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Honoring Danielle’s legacy
Topics: bible, girls, Calvary Chapel Westbrook, purity, Danielle Gould
Posted by lwardSWV Tue Aug 8, 2006 12:34:16 PDT
Viewed 1116 times
1 response 0 comments “Therefore show them, and before the churches the proof of your love and our boasting on your behalf.”
The firemen who were first on the scene of 17-year-old Danielle Gould’s fatal car accident on Aug. 20, 2004 noticed the verse from 2 Corinthians 8:24 written on her wrist. She had been at Bible study earlier that night and had a habit of jotting down passages on her hand as a way to help her remember them.
The verse instead became a way for those who knew her to remember Danielle, who lived a life worth boasting about.
“The verse written on her wrist is now written on the hearts of many who knew and loved her,” said Danielle’s mother, Sherrill. “You might say it’s a reminder to us all of her legacy, a reminder to live each day to its fullest, to love God and to love people in His name.”
Sherrill is honoring her daughter’s memory –– and her wish –– by organizing a purity event at Calvary Chapel Westbrook for the second year in a row on Saturday, Aug. 19. One Girl’s Passion ...  Another Girl’s Pain: “The Bride of Christ” aims to promote abstinence in girls from junior high to college age.
Sherrill recalls the day when Danielle, an outgoing, enthusiastic Liberty High School student, came up with the idea. They were unpacking at their new home and got to talking about Westbrook’s new program that brought together young married women with women who had celebrated a few anniversaries. Danielle suggested a mother-daughter brunch at the Gould’s house that would teach single young women to live a life of purity.
She shared with her mother that girls she knew at school –– and even through church –– were sexually active without being aware of the consequences.
Danielle suggested older women give their younger counterparts advice on how to have a boyfriend and still say “no” to becoming intimate.
Sherrill, considering the enormity of the task, said, “Let’s just finish unpacking.”
It wasn’t until the next day, driving in the car, that she was struck by the significance of Danielle’s suggestion.
“It hit me –– my daughter was asking for me as a mother to mentor her. I began weeping. I was so thankful to have her as a daughter,” said Sherrill. “I went home and said, ‘Let’s jump on it. Let’s do this.’”
Sherrill and Danielle began putting together a girls’ retreat to be held at their home. The weekend would include “girly” food and the sharing of stories by women who had made bad relationship choices when they were younger.
Sherrill herself planned to share her story. She was a high school student when she became pregnant with Danielle’s older sister, now 25, out of wedlock. She ended up marrying the father –– Tink –– and they have been married for 26 years.
“But it wasn’t easy. We struggled financially, which was a huge strain. We were lucky to be a part of a small percentage of relationships that survive,” said Sherrill.
Another woman who had become pregnant in high school and chose to have an abortion also planned to share her story.
“I knew there was no way the girls would listen to me unless I was completely honest. If I took myself off a pedestal, I knew they were more likely to share their experiences, feelings and concerns,” said Sherrill.
The retreat was planned for Sept. 9 to 11 of 2004. On the evening of Friday, Aug. 20, Danielle attended a poolside Bible study. She called her mom after the Bible study to ask if she could help a good friend who was leaving for college pack. Sherrill agreed, but reminded Danielle that she needed to be home by her 11 p.m. curfew. Their conversation ended with an exchanged “I love you.”
As 11 p.m. approached, Sherrill became worried that her daughter had not returned home. When Danielle didn’t answer multiple cell phone calls, Sherrill got in her car and retraced her daughter’s path. She came upon the accident just west of Allen Road. Police held her back. Danielle’s car had swerved into the opposite lane on Rosedale Highway and smashed into a utility truck. She had died instantly.
“I was heartbroken. I was angry. I thought, ‘Why did someone who had so much going for her have to die? Someone with so much desire for life?’”
Sherrill began seeing a grief counselor. “I asked what to do on the special days –– her birthday, the anniversary of her death. The counselor said since I couldn’t ignore them, I should do something special.”
Sherrill and Westbrook began selling green fundraiser bracelets emblazoned with the scripture reference Danielle had written on her arm. Money from the $5 bracelets –– which are currently for sale and can be purchased at Westbrook –– benefit the Danielle Gould Scholarship fund. The fund pays for Liberty High seniors to pursue an education in modern dance and for Calvary Chapel Westbrook children to attend camp.
On the one-year anniversary of Danielle’s death, Sherrill made Danielle’s dream a reality by putting on a purity seminar. The women who were originally designated to speak shared their stories with the 200 girls in attendance. 
This year’s seminar, “The Bride of Christ,” will be decorated like a wedding, and an actual ceremony will be held. The importance of women’s everyday bridesmaids –– their friends –– will be emphasized, as will the importance of girls holding each other accountable.
The seminar will be held Aug. 19 at Calvary Chapel Westbrook and is open to junior high to college-age girls.
Sherrill keeps a letter Danielle wrote in 2003 titled “Dearest You” to her future husband, whom she hadn’t yet met but planned to remain pure for.
One line reads, “If you knew the future, it would ruin the future, and if you took away the mystery of the future, we would lose hope.”
Sherrill said she plans to continue holding the purity seminar for as long as she can.
“A part of me died when Danielle died. But this way I can think about helping others rather than death,” said Sherrill, who encourages all girls to be like Danielle and live a life worth bragging about.
“If you were to die, how would you be remembered? As a partier? As someone who slept around? As someone who had abortion after abortion? Or as someone whose strong moral values served as an inspiration to others?” said Sherrill. “Who do you want to be? It’s not too late to change your legacy.”

One Girl’s Passion ... Another Girl’s Pain: “The Bride of Christ.”
Junior high to college-age girls learn God’s plan for relationships and romance. Moms are encouraged to attend.
Saturday, Aug. 19
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$7, including lunch
Calvary Chapel Westbrook
6501 Schirra Court
Call Lee at 397-6000 or Sherrill at 829-1344

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