Jess Dukes
End of Life Doula & Professional Organizer
Serving the Athens, GA and surrounding areas, Jess specializes in preplanning services, comfort and advocacy support, and organizing and death cleaning. Jess also hosts community events that encourage meaningful conversations in casual settings.
What is an End of Life Doula?
An End of Life Doula, or Death Doula, is a non-medical support person who provides holistic support to individuals and their loved ones before, during, and after the dying process. They offer emotional, practical, and spiritual guidance, helping people navigate end-of-life planning, manage fears, and find meaning in their final days. While death doulas do not provide medical care, they can work alongside hospice and other healthcare professionals to ensure a peaceful and meaningful transition.
About Me
I’m an end-of-life doula and professional organizer, passionate about bringing comfort and clarity to others during times of transition. I began my doula journey in 2015 and launched my organizing business in 2019. I completed my end of life doula training with Sacred Crossings in 2022, where I deepened my understanding of presence, planning, and legacy work. With a bachelors degree in human services and a graduate certificate in gerontology, I approach my work with empathy, structure, and care. A true Virgo at heart, I love the details. Whether I am assisting a client with pre-planning end-of-life wishes or transforming a cluttered room into a sanctuary, my goal remains the same: to reduce anxiety, restore comfort, and create a sense of order and calm.
From a young age, I experienced the loss of family members, pets, and friends. In our home, death was never a forbidden subject—it was spoken about with love, care, and tenderness. We continued to honor those we lost through stories and shared memories, keeping their presence alive in our lives.
When I first learned about Death Doulas and the support they provide during the dying process, something clicked. I reflected on the deaths I had witnessed and realized how much more supported those experiences could have been. This role spoke deeply to me. It offered a way to help others face death with less fear and anxiety—through open, honest conversations and compassionate presence.
While there is no official governing body that certifies Death Doulas, I believe it’s essential for anyone in this role to pursue meaningful and comprehensive training to best support their clients. Through a combination of volunteer experience, self-guided study, and formal training with accredited organizations, I’ve built a strong foundation that gives me confidence in the services I offer. I remain committed to ongoing education and am always seeking new ways to deepen my knowledge and better serve those navigating the end-of-life journey.
-
Completed Death Doula Training in 2022 with Sacred Crossings Institute & Funeral Home
-
Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Colorado State University Global
-
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from University of Georgia
-
Companion Volunteer with Gentiva Hospice since 2023
-
My services offer one-on-one support to help you create a personalized and meaningful end-of-life plan that reflects your unique needs and wishes. This support can also extend to your loved ones, ensuring they feel included and prepared.
Our time together is deeply valuable and through thoughtful conversations, we’ll develop a plan that brings clarity and peace of mind. My offerings include end-of-life pre-planning, legacy work, comfort and advocacy support, as well as death cleaning and organizing services—all designed to help you navigate this journey with intention and care.
My hourly rate is $70/hour and covers the time we are spending together. I also offer discounted packages which are to be paid upfront - Click Here to see Services & Packages offered.
If financial limitations are a barrier, let’s connect to explore possible solutions together.
I deeply respect each client's autonomy and am committed to maintaining strict confidentiality. While I’m occasionally given permission to share stories about how I’ve supported individuals and their loved ones during the dying process, I otherwise honor their experiences by keeping all personal details private.
I have received many wonderful testimonial statements from previous clients and workshop attendees that you can find them here.
Yes! Doulas can be a great compliment to all of the wonderful things that hospice is already doing. They can provide additional personalized support that the hospice team may not have the capacity for. Please keep in mind, doulas do not provide medical care, assess symptoms, or manage medications. But they can collaborate with hospice and other medical professionals to ensure that non-medical needs are being met for the client and their loved ones.
Interest Form & Consultation Call - please complete this form and we will schedule a 20 minute consultation call to discuss and explore your current situation. If you would like to move forward, we will draft a personalized care plan together that includes a summary of your values and vision and the requested services to be provided by me. A signed agreement, care plan updates and a service log will be provided. All steps are offered with flexibility based on the client's timeline and energy levels and consent, autonomy, and cultural sensitivity are central throughout the process. My goal is that you feel held in all aspects of your end of life journey. If something no longer supports you, we can always adjust your care plan until it feels right.
Before working with a death doula, I like to recommend asking a few questions. The questions I suggest, and my answers to those questions, are listed here.
You deserve to have end-of-life care that supports your peace, your dignity, and your quality of life.
Doulas may offer a wide spectrum of services so it’s important to find the right one for you and your needs.
Questions
Have a question that's not listed here? Contact Me!