Vina native Dr. O’Shea Lowery returned to her hometown church, Vina First Baptist, for a reception, meet-and-greet and book signing.

Now living in Dallas, Texas, Lowery serves as the executive director for Entrusted Hope Ministries. Her book, “My Life as a Single Mom: Seven Biblical Lessons for Transforming Your Life and Family,” is the first book in the Strong and Courageous ministry, an outreach of Entrusted Hope Ministries.

Lowery explained it all started when she was 24 and her husband, Jeff, was killed. “Our son, Randy, and our daughter, Mandy, were just babies,” she said. After the tragedy, she and her children eventually moved to Red Bay.

“I just did life as a single mom, then the Lord called me to seminary in my latter years,” said Lowery. “I developed a ministry for single moms that churches can bring in, and that’s the focus of my book. I went back to my hometown church to share it because the Lord put it on my heart to go back to where I was when it all started.”

Lowery’s hometown event was held Nov. 13, 2022. Her children were among those to attend. “We had a really great turnout, including high school friends and teachers and other friends and interested parties from the community,” she added. “It was wonderful to share my story and see both new and familiar faces.”

She said it was people from that church that helped get her and her family through that trying time.

“People were so good to us and prayed for us,” she explained, “and I wanted them to see the other side of it and what God’s done through it. I just want to get the word out.”

Lowery, 55, is a proud grandmother of six.