Assistance with Martha Herald's Funeral Expenses

My name is Taylor Herald, and I am humbly requesting assistance with my mother's funeral and burial expenses. Her passing was unexpected, and we were unfortunately unprepared.

For those who would like to know more about the phenomenal woman who raised me:

My mother had me later in her life - she was 37, to be exact - and I believe motherhood came later to her because it took her years to convince herself that she was qualified to be a parent. You see, my mother was a formidable leader with maximum confidence, but she would eventually confide to me that she often questioned her ability to be the tender, guiding presence a child needs in a mother. Motherhood, however, was perhaps the role in her life for which she was best suited, as through our 29 years together I never doubted the authenticity or power of the love and protection she provided me. From sheltering me from a childhood that had the potential to be insurmountable, to standing by side through my own illness as a teenager, to putting me through the college of my dreams, her example of devotion will be cherished by me forever.

Since joining her on her journey of life, our experiences have been daunting and inextricably linked. When my mother was six months pregnant, she and I were struck by lightening while she was cooking dinner for her family. I'm not sure how we both came out unscathed, but thus began a theme of she and I maneuvering life's most challenging moments together. Later, when it was time to deliver me, being the devoted worker she was, she briefly left the hospital after being admitted for labor because she had "files to do organize at the office." 37 hours of labor later (and many organized files), she would finally meet the girl who would idolize the reluctant mother's every thought and action for the next 29 years. Beginning then and ending today, a person rarely saw one of us without the other. Typically, I was trailing behind the tall and confident woman as she guided the two of us through difficulties that bent our will but never broke our abilities to endure with compassion, resolve, and humility.

As I receive condolences tonight, I am most proud that people from all arenas of society have shared instances of the warmth and support they felt from the woman I was blessed to be carried by. Indeed, if Martha Thomas Herald was your friend (and she would be a friend to anyone), you had a person who would never back down in her support for you. Mama, the fierce protector with a tender heart, never truly realized how deeply she was treasured by her many friends, but it was an honor to share her with others.

My heart is broken - shattered, really - and I do question how I will be able to function without her. But, I can hear her telling me to "take the bull by the horns" and "push forward." So, I will do just that.

I love you, Mama. I know you are enjoying the reunion you're having with the outstanding family that molded you into the force that you were. Even though you told me, daily, that you were proud of me, I promise that you'll be even more impressed by how much I will strive to be the strong woman that you were. I'll miss you for the rest of my days. - Taybug.