent and be heard without feeling as if you’re hearing a sermon. 

That’s where a business such as JoyUp Services comes into play. It’s a grief support service for children, parents and adults. JoyUp Services helps you process grief through sympathetic conversation, which allows you to release and truly be heard. 

CEO Christina Stanley decided to start her Winston-Salem-based business after witnessing firsthand how grief affects children. Seeing how her nieces were lost and confused after her grandmother had passed broke Christina’s heart. Seeing her cousin, who is their mother, struggle to explain why her daughters couldn’t go to the hospital to see their grandmother was heartbreaking as well. “My grandmother was in a unit that didn’t allow children under 18 to visit. It was extremely tough on my cousin trying to explain my grandmother’s passing to my nieces. My sister’s son, who was three at the time, was also asking, where is my Nana?  Like my nieces, he didn’t understand what was going on. Every time he saw me, my grandmother was with me, so when he would see me, we’d have to explain what happened over and over again. So, I saw a real need for JoyUp Services,” shared Stanley. 

JoyUp guides you on how to explain the passing of a loved one to children. They also educate you on the stages of grief, grief triggers, and the aftermath of the funeral, with healthy methods to process grief. 

“Seeing something that reminds us of someone who has passed is one of the most common grief triggers and we guide you through how to face and deal with each trigger, instead of avoiding them. The stages of grief are denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance. JoyUp Services will guide you with healthy methods to process each stage of grief. The first step toward healing is to know it’s OK to not be OK. We make sure you don’t feel alone in the process of grief. Yes, prayer is key to getting through it, but you also need that connection with someone who has had the same experience and knows how to guide you through it firsthand,” said Christina. 

I asked Stanley, what should we do when someone is experiencing a grief trigger? She replied, “Allow them to vent, yell, talk, or however they need to release their pain. Make sure they know you support them, because sometimes just listening and a hug is all they need. Just knowing you care.” 

As she was talking, there were times I’d laugh quietly, because she was excellent with explaining the process of grief. I was getting free service. 

JoyUp Services is very necessary, because so many of us don’t know how to effectively process grief, and that is OK. That’s what JoyUp is for. Christina Stanley was one of those people who had to learn how to process grief and accept that her grandmother is now in a far better place than we are on earth. She’s found her peace and now she’s helping others do the same. 

The first step is just a phone call away. “I’ll give you a 30-minute free consultation to discuss what you or your loved one is feeling and also check if there are any signs of the stages of grief. When you decide to use my services, we’ll begin virtual sessions. I do one-on-one and group sessions. I guide children with how to express their emotions in a healthy manner and encourage adults on the journey through grief to joy.”

 Christina Stanley also wrote two children’s books, “Remember Me in Heaven. Helping Children Go From Sorrow to Joy,” which is about her grandmother, and “Guiding Children Through Grief.” Christina said, “It’s a workbook where children can color, draw and write in, sharing their different emotions. It makes it easier for a child that may be uncomfortable sharing their thoughts. The workbook also helps open up that discussion with their parents,” said Christina. 

I read a very impressive testimonial from an Amazon reviewer who wrote, “This book was great! My children loved it! I can’t wait to share it with my nieces and nephews, because it’s important that we show our children how to identify and cope with their emotions. This book is a great tool to help with loss.” 

Stanley has plenty of experience working with children. She was an elementary teacher for seven years and has a master’s degree in education. Stanley is also taking courses to obtain a certified substance abuse license. Congratulations to the Chronicle’s Business of the Month, JoyUp Services. 

The CEO ended our interview with a word from the Bible: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” 

For more info and how to reach Christina Stanley, visit www.joyupservices.com and Author Christina Stanley on Facebook.