Perhaps because she lost so much herself, Barbara Moss has a passion for helping people cope with grief and loss. A resident of New Orleans, she fled her city in August 2005 shortly before Hurricane Katrina struck. Moss lost her home, her friends and her career. She lived in a hotel for four months, eventually finding employment as a pediatric oncology social worker at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, Fla.

 

Two years ago she settled in Effingham County and became a grief counselor with Hospice Savannah’s Full Circle. She has joined the Rotary of Effingham County and has worked with the Effingham Board of Education to provide grief services in the schools as needed. She is also planning to work with the police department, fire department and mayor’s office. Moss said she has always wanted to give more to Effingham County as a way of indirectly giving back to and honoring her community in New Orleans. 

 

Finally her wishes are coming true. Hospice Savannah’s Full Circle now occupies an office in the United Way Service Center’s building in Rincon.

 

Each Tuesday between 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Moss holds office hours to counsel children or adults individually or in group sessions, and plans to offer advance directives planning workshops and presentations on coping with grief during the holidays. To schedule an appointment, call her at (912) 629-1089. Counseling is available at no charge as a community service of non-profit Hospice Savannah.

 

An open house for Moss and the Full Circle bereavement staff will be held Aug. 26 from 5-7 p.m. at the United Way of the Coastal Empire Effingham County Service Center at 711 Zitterour Dr. in Rincon.