Remembering Mimi Every

I served with PSS for seven years, from the original steering committee to Chairwoman of the Board. In the time after I left, Mimi Every was hired. She was an answer to prayer! She brought with her a caring heart and very rich array of gifts to lift this ministry to the service it is today. 

When we first met as a newly-hatched Board, trying to get PSS opened, our weekly prayer was that the Lord would help us build a foundation, on which He could build anything. We prayed about every decision and saw amazing things happen. When I met Mimi, she immediately struck me as a loving, warm and committed Christian. She was enthusiastic and cared so much about the people around her. Like so much in life that is made to endure, her character was the foundation for the many years she led the ministry. It isn’t always the important work we try and do that pleases God, it is the love with which we do that work. 

Mimi Every was a lover. She cared and led a ministry that protected the helpless. She loved those struggling and those who needed pre and post birth help and care and counsel for those needing post abortion counsel too. She was in the battle with hope and truth and persistence. 

She leaves a legacy. A hope for others to carry on in the name of God to love and care for struggling mothers, fathers and unborn babies.

-Kathy Russell, Chairwoman of the PSS Steering Committee
 

I served on the board of PSS for several years when Mimi was Executive Director. Her passion and commitment to women in crisis was infectious to everyone who knew her. Mimi had a strong Christian faith. She viewed PSS as God’s assignment to her on this earth. She cared, not only for the babies, but equally about the women. She loved women where they were and tried to minister to their current needs. 

A gifted speaker, Mimi was always ready to present PSS on demand to different churches or civic organizations. Mimi was also very creative, and was always looking for new ways to improve the ministry. These included addition of ultrasound machines, offering helpful classes (e.g. child care, basic finances, Bible Study), and a clothing closet to help with initial needs.

Mimi will be sorely missed here on earth but welcomed in her heavenly home with a resounding “well done, good and faithful servant.”

-Dr. Barron Housel, PSS Board Chair

I met and worked with Mimi as a Board member of PSS. Her love for women and their concerns manifested itself immediately. During our Board training, she wanted us to understand the ministry to help guide our decisions. I loved how she showed us our clients were not projects, but people. People she saw and heard; who felt seen and cared for as she listened and responded to their personal stories first. Their issues came second. Volunteers were trained to respond the same way. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Mimi was personable, loving, trustworthy, honest, and faithful. I grew as a Christian, volunteer, and friend under her influence.
-Velinda Hatcher, PSS Board Member

Mimi was a small woman with a big heart and a determined spirit. I knew Mimi from my connections at Holy Infant Catholic Church. Mimi was always willing to come speak and be an advocate for PSS in our community. She welcomed volunteers from Holy Infant and equipped them with the effective skills to assist the ministry. Mimi’s dedication to helping women in crisis pregnancies was a blessing to our Triangle area over the 20-plus years she served as the director. She was a shining star proclaiming the “Sanctity of Human Life” to our community and a beacon of Hope to families.

-Diane Gerding, Respect Life Coordinator, Holy Infant Catholic Church


                                       

Mimi and I met during my PSS volunteer training over twenty five years ago. I am forever grateful for Mimi’s impact on PSS as a ministry and on me as a professional who cares for women in unexpected pregnancies. She was a ministry partner and friend who had a vision for how I could use my medical training and serve the Lord at PSS. She eventually hired me to head up ultrasound and clinical services, a position I have held for eighteen years and which has been beyond meaningful and fulfilling. Her encouraging and affirming words still resonate through the years. 

Mimi’s leadership and influence in pregnancy care ministry leave a legacy of excellence and fruitful labor in the kingdom of God. Her energy, vibrant spirit, and dedication to her work were contagious. She was a visionary who could also execute while inspiring those of us around her. Hearing her speak at PSS fundraising events was always a highlight. Mimi’s laughter, friendly disposition, and winsome personality will be missed in this world. We at PSS certainly miss her partnership and friendship. 

-Georgina Fierro Keene, Clinical Services Director at PSS


                               

Mimi’s passion to serve “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40) made an impact on earth that was felt in heaven. I had the privilege of serving with her on the board of PSS for several years, and was deeply moved by the depth of her commitment to the unborn and their families. Mimi served thoughtfully and energetically, recognizing that her ultimate service was to her Savior. She sought to care not only for the physical needs of PSS clients, but for their souls as well. She would celebrate even the smallest victory, and was grateful to God for every step forward. I smile when I think of the number of hearts and lives she has touched. Her life, given to her Lord in love, was a beautiful blessing to many!

-Dr. James Banks, Author, Pastor of Peace Church

I first met Mimi at PSS in 1996. From that first day, Mimi's enthusiasm for pregnancy care ministry was apparent. Mimi became a dear friend, co-worker and sister in Christ. Her passion for her work; her ability to never meet a stranger and her contagious smile were exceeded only by her love for her family and her God.

She was a life-long teacher and loved nothing more than to use her teaching skills wherever she could to educate others regarding pro-life and pro-family issues. Mimi saw that the key to providing loving and compassionate care to clients was dependent upon staff, board members and volunteers having excellent training, continuing education and a sense of calling to the ministry.   

Mimi was well respected throughout NC and was instrumental in the establishment of the state-wide organization of pregnancy centers, Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship, the first such state organization in the country. She was recruited as a consultant with CareNet, a national organization established to provide quality standards, legal and organizational support to member pregnancy centers throughout the country.  As a consultant, Mimi provided guidance throughout the Southeastern US to steering committees wishing to establish centers in their communities; and providing training to Boards of Directors, staff and volunteers in their roles in support of the mission of their centers.

The  Durham and Chapel Hill communities have been significantly impacted by Mimi's ministry and leadership at PSS and will continue to live on for generations. I am convinced that I will not fully appreciate the impact of her ministry until we are reunited at the feet of our Savior. I look forward to that day!

-Wanda Rhoden, PSS Office Manager


                          

I remember the day I met Mimi Every. It was the spring of 1997. I had agreed to meet her and Roland Wilkins (PSS’ then Board Chair) for lunch. They wanted to discuss the possibility of my joining the PSS board. I believed that the unborn were children from the point of conception, but I had never really considered their fight to be born. As we talked, I was intrigued how much I believed in PSS’ mission. But there were two things I needed to know before I would commit. I remember saying, “I’m pro life but I’m not going out and holding up picket signs!”  They laughed and assured me that was not what PSS was about.  

The other thing I needed to know seems even more pointed at this point in history. I asked, “What’s the ratio of black women served by PSS, and how is that reflected on your board?”  Mimi and Roland looked at each other and she said, “That’s exactly why we need you. We want your help in making our board and donor base better understand and reflect who we serve.”  From that moment, the three of us were friends!  I ended up on PSS’ board for 6 years, about 4 of which I served as President. What an amazing journey it was walking hand-in-hand with this dynamo of a woman and board committed to God’s most important task—LIFE!

Even when she retired from PSS, Mimi continued her love and fight for the unborn — encouraging the Body of Christ to pay attention, give generously, pray fervently and love intentionally. She was their hero on earth, holding up their cause, never giving up on justice for them. My life will never be the same, and I suspect for those of you who knew her, you would say the same.

-Karlene S. Turrentine, Esq.

I enjoyed my time of getting to know Mimi when I transitioned into the Executive Director position at PSS in 2013. We spent several weeks together talking non-stop about the history of PSS along with the day-to-day ins and outs of how to keep this Durham/Chapel Hill ministry "fresh" and relevant in our mission to reach women considering their choices in unplanned pregnancies with the help and hope of the Gospel. We continued to meet one day a week for 6 months....each meeting filled with conversations of her 20-plus years of wisdom and knowledge about pregnancy care ministry, and I also got to hear stories about her well loved grandchildren. 

Mimi cared deeply for PSS...for it to always be a safe place for women to talk, to be truthfully educated, and to be offered the good news of Jesus Christ. She worked tirelessly to build this ministry and to help train staff, volunteers, and board members of other pregnancy care centers in North Carolina through her position and training with CareNet. Mimi was energized by being able to educate others.

-Ruby Bea Peters, PSS Executive Director (June 2013-September 2018)

For many of us, Mimi Every was a friend and recognized leader who ably led us by example, through training, and encouragement. In so many ways, she was an example of what leading a pregnancy center should look like.

LifeLink Carolina (then still Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship) became an official non-profit in 1998 under her leadership as our Chair. Her enthusiasm and diligent striving for excellence moved us forward when there were few state organizations of PRCs.

For those who may not have had the joy of knowing her, be encouraged. Twenty-five years leading a center can be done with excellence!

-Bobbie Meyer, State Director, DBA LIFElink Carolina
 

Mimi was a force to be reckoned with. The first time we met, she went straight to the point - and I admired that about her. She said some hard things to me and I listened. Just about the first words out of her mouth were: It's not your job to do the Holy Spirit's job. 

We secured Mimi as a Care Net consultant when Hand of Hope Pregnancy Centers was just opening. I vividly remember Mimi telling me that I needed to resign from any other ministry position I held and that Hand of Hope would now become my ministry. Mimi also taught me the wisdom behind having a Titus 2 woman in your life. She knew I needed such a woman; as 15 years ago, I was a different woman, a different wife, a different mother and a different leader. That day, Mimi prayed for that difference to be revealed to me on a daily basis so that God could craft that difference in me. She exuded Jesus and His desire to be real to each of us.

A poignant memory that sticks out when I remember Mimi was when we got together to pray. Mimi had invited me to just come pray with her. No agenda. No motive. Just pray. And I went. Her prayers taught me a lot about myself too. She prayed so sincerely, "God, don't let me become calloused when I see these women turn their hearts from You yet again."  Ministry is tough. Pregnancy center ministry has certainly got to be one of the absolute toughest since a bad day for us normally means a tiny little baby has died before she even got a chance to live. Mimi was teaching me through her prayers that God is still God and we are not Him.  

In recent years, I have been nose deep in the mechanics of a federal lawsuit with our center at 1522 Jones Franklin Road called Your Choice Pregnancy Clinic; but the lessons she taught me will forever live on. I did not personally learn of her desire to send memorial contributions to Your Choice until after her death. I am truly humbled and was brought to tears thinking that she had that much love and respect for those of us who stand united all across our community for the cause of the unborn. It is an honor to speak for the speechless. Today, I'm a little bit speechless with the revelation that Mimi chose to honor each defenseless little baby in the womb that our centers in Fuquay, Raleigh and Fayetteville (Opening in late 2020) get to meet on a daily basis. "In my life, Lord, be glorified..."  See you soon, Mimi, see you soon.

-Tonya Baker Nelson, Founder & CEO, Hand of Hope & Your Choice Pregnancy Centers

PSS is honored to have been led by Mimi Every for almost a quarter of a century. Her legacy continues today. To honor the family’s request, memorial contributions can be sent to:

Blacknall Church,  1902 Perry St., Durham, NC 27705

Your Choice Pregnancy Center Clinic, 1522 Jones Franklin Rd., Raleigh, NC 27606

Durham Rescue Mission, 1201 E. Main St., Durham, NC 27701