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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© 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

Grief as Grace is a Black women’s archive dedicated to
preserving and sharing the stories, voices, and lived
experiences of Black women navigating grief, loss, love, and
healing. We believe in the power of storytelling as a way to
honour our past, strengthen our communities, and pass on
wisdom to future generations.

This Conversation with Jaidah
Jaidah reflects on childhood loss and an origin story
marked by absence and unspoken pain, while honouring a
mother’s journey through rehabilitation. She speaks to
facing neglect, the people who stepped in to cover her with
love, and the grace of growing into — and learning to love —
herself. Her chosen image, a sunset, is a quiet reminder of
the divinity in each day. Grief has many forms; many are
explored here.
Trigger warning: This conversation contains references to neglect, parental
substance use, and sexual violence.

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Louise Hill- Davis | LinkedIn

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

A Conversation with Iyanuoluwa
Grief as Grace: A Black Women’s Archive

Grief as Grace is a Black women’s archive dedicated to
preserving and sharing the stories, voices, and lived
experiences of Black women navigating grief, loss, love, and
healing. We believe in the power of storytelling as a way to
honour our past, strengthen our communities, and pass on
wisdom to future generations.

A Yoruba woman, Iyanuoluwa shares the loss of her
uncle, aunty, and unborn niece in a car accident in
Nigeria — lives that could have been saved with better
infrastructure. We speak about love, the trope of the
strong Black woman, and the right to rest and cry. The
image for this conversation was chosen by Iyanuoluwa,
who said: “Egbon Tayo, who guided me, and Iyawo wan
Ifeoluwa, who carried light within her. They were my
safe place, my encouragers, my family. Their seat may
be empty now, silent for a time, but their light
continues to shine brightly through my heart.”

Some content may be triggering.

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Louise Hill- Davis | LinkedIn

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

A Conversation with Vanessa
Grief as Grace: A Black Women’s Archive
Vanessa reflects on the layered and complex relationship
she had with her father. In the photograph she chose, he
is seated on a throne-like chair, carrying himself with a
regal presence. The image captures him in a way that
speaks of strength, stature and a life fully lived. She also
chose a photograph of the two of them together, where
their resemblance is undeniable. Today, when she looks in
the mirror, she sees his features looking back at her. It is a
reminder of their connection, and she treasures that
reflection as part of the grace in her grief.
Her story holds both tenderness and truth. She speaks of
the honour of caring for her father in his final days so that
he could pass away at home, surrounded by the love of
family. It was a final act of service and devotion, giving
him comfort and dignity in the place he knew best. This
conversation acknowledges the complexities of love, loss
and legacy, and the ways in which his presence continues
to shape her life.
Trigger Warning
This conversation contains discussion of parental loss
and the emotional impact of grief.

We invite you to listen deeply to Vanessa’s story. These
words are offered with openness and honesty, and they
may resonate in ways that feel personal.

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Louise Hill- Davis | LinkedIn

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