By NIVA DOROUGH / Community Columnist

Louise Dorough is thankful to have three of her grandsons back home after they were traveling out of the country to different places, but at the same time.

During spring break, John-Mark Dorough and his wife, Ashley, traveled to Haiti on a mission trip with a group of youth and college students from Church of the Highlands.

While they were there, they conducted Bible schools, held praise and worship services and helped install water filters for eight families.

Another grandson, Patrick Dreher, was also on a mission trip to Guatemala for one week with a group of college students and youth from Lakeside Baptist Church. They blessed the people there by constructing 10 new houses.

At the same time, Patrick’s brother, Daniel Dreher, was in Bahrain on a work-related trip, which was cut short because of safety issues.

Louise said she thought it was unusual for them to be gone at the same time, but knew they were all blessed for giving of their time.

It is not unusual to think of them going on mission trips when they have had their “Mamaw” be such a good example of giving. She will be 87 years young on June 20 and has been like a “ home missionary” throughout her life with the gift of giving.

She has been steadfast in loving and serving her six children, 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren, plus continually giving to neighbors and friends. She is so proud of her family and how they serve in the communities they live in.

Louise is a life-long resident of Shelby County. She lived on a large farm in Wilsonville and moved to the Westover-Chelsea area about 1957. She is a member of Mt. Signal Baptist Church on old Highway 280 and loves to be able to go and fellowship with her friends there, and she is always willing to bless others when there is a particular need.

Proverbs 31 describes the character of a virtuous woman, and when you read this you will find Louise meets these requirements. Once she cross-stitched a piece to give to her daughters and daughters-in-law that read, “There is no higher calling in life than raising the children God has trusted to our care.”

She has fulfilled this calling. She is not only a good friend, but I’m proud to say, she is my mother-in-law.

Niva Dorough can be reached at nivasinger@aol.com.