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Our Story

Beauty Over Ashes was initially intended to be a blog and has grown into much more! I started writing to document my journey, and in December 2021, the platform became an established 501c3 nonprofit organization. This ever-evolving organization was birthed out of both love and loss.

I was 7-months pregnant with our first and only child when my husband Chris passed away unexpectedly. He was a local comedian, and his career had been taking off. Once he passed, an article was released sharing our story and that I was pregnant, and my community took action. I was blessed with an abundance of gifts for our unborn child. The outpouring of love was so great that my registry sold out TWICE! At that moment, I was so overwhelmed with love and support that I vowed that I would bless others with my overflow. 


The following summer, a local organization called Royal Generation hosted a community baby shower. I donated the overflow of brand-new baby items I had received to help the cause. My gifts that year included a bassinet, tub, bouncer, and play mat. In 2021, Beauty over Ashes was an organization and partnered with Royal Generation for the Community Baby Shower. We donated 100 mommy bags packed with gel (heat/ice) packs, sanitary napkins, essential oils, journal and pen sets, and other self care items. We also provided custom baby bibs from ellebyel.com.

Although I was going through one of the most challenging seasons of my life, I realized the Lord had a bigger plan. An amazing baby girl was growing inside of me. God was showing me an element of my purpose that I didn’t know was even there. Although my life is much different than I could have imagined, I am grateful that the Lord continues blessing my family. Beauty Over Ashes exists to bless those with children as I had been during my time of need. Our goal is to provide resources, encouragement, and support to women and children who have experienced loss and are going through a difficult season in their lives. 

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Meet The Founder

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EricaLynn Cotton

Founder / CEO

EricaLynn “EL” Cotton is the Founder of Beauty Over Ashes, a Certified Grief Counselor, Registered Nurse, and Breastfeeding Counselor/Childbirth Educator with over a decade of experience specializing in women’s health. She has dedicated her life to empowering women and children, drawing from both her professional expertise and her personal journey of widowhood to guide others through life’s most challenging transitions. Through her nonprofit, Beauty Over Ashes, EL provides community resources and healing spaces for widowed mothers and their families. She also serves as Clinical Advisor for CocoLife.Black, an organization committed to empowering Black and Brown women throughout their maternal journeys. In 2024, her advocacy work led her to Capitol Hill, where she spoke on a national panel addressing maternal mortality in the United States. Through every endeavor, EL is building a legacy of advocacy, compassion, and hope — ensuring that no woman feels alone in her journey.

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Beauty Over Ashes is a registered 501 (c)3     EIN 87-4052593

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