Tribute to Sallie Douglas
Sallie once said, “I was on a flight when the gentleman sitting beside me asked where I called home. I told him I was from Orlando. His response was to tell me that Orlando holds the reputation as having one of the largest incidences of human trafficking in the United States. Are you kidding me? That response shook me down to my core. You see, I was born here and Orlando was just the sweetest little town in which a child could grow up!”
The horrifying reality of sex trafficking that Sallie had always felt removed from was suddenly right outside her front door. From that day on, rescuing survivors from trafficking became her passion.
This passion rose powerfully within her and faithfully overflowed from her. It became her mission and ministry to help survivors of human trafficking “rise above their pain and terror, discover true freedom in Christ, and become disciples of His word,” to journey alongside them through the darkness they had endured and to show them the light of Christ.
And throughout the rest of her life, Sallie did just that. She fought on behalf of those who had been physically, emotionally, verbally, sexually, and spiritually abused. She fought for their freedom in Christ.
On May 15, 2015, with a tremendous gift of $100,000, Sallie established The Frances and Russell Douglas Freedom Fund in memory of her parents—to eradicate human trafficking and advocate for the healing of human trafficking survivors.
She said, “Jesus paid a magnificent price for our dignity and our freedom from bondage. As Christ’s followers, we should not live removed from the reality of this dark and often hidden industry. I pray that each of us does everything we can to set up God’s kingdom in every place and in every situation where evil reigns. 1 Peter 2:9 says, ‘You are. . . God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’”
Near the end of March 2020, our Sallie Douglas passed away into the arms of Jesus Christ, entirely united in God’s love and salvation. She has been such a lovely image-bearer of God this side of heaven. Together, we celebrate Sallie and the amazing life she lived.
Beyond her endeavor to empower survivors of human trafficking, Sallie served as a board member of The Heart of the City Foundation and as a deacon of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. Her fellow board member Eugenia Sefcik says Sallie also had a “business” taking older friends to appointments and helping them run errands, which she called her “driving-Miss-Daisy.” Eugenia says, “She was not only generous with her resources but with her time and talent. She was very prayerful—if you asked her to pray about something, you could count on her.”
Doug Woodman, chairman of the HOCF board, says, “Sallie was a kind and thoughtful Southern lady. She loved the Lord and made a significant impact on his kingdom through generous gifts.” Lastly, Tammas Smith, who served with Sallie on the Diaconate, says, “She felt a special call to minister to those grieving a loss. Her sweet smile, sense of humor, and hugs will be greatly missed.”
We thank the Lord for Sallie’s wonderful life. May her legacy glorify her beloved Lord for the years to come.
You can give a gift in honor of Sallie’s life to The Frances and Russell Douglas Freedom Fund on the Give page to help champion the fight for freedom that Sallie was so devoted to.
