On a Rocky Road

“Come on ma'am... time to move on." Kimball peeked at the park worker through sleepy eyes. The morning songbirds serenaded her as she gathered her bags. The singer drew in a deep cleansing breath and glanced at her watch... only an hour until her shift started at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Kimball was a respected volunteer. She was also homeless. Her home that day was a park in downtown Atlanta. rnKimball believed there were people less fortunate than herself – and they were the patients in the hospital. Every day she gave of her time, her heart and her song to help those recuperating from surgery, accidents and disease. An accomplished singer and orator, Kimball Williams had not always been homeless. But sometimes life forces us down a rough and rocky road in order to get us to a beautiful place. Kimball knew the only way to get off that rocky road was to give herself out of that bad place. And so, Kimball literally sang and volunteered her way onto a smoother road. She became an advocate for the poor, abused and destitute; and as she took care of so many others, local leaders noticed and took care of her. She had left the rocky pathway and found herself on the way to a more successful life again. Kimball never forgets where she has been. She is known throughout Georgia for her outlandish but gorgeous hair bows, her generosity and her voice. She is not a part time volunteer. She does not work on others’ behalf in her spare time. Now that she has a home and a career as a sought after singer and speaker, she still devotes her time to several causes and events, and has become the voice of "‘Feed The People Christmas Party,” a Christmas party for homeless, abandoned, abused and generally underprivileged children. Kimball is also involved in a long list of fundraisers. She knows only too well that poverty, abuse and disease never rest; and so neither does she. Undaunted in her life's passion and mission to serve others, she let nothing stop her. Not even being homeless. There were times she wanted to give up and quit. But she didn't. Take comfort from knowing that other folks have faced some pretty hard times and they've managed to turn their lives around...and knowing that you can too!