Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayana Lewis.
Hi Ayana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey began from a place of both profound loss and deep faith. In 2009, my husband and I experienced the unimaginable loss of two of our children, Abria and Chase, in a house fire. While that tragedy changed our lives forever, it also inspired us to create something meaningful from our pain. In 2010, we founded the Abria’s Chase Foundation to support families through grief, provide fire safety education, and help rebuild lives after tragedy.
Today, I serve as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, providing counseling services through Healthy Mind Healthy Me, PLLC, and as a PRN clinician with Maria Parham Behavioral Health. My work focuses on grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges.
In addition to counseling, I am honored to serve my community through leadership roles, including serving as Chair of the Vance County Board of Education, ministry work at Mount Zion United Holy Church, and facilitating grief support groups for adults and children through the Abria’s Chase Foundation.
Looking back, every step of my journey has been shaped by a desire to turn pain into purpose. What began as a family’s response to unimaginable loss has grown into a lifelong commitment to serving others. Whether through counseling, ministry, education, or community outreach, my goal is to help people find hope, healing, and strength during some of life’s most difficult moments. Today, I am grateful for every opportunity to make a positive impact and to honor the legacy of my children by helping others move from grief to growth.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not always been a smooth road. Building organizations and programs that serve the community has come with obstacles. Whether securing resources, navigating unexpected setbacks, or leading through difficult decisions, there have been moments that tested my patience and perseverance. As a leader, I’ve learned that growth often requires stepping outside of your comfort zone and remaining committed even when the path forward is unclear. Professionally, launching and growing a counseling practice while continuing to serve in other leadership roles has required faith, determination, and resilience. There have been challenges, but each one has helped me grow stronger, become more adaptable, and gain a deeper appreciation for the people and opportunities that have supported me along the way. Every challenge has taught me something valuable, and those lessons continue to shape both my personal and professional journey today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Abria’s Chase Foundation ?
Abria’s Chase Foundation was founded in 2010 following a tragic house fire that changed our family’s life forever. Since then, our mission has been to help families prevent tragedy, recover from devastating losses, and find hope and healing during difficult times.
Our work is centered around three pillars: Prevention, Rebuilding, and Counseling.
Prevention focuses on fire safety education. We provide smoke detectors and batteries to families and educate communities on the importance of creating a home fire safety plan, regularly testing smoke alarms, and practicing fire prevention strategies.
Rebuilding supports individuals and families who have experienced house fires or other catastrophic life events. Through this pillar, we provide essential items such as clothing, furniture, and household necessities to help families begin rebuilding their lives.
Counseling offers emotional support and healing opportunities for those navigating grief and loss. We facilitate support groups for adults, children, and families, creating safe spaces where individuals can share their experiences, receive encouragement, and find hope as they move forward.
At Abria’s Chase Foundation, we believe that healing involves more than meeting immediate needs, it requires addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Through our three pillars, we strive to transform tragedy into purpose and provide support, resources, and hope to families when they need it most.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a caring and compassionate person who genuinely enjoyed helping others, but I also loved having fun and spending time with my friends. Some of my favorite memories are simply hanging out, laughing, and enjoying life with the people closest to me. I was social, enjoyed building relationships, and loved being around family and friends. I was family-oriented and learned early on the importance of faith and hard work. I have always had a heart for people and found joy in encouraging others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abriaschasefoundation.org
- Facebook: Abrias Chase Foundation
