Flower Magazine’s Margot Shaw Inspires at Next Door Recovery Luncheon

St. George’s Episcopal Church filled with hope and celebration as more than 325 supporters gathered for The Next Door Recovery’s 21st Annual Luncheon, Never Broken. On arrival, guests encountered festive teal-and-purple balloon displays before enjoying a beautiful buffet lunch by Kristen Winston Catering. Sweet Daisy Petit Four Shoppe, a Nashville Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition enterprise, provided the special dessert — almond white cake petits fours with almond glaze.

The Next Door Recovery clients made vibrant centerpieces to adorn the tables — bouquets featuring cosmos, dahlias, Queen Anne’s lace and chrysanthemums in cheerful shades of orange, yellow and white. Hosts encouraged guests to make a donation and take an arrangement home, offering TNDR clients an opportunity to give back to those who support them.

Chairs Grace Clayton and Mary Elizabeth Davis welcomed attendees and thanked generous sponsors before Sarah Puryear, priest associate at St. George’s, gave the invocation. After a short video, executive director Rachel Morris reminded guests that by gathering together “at the table,” they were choosing to be “unbreakable” — and helping countless women find hope and healing. 

Rachel presented the second annual Sarah Young Jesus Calling Award to TNDR board member, and one of its original “wild praying women” founders, Betty Dickens, who received a standing ovation for her lifelong example of faith and service. TNDR alumna, residential program manager Fawn Gentry and clinical executive director Amanda Dunlap, led a heartfelt discussion highlighting the importance of community in addiction recovery.

Keynote speaker Margot Shaw, founder and editor-in-chief of Flower Magazine, shared the deeply moving story of her own journey from parental deprivation to addiction — to now celebrating 39 years of sobriety without a single relapse. She shared her pride in founding Flower Magazine 18 years ago, saying, “I dedicated the magazine to the Lord. Beauty, with its transformative power, has always been important to me, and he has made everything beautiful in its time,” quoting Ecclesiastes 3:11.

The inspiring afternoon ended with a performance by singer-songwriter Melanie Penn and a giveaway of five copies of Margot Shaw’s book, Living Flowers. Guests departed uplifted by the stories of perseverance, creativity and hope.