Two-time Emmy Award winner Patricia Heaton on Wednesday headlined the 24th annual St. Joseph's/Candler Smart Women Luncheon and Expo, a fundraising event for the Telfair Mammography Fund.
In 2025, the fund, which supports breast health services and access to mammography, helped provide 469 mammograms, 44 diagnostic mammograms, 31 breast ultrasounds and 544 imaging services by radiologists, according to St. Joseph's/Candler.
A writer, actress and philanthropist, keynote speaker Heaton spoke to more than 1,000 people at the Savannah Convention Center.
"I support anything that supports women's health," she told the Savannah Morning News. "Sometimes the research and science
have lagged behind in women's issues. I think this ... helps people in the community who otherwise would put something like this off because they don't have the financial means to (seek treatment)."
'He will multiply it'
Giving came easy for Heaton, she said, because of the example her father set. She watched him write checks at the kitchen table for various charities, all while taking care of their large family.
"Any effort that you put forward, God multiplies those things, so all you have to do is be present and give what you have," she said. "Every effort counts."
A New York Times bestselling author, Heaton spoke candidly about her upbringing in a Catholic family, which became her spiritual guidepost. Even in some of the most difficult moments of her life, she held strong to her Christian faith. Heaton's mother passed away from an aneurism when she was young. It was then that she saw a different side of her father, whom she said offered to take her shopping one day after experiencing depression from her mother's passing. It was that act of care she still remembers today. She reminded the crowd that all it takes is a simple act of kindness to make a difference in someone's life.
Heaton attended Ohio State University, where she studied journalism, but then realized her biggest passion was acting. She then switched her major to theater her junior year.
At one point, she became frustrated with God and questioned whether she could truly make it in the acting world. Then one day, she asked that if it was His will for her to get out of acting, that he make it clear by shutting down all her auditions. But then, the auditions kept coming.
"Any request you put out, He will multiply it," said Heaton.
After that, her life and career blossomed. She married British actor David Hunt, had four sons, and eventually landed the role of Debra Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond."
She also shared her decision to give up alcohol, another testament to trusting God to guide her in the right direction. The majority of her speech was a testament to how God has been there through every step of her life.
“The good thing about being brought up Catholic was it really put the fear of God into me in a good way, and we know that at the end of the day, only His opinion matters,” she said. "We will suffer. If Jesus suffered, we're going to suffer, but that's okay because we know how the story ends."
Breast cancer survivor Autumn Parsons
The National Breast Cancer Foundation estimates that about 380,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026, and that statistic hit close to home for one of St. Joseph/Candler's own.
At just 29 years old, Autumn Parsons, who works with the sports medicine team, was diagnosed with breast cancer and was shocked to learn she was carrying the disease at such a young age. According to the American Cancer Association, women under 40 make up just 4% of ductal invasive breast cancer cases.
Parsons, who attended Wednesday's luncheon, conducted a self-exam one night and felt what she believed to be a lump. Results from her biopsy confirmed the unthinkable.
"I was just starting the workday when I learned about the results," said Parsons. "I obviously went home for the day because I wasn't useful at work. It felt like the world stopped and the floor fell out from underneath me."
She went through 16 rounds of chemotherapy over eight months to treat her triple-negative breast cancer. Parsons also spoke to the physical and emotional toll she endured while having both of her breasts removed. For several weeks, her body felt numb.
"You have no feeling, so it's weird getting used to losing that lack of sensation in a place that," said Parsons.
After her double mastectomy on May 8, she was declared cancer-free on May 10. Parsons said she received implants three months after her double mastectomy and is amazed at how modern medicine has advanced over time.
She also credited her parents for their unyielding support as they lived with her for a year and accompanied her to doctor's visits.
"I wouldn't have been able to make it without them," said Parsons. "They were the greatest blessing, and I will forever be thankful that they're my parents."
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Patricia Heaton inspires, shares faith at St. Joe's fundraising event
