Staff photo.
Sherri Burgess
Sherri Burgess holds a picture of her son, Bronner. Burgess will be honored during the Lovelady Center’s third annual gala Feb. 18.
After her son Bronner died, Sherri Burgess found comfort in her family and community at Shades Mountain Baptist Church. Now, the Lovelady Center is honoring Burgess and the recent publication of her memoir about Bronner during its 2016 gala.
The Club will host the Lovelady Center third annual gala Feb. 18. The event includes dinner, dancing and a live auction to support the services of the Lovelady Center.
The gala’s theme is Three Times a Lady, and the evening will feature the sounds of Lionel Richie and 70s music. Auction items include vacations to Destin, Cuba, Costa Rica and Antigua, as well as other experiences.
Burgess, the wife of radio personality Rick Burgess, recently published “Bronner: A Journey to Understand.” The book is a memoir about the loss of her son Bronner when he was a toddler, and the Burgess family’s attempts to heal after the tragedy.
The Lovelady Center cares for an average of 500 women and children each day at its location in downtown Birmingham, including service meals, addiction treatment, job training, education, medical services, counseling and community re-entry after leaving prison.
Sherri Burgess said she supports the work of the Lovelady Center because of the stories she has heard from the women there about their changed lives.
“Life in this world is hard. We need each other. I’ve heard personal stories from women who have gone through the center who say, ‘I know the power of God because he changed me,’ Burgess said. “I love the Lovelady Center because I love the Lord, and they are doing what He asked us to do - care for one another, not just those who can pay us back or do some favor in return.”
Tickets to the event are $125 and can be purchased by contacting Jeanne Carreker at jcarreker@loveladycenter.org. EBSCO, Vulcan Materials and White Arnold & Dowd P.C. are sponsoring the gala.
“It’s a true honor to be recognized by this selfless organization. May we all be as selfless as the Lovelady Center in our walk in this world,” Sherri Burgess said.
