DERBY — On June 29, it will have been three years since Sierra McQueen’s world was turned upside down due to a family tragedy.
She and her husband, Jeremy Fowler, had just started a family, and their baby girl was only 14 months old when McQueen received the devastating news that her husband had committed suicide.
Through her grieving, McQueen contemplated on how to help others, and now advocates for suicide awareness and prevention, addiction, and mental health awareness — hoping to help others in need.
Black Fowlcan Foundation — a nonprofit promoting suicide awareness — was formed in May 2025 and is named in memory of her late husband as well as his best friend.
“I knew I wanted to do something to help others in the same situation I was in,” McQueen said. “I didn’t know how or when I was going to be ready.”
McQueen said she grew up thrift shopping and going to the flea market — “just being re-purposeful with clothes.”
“I thought, ‘We have all these leftover clothes, why don’t we just continue to do something with it?”
According to McQueen, her church knew she was planning to start the foundation and said her pastor told her “to be praying and be prepared when God calls you to do what he needs you to do.”
Two days later, she said, a boutique trailer was posted to Facebook Marketplace.
McQueen held numerous pop-up events and clothing swaps with the trailer in 2025, striving to bring awareness of the foundation and its purpose.
Ashley Williams is a close friend of McQueen’s who can also relate to suicide, having lost several people who were very close to her.
Williams has been participating in suicide awareness walks across the nation for several years, which in turn, was an inspiration to McQueen. Williams’ next walk will take place in Chicago on the weekend of June 12 for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
In acknowledging the one-year anniversary of Black Fowlcan Foundation, McQueen is hosting two fundraisers throughout the month of June.
“June is a heavy month for me, so I wanted to do something uplifting,” said McQueen.
The first fundraiser will be held from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at 280 Pappy Rabb Road in the Derby community, with vendor spots available to rent for $10.
There will be a variety of items for sale including plants, antiques and yard sale items.
The Frisky Biscuit food truck from Southern Pines will be on-site, and Sip Social Raleigh will be offering ice coffee and mimosas.
There will also be a special on certain items for shoppers to fill a bag with clothing, shoes, and purses for $20. Dressing rooms will be available.
“We are hoping to get a lot of people out shopping to raise money for a good cause,” said McQueen. “People are also welcome to bring clothing to donate the day of the sale.” said McQueen.
The second fundraiser will be held from 3-5 p.m. June 28 at the Rock‘n’Roll skating rink in Rockingham.
“This is in memory of Jeremy and his last day here on earth,” McQueen said. “I wanted to do something but not on the actual day, so it wouldn’t be so heavy. This event can be for family.”
Admission price is $10, and the foundation will receive half of it. There will be pizza for sale with all proceeds going to the foundation.
McQueen is currently in the process of sharing a storefront with a business in Moore County and is hoping to have it ready by summer’s end. She is also having a website built to reach more people and bring more awareness.
Donations help those in need in several ways. It helps pay for therapy for those who can’t afford it, and has also been given as a scholarship to someone who was affected by suicide.
McQueen’s goal for next year is to hopefully sponsor someone to attend Samaritan Colony, as well as giving scholarships.
“Next year I’d like to do a scholarship to Pinecrest and Richmond, because I lost two of my graduating classmates to suicide,” she said. “It hits home. Unfortunately, my husband wasn’t the first person I’ve lost to suicide, but it was the one that hit me the hardest.
“I also lost my first cousin to suicide in 2018, and Jeremy’s best friend committed suicide almost five months to the date of Jeremy’s death.”
All gently used clothing as well as new clothing will be accepted. There are currently two drop-off locations for donations: Scholl Mechanical in Rockingham; and Burn Boot Camp in Moore County. Two locations have also allowed the foundation to set up clothing racks: Rockin’ Tan and the Christian Book Store, both in Rockingham. Each month-end there is a $15 bag sale at The Christian Bookstore. All proceeds will go towards suicide prevention awareness.
According to save.org, 2.9 million Americans attempted suicide in 2024, with more than 48,000 dying — a decrease from the more than 49,000 the previous year reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CDC statistics show that suicide rates climbed nearly every year from 10.9 per 100,000 in 200 to 14.2 in 2022 — with a slight dip to 13.5 in 2020.
If you or anyone you know may be dealing with thoughts of suicide, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 anywhere in the U.S.
“It’s not weak to speak,” said McQueen.
For more information, contact Sierra McQueen at blackfowlcanfoundation@gmail.com.
