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Doula Profile: Coprice Jones

Coprice was born in Chicago. She is the middle daughter of Shelia Curry and the oldest of Walter McCoy. Miss Jones is the mother of Amber Jones and Issiah Rushing.

She experienced rape, abuse, and molestation at the tender age of 13, as well as experiencing domestic violence and homelessness, which she never allowed to deter her from her accomplishments. 

She currently is the CEO and founder of Serenity Care Services, Inc., an in-home care services provider in Chicago that specializes in hospice and end-of-life doula care. She received her End-of-Life Doula Training from INELDA. In addition, she is the CEO, founder, and inventor of Maturitease, a non-disposable undergarment product. She is the executive producer of a movie highlighting her journey doing end-of-life and doula care, as well as the author of two books.

She studied at the Kent Career Tech Center in Michigan and holds a degree in culinary arts and food sanitation. She took an apprenticeship course in cosmetology at San Francisco Suite in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and attended Grand Rapids Community College before transferring to the nursing school at Heartland Health Care Center. There she became a certified nursing assistant and patient care technician in the state of Michigan.

Q&A with COPRICE

When and why did you decide to become an end-of-life doula? 

I can’t say it was a conscious decision as much as it was an answer to a call. This career path chose me. I believe it was a divine appointment, as I was introduced to hospice after taking care of my father, who died from mesothelioma in 2001. Becoming an end-of-life doula was a natural progression in the next step of my career, because I wanted patients to experience the same quality of care that I gave my father until he took his last breath. I wholeheartedly understand the importance and necessity of allowing people to transition with dignity, comfort, and respect while offering family members spiritual and emotional support they so desperately need. 

Coprice working with a Serenity Care client

How long have you been doing this type of work? 

I’ve been in the home care industry for 30 years, but more specifically, I have been doing palliative and hospice care for over 20 years. Even though I’ve only gotten trained as a death doula in 2021, I’ve been offering this type of care for most of my adult life. 

What type of environment do you work in? 

I go into client’s homes to assess their needs and make sure they have everything for their end-of-life journey. If need be, I rearrange the room so that it’s most conducive for me to render the best care and provide ultimate comfort. But most importantly, when I come in, my main objective is to create an atmosphere of peace. 

What do you do before you meet with a new client?

I spiritually prepare myself for the assignment with prayer and meditating on scripture. I ask God to decrease me and allow His Holy Spirit to work through me. 

Can you share a short anecdote or insight that changed you? 

The truth is, we live every day but only die once. We celebrate the beginning of life with baby showers and celebrations, but I believe the same is just as important for the end of life. I always tell people that talking about death and dying won’t kill you. Dying is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be shrouded with fear and uncertainty. I know I am equipped to guide the dying person as they transition, offering spiritual, emotional, and physical assistance to provide peace, greater meaning, and comfort during the process.  

Who has been one of your teachers or mentors? 

Sheila Aird. We met at Rainbow Hospice and have been working together for 15 years. Sheila has an extensive knowledge in hospice care, and she has poured all of her knowledge and expertise into me.

Coprice Jones with her mentor Sheila Aird

What do you wish you had known when you started as a doula? 

I wish I had known about this industry sooner, therefore I would have been able to offer this service to more of my clients earlier on in my career. 

Do you have any words of encouragement for fellow doulas? 

Yes—definitely do some soul searching and make sure this is a calling that you are passionate about, because it will be evident in the level of care you provide, both to the patient and the family. You can get to a place of burnout because this position can be physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging. I would also suggest that all death doulas do a couple of years in hospice care, because it will strengthen your abilities. Dying is a process that will vary from patient to patient; it’s best to be able to facilitate and forecast what’s required prior to the patient needing it. 

What is your dream for your practice or doulas in general? 

Marrying hospice with end-of-life allows me to offer medical and nonmedical care. I believe having qualifications in both of these areas will prove to be beneficial to those in our field.

Furthermore, I want to expand my gifts and talent as an end-of-life doula and travel the world offering my services and helping families. I aim to educate doctors on the importance of death doulas, especially those in oncology and medical professionals dealing with the terminally ill. Death and dying is imminent for everyone. If death doulas are introduced earlier in a patient’s care plan, we could eliminate a lot of the unknowns, ease fears, and map out a path for the best quality of life for however long that life is destined to last.

Additionally, I’m currently in the process of making a movie to educate the world about end-of-life care, because talking about death and dying won’t kill you. And soon I will also be bringing to market my invention, which is an incontinence undergarment that I created from seeing firsthand the needs of my clients.

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