VAUGHN’S WAY.

HONORING THE LEGACY OF VAUGHN PARKER JR.

When my husband first passed, it was so hard to say the words: he lost his battle to mental health. I dreaded having that conversation and often felt frustrated when the first question people asked was, “How did he pass?”

But over time, something changed. I spoke with some of his friends and associates, and they shared their own struggles. They explained how they understood the pain he must have felt because they, too, had been in that same dark space. Those conversations sparked something in me—the beginning of Vaughn’s Way Inc.

I discussed with my son, Jalyn Holmes the idea of creating Vaughn’s Way to bring awareness to men’s mental health and provide support to those in need. We knew we had to turn our pain into purpose. If losing Vaughn could save even one life or bring awareness to someone struggling, his death wouldn’t be in vain. His legacy of giving and helping others would live on—not just in memory, but in action.

Recently it has been hard and triggering for me. My grief had struck in the form of anger and I really didn’t want to move forward with Vaughn’s Way. However, with the most recent losses our community has suffered due to mental illness it made me remember exactly why we started Vaughn’s Way—why our mission and purpose matter so much. Mental health does not have a particular look. So many people are silently struggling, and sometimes all it takes is one conversation to save a life. This article, “If Anyone Asks, This Was an Accident”, talks about having these tough but necessary conversations.

I still don’t like to use the word suicide, but I choose to say he lost his battle to mental health. Because that’s exactly what it was—a battle. And it’s one that so many are still fighting. Let’s keep breaking the stigma and showing up for one another.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support Vaughn’s Way and our mission to serve and uplift our community.