In September 2021, Mike and Becky Godsey were preparing to visit the Dominican Republic with friends when Becky’s mother became seriously ill. Becky, who traded caregiving duties with her sister, nearly canceled the trip; however, the two couples had been planning the vacation for nearly a year, and the Godseys ultimately decided to go after all. Soon after arriving in the Dominican Republic, the four friends had an otherworldly experience when they realized they were traveling within a rainbow. The rainbow seemed to move at the same speed as their vehicle, so for several minutes, they could see the proverbial “end of the rainbow.” Mike was moved by the sight and, probably thinking about Becky’s mother, told Becky, “Just remember, everything will be okay.” Eight hours later, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
Becky and her friends were in a terrible predicament. They had been traveling after dark; they didn’t know how to get help and didn’t even speak the local language. Over the next few days, they endured many frustrations with police, the coroner, and the United States Embassy. They weren’t familiar with local customs, and the language barrier made everything more difficult. Becky was told it would take three to four weeks to finalize details; however, she arrived home with Mike’s remains 11 days after his passing. “God showed his hand to us over and over,” she says.
Then Becky began “putting the pieces back together,” she says. “What you find out is that your friends are around for a while, but they’re couples and you kind of become a fifth wheel. All of a sudden, you realize, ‘I’ve got to re-establish me.’ Who are you? What’s your purpose in life now?”
Becky is not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, most American women outlive their husbands, often by many years. The average age for a woman to be widowed is 59, and a staggering 54 percent of American women over the age of 75 are widows. Many struggle to find happiness.
Unbeknownst to Becky, a woman in Brenham had navigated a similarly difficult journey a few years before. Tami Glasco was widowed shortly before her 51st birthday when her husband died in a freak accident. She grieved, bereft and lonely. In 2015, however, she and two widowed friends acted on a shared vision, inviting 25 area widows to Tami’s home for what they called An Evening of Hope: “A community of widows finding hope and healing in Christ, encouraging one another in the journey and seeking God’s purpose for our lives in this season.”
To the three friends’ astonishment, 17 women attended. It was the birthing of Hope Gathering, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission of “helping widows find hope and healing in Christ-centered communities.” There are currently 74 Hope Gathering Communities in 17 states and Canada. “The need is great, and widows are desperately longing for hope and community,” Tami says. “We are grateful for every opportunity to serve, and we give all the praise and glory to God.”
In early 2024, a friend approached Becky about starting a Hope Gathering community in Conroe. Becky, a retired public-school administrator, was reluctant, but agreed to serve as the head of the group’s leadership team. West Conroe Baptist Church offered a spacious meeting room, and in April 2024, dozens of widows from throughout the Conroe area—ranging in age from their 40s to their 80s—attended the first meeting. The West Conroe Hope Gathering was born.
Today, the group is flourishing. About 25 to 30 women attend each monthly meeting, and many members report that they look forward to the gatherings all month. Each meeting includes dinner and a short devotional, as well as an activity, such as a craft project or a game night. Sometimes guest speakers present topics of interest to single women.
The leadership team tries to make each meeting memorable. “We want it to be nice, to look pretty. We always have placemats and centerpieces. We want them to say, ‘Oh, how nice,’” Becky says. “Then they will remember it. We want them to walk away with smiles on their faces.”
Many women find friendships through Hope Gathering; they also find a network of women who can help with shared challenges. For example, members often recommend reliable tradespeople, such as plumbers or handymen, to perform tasks once assigned to their husbands.
Some women also participate in Weekend of Hope retreats, which are held every fall at Camp Allen in Navasota. “Through worship, encouraging speakers, breakout sessions, heartfelt conversations, and time spent reflecting on God’s faithfulness, women leave knowing they are deeply loved by God, strengthened by genuine community, and filled with renewed hope for the journey ahead,” Tami says. “The retreats are wonderful, spiritual weekends,” agrees Gail Graham, a member of the leadership team of the West Conroe Hope Gathering.
After losing their husbands, some women retreat to safe and predictable lives, says Cheryl Padgett, another member of West Conroe Hope Gathering’s leadership team. “Our caves are very comfortable places,” she says. “One of the pillars we talk about with Hope Gathering as you are walking down this path you have never been down before, is that you need to make changes and learn new things. Don’t forget to have fun.”
“Most have been caregivers,” Becky agrees. “Their lives have been so consumed by that mission that they have stopped living. They forget how to laugh.” For some women, she says, the most difficult part of joining Hope Gathering is getting started. “I tell people all the time, ‘the hardest thing you do is to find that flagpole and walk through those doors.’ Once they get in, the burden is gone. I’m not the only one who lost my best friend. We have something in common,” Becky says. “We have even met them at the flagpole so they don’t have to come in by themselves.”
When a neighbor told Brenda Preheim about Hope Gathering, she was nervous about attending, thinking she wouldn’t know anyone. Brenda need not have worried. As soon as she walked in, she heard someone shout, “Brenda!” Carol Bramlett, a friend from her quilting group, had spotted her. Brenda also recognized two women from her church. “And I didn’t think I would know anybody!” she says.
Brenda has been attending Hope Gathering meetings ever since. She tries to sit with people she hasn’t met before so she can get to know everyone in the group. “Everybody is so friendly,” she says. “We just feel so welcome. I recommend it.” She encouraged another widow from her church to attend, and she even invited a recently-widowed woman she met at Walmart. She looks forward to meetings, she says, and doesn’t want to miss. “Everybody is in the same situation,” she says. “Everyone’s attitude is uplifting. It’s just a feel-good evening.”
In 2025, Hope Gathering distributed 8,195 Hope Boxes—goodie boxes designed especially for widows. People often nominate widowed friends and family members to receive the boxes, which are delivered at no cost. Boxes are packed full of helpful materials, including a Bible, a devotional book, a journal, and even a tube of waterproof mascara. “We believe no widow should have to travel this journey of grief alone,” Tami says.
Hope Boxes have been instrumental in spreading the word about Hope Gathering. “What begins as a tangible reminder that a widow is seen and loved often becomes her first introduction to Hope Gathering,” Tami says. “Many women have gone on to connect with local communities, while others have felt called to step out in faith and lead new communities in their own areas.”
There are also Hope Gathering groups in Spring and Magnolia. For more information, visit hopegathering.org.
