“Turning Pain into Purpose” will be the topic of the Friends of Eufaula Memorial Library speaker Friday, April 18.

Eufaula author Courtney Clark will speak at 1 p.m. in the library’s Follansbee Room.

The public is invited to hear her presentation and share light refreshment at this free meeting of Friends of the Library.

Clark’s story told in her captivating book, My Journey to Widowhood: From Grief to Grace, starts with her sitting in a bar with friends, locking eyes with a stranger who just entered, and telling her incredulous friends, “That’s the guy that I am going to marry.”

It progresses to the roller coaster of emotions she dealt with when—after years of be-ing happily married— he chose not to receive a heart transplant that would save his life.

Anyone who’s ever felt anger will identify with Clark’s initial shock and exasperation and will profit from hearing how she turned resentment into unwavering resolve.

Readers of her book agree that one needn’t be dealing with a loss to benefit from Clark’s experiences.

A lifelong resident of Eufaula, Clark is Educator and Program Manager for the career readiness program for Public Strategies.

She is the fourth person this year to speak at a Friends’ meeting, always held at 1 p.m. on the third Friday of the month.

The May 16 speaker will be Michelle Marston, educator with Oklahoma Home and Community Education, Inc. She will speak about how OHCE helps local communities through the state of Oklahoma.

Brochures listing all the monthly speakers are available for pickup at the library, 301 S. 1st Street, Eufaula.

Envelopes for joining the Friends are also available to hold the yearly $5 membership fee and to be put into the membership box.