Ajai Blue-Saunders

Ajai (A'jay) Blue-Saunders has been involved with program development and nonprofit management for over 40 years. She has a background in Grief and Loss partially gained through her educational experience (a bachelor's degree in philosophy & religion) which has been further enhanced by experiencing the loss of her father, mother, older sister, brother, young granddaughter and finally her husband John in 2015. Currently she resides in the Metro Richmond, Virginia area with her adult daughter with disabilities and together they are learning and attempting to live a fulfilled life without him.

Ajai is a Certified Grief Educator working with women to navigate the ocean of grief through strong Christian beliefs and faith. This support includes offering a listening, understanding ear, crying with someone who mourns, or praying for them in their presence. She formerly was a peer facilitator at a local widow's support group for over 4 years; an active panelist on community and national forums discussing grief, loss and healing, and she can be found as a presenter on the national PBS media documentary "Speaking Grief" which helps grievers and those supporting others in grief.

Her master's degree is in Journalism which she has utilized to share her grief journey by writing a monthly blog (see Sisterhood section) for Hope for Widows Foundation for many years and she enjoys sharing wisdom, resources and compassion to make the world a better place to live and thrive. She has served on several local and national nonprofit boards, including the Board of Directors for Hope for Widows Foundation for 2 years, helping to strengthen its impact on widows worldwide.

As a trained and skilled traditional herbalist (affectionately called Dr. AJ) for over 30 years, she marries her knowledge and experiences to facilitate workshops using God's herbs to heal and restore widows through the grief journey. Her workshops are encouraging and uplifting, while sensitive to all while she ministers ways to heal.

Please contact her to arrange for a session/workshop or for general grief resources and support (see Connection section).