TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – When local families go through unimaginable loss, a Tallahassee nonprofit is there for them. <\/p>\n
The Compassionate Friends of Tallahassee<\/a> provides support and comfort to those who\u2019ve lost a child or grandchild.<\/p>\n For almost 50 years, the Compassionate Friends of Tallahassee has offered support, comfort and hope to families in the Tallahassee area following the death of a child or grandchild.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen members come to our meeting unable to share their story, unable to talk, but with time, though, they begin talking about their child, who they were, how they lived and what made them special,\u201d Chapter leader Becky Barch said.<\/p>\n The non-profit is entirely volunteer-run and relies on fundraising and donations. Members gather monthly, and each December, they take part in a worldwide candle lighting to remember their loved ones.<\/p>\n \u201cNone of us ever expected or wanted to become a member of the Compassionate Friends, but knowing how comforting it is to be with people that understand your grief is pretty awesome,\u201d Barch said.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a group Barch found herself turning to after the death of her son, Jonathan.<\/p>\n \u201cI became a member of the club no one wants to belong to on Dec. 20, 2004. My son, our son, was our only child; he was 16 and a half.\u201d<\/p>\n Jonathan tragically died in a car crash. Barch said leading the chapter as a certified grief educator and keeping the group going is one way she honors Jonathan\u2019s memory. <\/p>\n Each month, Barch leads meetings with five to 12 people, including Linda Dix, who started attending after her daughter, Ronell, was murdered in 1996.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people, when you lose a child, aren\u2019t sure what to say or what to do. And a lot of people think you should get over it, you know. It\u2019s been 30 years, but you know I still grieve; I still miss her,\u201d Dix said.<\/p>\n Dix said a friend encouraged her to start attending meetings. This decision has helped her navigate her grief for the last 30 years. She said that grief never truly goes away, but being surrounded by people who understand what she\u2019s going through helps tremendously.<\/p>\n \u201cIf my friend hadn\u2019t told me about it, I don\u2019t know if I ever would have found it. It\u2019s not something you look for or even think about joining until something tragic happens in your life, and then it\u2019s a life support, it\u2019s a lifeline, it gives you something to hold on to and know that others can help you.\u201d<\/p>\n Barch said one of the group\u2019s biggest goals is making sure people know about their services, and even if you don\u2019t need them, you may know someone who does.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of our greatest challenges, though, is to reach families that need us but don\u2019t know we are here. So we want every grieving parent, grandparent, and adult sibling in our community to know that support is available whenever they are ready,\u201d Barch said.<\/p>\n And while it\u2019s a group no one expects or wants to join, Barch said the connections people make often turn into lasting friendships.<\/p>\n \u201cIn our meetings, you don\u2019t have to pretend you\u2019re okay. You can talk, cry, or simply listen. We ask that everyone respect our confidentiality. When it\u2019s shared in the room, it stays in the room. We can\u2019t take away your pain, but you don\u2019t have to face it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n