jean jacobs - THE DIVINE DIVA: Jean Jacobs' compassion story

I meet a lot of people who don't acknowledge the larger impact of the small actions they take in life.

Jean Jacobs, a retired school teacher, is one of those people. To be fair, at first, she did not want to do this story.

Jacobs is a humble woman who started something big - one of the first church-based cancer support groups in the area - at her church, Winter Park Baptist Church.

Her friend, Sally Lennon, pursuaded her to talk about her Harbor of Hope Cancer Support Group to get the word out about the ministry to people who need the help. Jacobs began the support group after her own experience with breast cancer in 2006. She's been in remission for the past six years.

"Our mission was to provide support for anyone diagnosed with cancer and their families," regardless of what type of cancer they have or their religion, Jacobs said. The support Jacobs got while staying at Caring House in Durham during her treatments at Duke underscored the need in her mind to have a support group for other cancer patients in the area. Caring House is a nonprofit that cares for people getting outpatient treatment for cancer at Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Harbor of Hope group now meets at 3 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at Winter Park Baptist. Jacobs doesn't put a time limit on the meetings so everyone has a chance to share their thoughts and feelings. And everything said in the group is confidential.

"We've grown so much we're getting ready to start a second group because I feel they (support groups) should be kept small enough for people to get to know each other," she said. "Helping others is what helps me the most."

It's clear her peer group relies on her. Twice in a 45-minute interview she got calls requesting prayers for families she knew. Jacobs said arranging and facilitating the cancer support group is part of her ministry to others.

"I've had so many good things happen to me," Jacobs said.

She told of an instance when she and a friend were eating out and getting ready to pay for their meal. Their waitress came over to ask if they wanted dessert. She told them to eat all they wanted because someone else had paid for the meal.

Jacobs bought a TV at Kmart, and it wouldn't fit into her car. An elderly man driving by in his truck asked if he could drive it home for her.

"So what can I do but give back to others," she said, "God has spared my life for a reason."

Details: 392-9544 or 791-4725.


Source: blogs.starnewsonline.com