Kids & Family

Foundation Created in Support of the Hayes Children

The foundation was started by Julie Villumsen, an acquaintance of Sherrelle Hayes.

On April 30, Julie Villumsen saw that Sherrelle Hayes placed an order on her Mary Kay website. As Villumsen was preparing Hayes' order for delivery the next day, she saw a post on Facebook that said that Hayes was killed by her husband.

"I was so shocked to see that it was my beautiful customer Sherry that had been murdered," she said. "This tragedy touched my heart very deeply and I just had to get involved."

Villumsen then got in contact with Kimberly Shepard, the aunt and caretaker of the Hayes children, and started the Hayes Children Foundation.

"I met Sherry's sister, Kimberly, and brother-in-law at the funeral home and gently offered to help," she said. "I have been in constant communication with Kimberly and went to work."

The foundation was established to help with the children's immediate and long term needs. All donations collected will go directly to the children's trust fund to provide for relocation, housing, daily needs and long term needs, such as college.

Villumsen said that she hopes that foundation will serve as a great help to the children.

"I pray that we will receive lots of support for the family," she said. "I'm involved because you never know when the person who needs help might be you."

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