Grief as Grace: A conversation with Odette

Odette reflects on the loss of her twin sister, a subject often left unspoken in Black communities. Her words centre on mental health and the silence surrounding grief, while also challenging cultural taboos around seeking counselling. Through moments of everyday life, from children calling to tasks waiting, she highlights the weight of expectation on Black women today.

Trigger Warning
This conversation includes references to suicide.

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© 2025 Louise Hill-Davis, Grief as Grace – A Black Women’s Archive

Grief as Grace: An Intimate Dialogue with Louise and Sheriden

Grief as Grace is a Black women’s archive that holds stories of loss, care, and resilience. It honours the fullness of grief, the joy in memory, and the wisdom of lived experience, reminding us that grief is not something to be fixed but something to be carried, shared, and respected.

In this intimate dialogue, hosted by Sheriden, Louise, the producer of Grief as Grace, reflects on her relationship with grief. She speaks about the people who shaped her, the beauty and challenges of family life, and the strength that carries us through loss. Her reflections reveal how grief can live alongside gratitude, and how everyday acts of care keep us connected. Grief emerges not only as an ending, but also as a continuation of love, legacy, and story.

Trigger Warning
This conversation includes reflections on the death of parents, sudden loss, drink driving, and mental health. Please listen with care and take breaks if you need to.

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Louise Hill- Davis | LinkedIn

© 2025 Louise Hill-Davis, Grief as Grace – A Black Women’s Archive

Grief as Grace is a Black women’s audio archive holding stories,
memories, and reflections from our own mouths and hearts. We
honour our ancestors and communities by telling the truth of our
grief, our joy, and the places in between.
We stand as keepers of our own narratives.
We create a home for the voices of Black women across time and
place.
We record grief not as weakness but as a form of grace, a way of
holding love after loss.
We acknowledge the beauty and complexity of our culture, our
heritage, and our lived experience.

In this conversation, Khothatso speaks about the
profound heartbreak of losing her mother and father
within a short space of time. She reflects on the journey
of travelling home to say goodbye. There are many people in our communities who carry the pain of not being able to return home for a final farewell. Her
words move between personal memory and collective
experience, offering both witness and understanding.
She speaks of the challenges, the emotional weight of
long-distance grief, and the resilience found in holding
onto family bonds across borders. The conversation
carries an undercurrent of faith, cultural grounding, and
the bravery it takes to open ourselves to our deepest
feelings.
Khothatso’s voice is a reminder of the strength we inherit from
those who came before us, and of the ways we can honour them
— in how we live, how we love, and how we remember.

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Louise Hill- Davis | LinkedIn

© 2025 Louise Hill-Davis, Grief as Grace – A Black Women’s Archive