Death comes to everyone and we all realize that devastating fact. However, there are some deaths that are extremely brutal, and difficult to ever understand. I’m talking about deaths caused by drunk driving! The story I’m referring to happened to the Wilson family on a beautiful Sunday afternoon when Ashley Wilson and her 15-year-old son, Curt, were out driving around, running errands. They were enjoying their mother and son time together, talking about the plans they had for summer vacation, when out of the blue, in the blink of an eye, they were hit, head on, by a drunk driver, alcohol level three times over the legal limit! The driver was a repeat offender!
On this spring day a mother’s precious, beautiful son was killed! There are no words that can ever describe the level of sorrow and grief a loss like that carries. It is difficult to wrap your rational thinking around the insanity that would cause such a tragedy. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 and Psalm 90:10 tell us the human existence is full of pain and sorrow. The Wilson family tragedy is a perfect example of how true that really is! This is a pain that hits and possesses your very soul. It’s a crushing ache that one never fully recovers from. These Bible verses remind us this life is rarely easy and we need God and each other to get through the horrible times. God, our Creator, set Spiritual laws into place where we will be blessed and our mental and physical burdens will be lighter if we give with generous hearts and help our fellow man.
The Wilson family is putting those spiritual laws into practice every day. They still suffer greatly from losing their son and grandson on May 7, 2017. His family describes him as a young man who, “had a heart full of kindness and joy. He was always quick to help others and never met a stranger.” His family is giving back to their community in Curt’s honor. They opened up a place where children can receive new or gently used clothes and other needs, free. It’s called Curt’s Closet. Their charity was born from a desire to carry forward Curt’s same spirit of love and giving. The Wilsons describe this wonderful place of giving as, “A way for Curt’s mother, Ashley, to turn heartbreak into hope, and to give back to the community Curt adored and to the community who so dearly loved him in return. Curt’s Closet is more than just a place to receive clothes, it’s a place where children feel seen, valued and celebrated. The Wilson’s set things up in a boutique-style shopping experience where families in need can ‘shop’ for free clothing, shoes, backpacks, and other essentials in a welcoming, dignified environment.” Isn’t it precious and wonderfully inspiring how Curt is being remembered every time someone enters the door of Curt’s Closet and is blessed by the items they receive?
Today, there are hundreds of places where help is offered through local communities. Many of those places have an annual, or sometimes seasonal, auctions to raise money that makes it possible for them to continue to give to others. Curt’s Closet is one of those places in Cullman. I feel it’s important to get involved and help these places whenever possible. My family had the opportunity to see them in action through one of their auctions in the spring 2025. People were offered the chance to give items for the Curt’s Closet auction and those items we’re given to the highest bidder. Such a wonderful and fun time to get together with your friends and neighbors to help others in need!
The Bible says in Acts 20:35, It is more blessed to give than to receive. This verse emphasizes how God blesses a generous, giving heart and selfless service. The grieving Wilson family has shown a massively generous heart through their sorrow. It has been my experience that when you give to others, you receive far more than you give. The joy of knowing that your contribution, whether small or great, has helped someone in need is such an amazing feeling. It is my prayer, that through the Wilson family helping others, their tireless efforts and their generous giving has somehow eased their suffering and helps them better cope with their loss.
Psalm 34:18 tells us, The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The only way we as mere humans can ever cope with a horribly heart-wrenching tragedy like this is with God’s help. Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This verse promises a profound peace that comes only from God, our Creator, our Lord and Savior. It’s a peace God offers to the believer, a spiritual peace that surpasses all human comprehension. Verse 6 encourages the believer to deal with our anxiety with prayer and gratitude.
From the efforts I have witnessed in the spring of 2025, charities funded and supported by a community are a wonderful example of putting the Acts 20:35 verse into action! If you ever feel sad, or just need a reason to smile, look up Cullman’s Curt’s Closet. See if you can get involved in helping someone in need. I am eagerly waiting for the upcoming auction in the spring of 2026 so we can experience the wonderful feeling of togetherness in the Cullman community again. It’s a shared responsibility of helping our local children have what they need but can’t afford. That’s one of the best feeling in the world! The Wilson family says that Curt always wanted to make people laugh and smile. This shared community effort definitely helped my family smile, and I’m certain it will help you as well.
You can find information about Curt’s Closet here:
The next auction is: April 30, 2026
Email: info@curtscloset.org
Website: www.curtscloset.org
Wish lists: https://a.co/4AjEOWg
Phone: 256-735-4557
Address: 1101 Third Ave. SE, Cullman
Facebook: Curt’s Closet
