Dahria Williams-Fernandes
Licensed Funeral Director, Grief Recovery Specialist, and Founder of PAUSE ~ A Movement for a Moment

Dahria Williams-Fernandes is a dedicated Grief Recovery Specialist certified through the Grief Recovery Method, with a mission rooted in helping individuals and communities heal from the pain of loss. As the founder of PAUSE ~ A Movement for a Moment, Dahria integrates evidence-based grief recovery practices with holistic wellness education to address the full spectrum of life, death, and legacy.

With over two decades of experience as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in Massachusetts and North Carolina, and as the President of Floyd A. Williams Funeral Home, Inc., Dahria has served thousands of families with compassion, dignity, and care. Certifications in Art Therapy enrich her professional expertise, and as an End-of-Life Doula, she gains a unique ability to merge practical aftercare with emotional and spiritual support.

Through PAUSE, Dahria creates culturally conscious and inclusive grief support spaces that honor the complexities of loss while celebrating the legacies of those who have passed. Her approach blends emotional intelligence, wellness practices, and reflective soul work, providing grievers with tools to embrace life’s “wisdom in the wounds” and to walk forward with resilience and purpose.

When not facilitating grief recovery groups or wellness initiatives, Dahria works to close the racial grief gap and advocates for greater understanding of how grief impacts individuals across cultures and generations. Her work is guided by deep faith, empathy, and a passion for helping others discover hope, healing, and meaning—even in life’s most difficult moments.

Value of Program: $500 | Subsidized by PAUSE through Charitable Giving

Although the standard value of this Grief Recovery Method program is $500, PAUSE proudly subsidizes the full cost for participants through generous charitable gifts. Thanks to ongoing contributions—particularly from Floyd A. Williams Funeral Home, Inc. in Boston, MA, which donates this offering in honor of ancestors and communities, both nationally and internationally—over 100 grieving individuals can participate in this life-changing program each year at no cost.

We are also honored to provide this healing resource to all families served by the funeral home, extending care before, during, and long after the moment of loss.

This offering is a sacred part of our community legacy—a gift from the heart of those who came before, made accessible through the compassion of those who serve today.