The experience of loss can change your life. Often, the emotional roller coaster of grieving can be confusing and difficult to understand. Bereaved persons have found that talking with someone who understands about their experience is one way to work through the grief experience. Others who have shared a similar experience of loss may have insights to share with you and you with them. Groups such as those listed below may offer the grieving person valuable information and emotional support.

Local Grief Support Groups (National support groups are listed below)

December 15, 2008 at 7:00 PM Blyth Funeral Home's Grief Support Group will meet at Oakbrook Memorial Park Family Center with Dr. William Harris. Everone is welcome.

For additional information please call Blyth Funeral Home (864) 223-2223 or Dr. J. William Harris (864) 223-9545.

Compassionate Friends - Open to parents who have lost a child, first Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at the Hospice office. Contact Charles Schwartz at 941-8140.

Cross Roads - A group meeting for survivors of suicide to be held on the second Monday of each month from 6:30 - 7:30 PM at Lowell Street United Methodist Church, 300 Lowell Street, Greenwood, SC 29646. Office: 864-229-2704, e-mail: crossroads_sos@yahoo.com

First Presbyterian Church - Stephen Minstry. Contact Peggy Hammett or Ruby Clark at 229-5814.

Holiday Help - Blyth Funeral Home sponsors a holiday candlelight memorial service conducted by Accord Grief Management. This service is usually held immediately following the Thanksgiving holiday. You may contact the funeral home for more information.

Honea Path Grief Support Group - open to everyone, first Thursday of every month 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 100 South Main St., Honea Path.

Hospice Grief Support - Open to everyone, third Monday of every month at 12:00 noon at the Hospice office. Lunch is provided, so please call ahead at 227-9393.

Hospice Men's Grief Support Group - Open to men, third Thursday of every month at 9:00 a.m. at the Hospice office. If planning to attend, please call ahead at 227-9393.

Northside Baptist Church - Open to everyone, every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the church office area, 229-6010.

National Grief Support Groups
Many of these national organizations have local chapters. We have listed their addresses and phone numbers for your easy reference. You may be able to find a local group by calling the national organization for a referral.

AARP Widowed Persons Service - 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049, 202-434-2260 - An outreach program for those who have lost a spouse.

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation - 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 460, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, 800-366-2223 - for parents of children who have cancer or who have died of cancer.

The Compassionate Friends - PO Box 3696, Oakbrook, Illinois 60522-3696, 630-990-0010 - for bereaved parents and siblings.

The National Hospice Organization - 1700 Diagonal Rd, Suite 625, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, 703-243-5900 - offers support to families before, during and following the death of a terminally ill person.

Parents Without Partners - 1650 South Dixie Hwy., Suite 500, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, 800-637-7974 - regards the needs of single parents and their children.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance - 1314 Bedford Ave., Suite 210, Baltimore, Maryland 21208, 800-221-SIDS (7437) - offers information and support to parents who have lost a child to SIDS.

Survivors After Suicide - Ray of Hope, Inc. - PO Box 2323, Iowa City, Iowa 52244, 319-337-9890 - for information and support to survivors.