Free 2 Teach board member, Sam Nielsen reflects on her friendship with Eula Battle, the former Executive Director and co-founder of Free 2 Teach, on her birthday week.
I first met Eula in 2016, not long after I began volunteering with Free 2 Teach. From the moment we met, she became a friend to me -just as she did to so many others. I was completely enamored with both her and the incredible nonprofit she had built, literally starting in her garage.
What always struck me about Eula was her ability to make me feel special. No matter what else was happening around her, she had this rare gift of making you feel like you were the priority. At the time, I was a young woman in my twenties, and she poured encouragement into me with such kindness and sincerity.
After about a year of volunteering, Eula called me one day and asked if I would consider serving on the Free 2 Teach Board. I was floored. Honored. Grateful. That was Eula – she saw potential in people, often before they saw it in themselves. She led with both vision and heart, always keeping “serving others” at the center of everything.
On a personal note, Eula and my husband shared a mutual admiration. She never failed to ask about him, and he loved finding little ways to make her laugh. Their joy was infectious.
I was serving as Board Chair when she called to share her diagnosis. I’ll never forget standing in my kitchen, tears streaming as she calmly, graciously, and with her trademark positivity, walked me through what she knew at that point. That was Eula – strong, steady, and selfless even in the hardest moments. Together, with our dedicated Board, we navigated her transition, the future of Free 2 Teach, and the challenges of the pandemic.
After her passing, I was moved – but not at all surprised – by the outpouring of love and generosity from across our community. Eula’s light touched countless lives, and it still does today through the mission she created and the people she inspired.
I think of Eula often, and I will always be grateful that our paths crossed. She took the time to encourage, support, and befriend “young me,” and I carry her influence with me every day.
Happy birthday week, sweet friend. Your legacy continues to shine.
