2024 Influential Person Becky Davidson has reshaped broken dreams into purpose—not only for herself, but for a global community of families navigating life with special needs.
“My precious Jon Alex was born in September of 1997. When my late husband, Jeff Davidson, and I found out we were expecting, we were so excited about having a son and imagining what our life was going to look like,” Becky shared. “When Jon Alex was about a year old, we noticed he wasn’t reaching developmental milestones. After receiving a diagnosis, we realized our son would live with special needs for the rest of his life.”
The news was devastating. “It sent us into the pit; all our hopes were dashed,” she said. “We looked around our community and didn’t see other families like ours. The resources that exist today simply weren’t available then. Eventually, we came to a place of acceptance—that this was God’s plan for our family and that our son was a gift. We wanted to help other families reach that same place.”
With that calling ignited, Becky, Jeff, and a small group of supporters began building what would become Rising Above Ministries, an outreach designed specifically to support individuals with special needs and their caregivers. Through adaptability, faith, and a willingness to expand their reach, Becky and her team would later leverage the pandemic to dramatically increase Rising Above’s impact.
“COVID was the game changer for us,” Becky explained. “We had all this incredible content we wanted to share and kept praying, ‘How do we reach these families?’ When everything shut down, Kim Thorpe, our former leader, and our team shifted focus and went virtual.”
Partnering with Cookeville Creative, the organization began livestreaming content directly to families. “People found us who didn’t even know we existed before,” Becky said. “We started online groups that are still growing—spaces where moms and dads meet weekly with people who truly understand. That all came out of COVID and lockdown.”
Beyond podcasts and digital resources, Rising Above Ministries continues to serve the Upper Cumberland region through in-person events and retreats. Becky reflected on the resilience of the families they serve.
“Special needs families are some of the most resilient families you’ll ever meet,” she said. “Yet many live in isolation, consumed by constant care. We come alongside them to offer hope, community, and encouragement through our podcast, online resources, and events.”
Those events include Heroes’ Ball—a free Upper Cumberland celebration honoring individuals with special needs and their immediate families—Spring Prom, a free regional prom for individuals with special needs, and various retreats.
“To be able to connect families with truth and hope and show them they’re not alone—there are no words for how that makes us feel,” Becky shared.
When asked how the community can support Rising Above Ministries, Becky didn’t hesitate.
“We want people to be our mouthpiece,” she said. “Tell others we’re here. Download our app so you can point families to our resources. Volunteer—especially for Spring Prom and Heroes’ Ball, because we need an incredible number of volunteers. And, of course, financial support matters. These events take resources, and we rely on the community to do what we do.”
As the interview came to a close, Becky reflected on what it meant to be named an Influential Person by the Cookeville community.
“I love Cookeville and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she said. “To be nominated by the community is such an honor. This recognition really belongs to my son and to all the families caring for loved ones with special needs. It’s an honor to represent them.”
She continued, “Cookeville is unique. There aren’t many communities with this many ministries and outreach programs for special needs families. I’m proud of how this community serves families like mine.”
Becky concluded with a heartfelt reflection:
“To come alongside a new parent of a child with special needs and walk with them through that season—there’s nothing like it. I wish I had that when I was starting out, and we want to be that for others. If we can reach families within the first few months of diagnosis, we can change the entire trajectory—from despair and isolation to hope and community.”
We are honored to celebrate Becky Davidson as a 2024 Cookeville Lifestyle Magazine Influential Person.
— by Andrew Buckner | Photos by Abby Weeden
