Kiera Sheedy Camron: A Servant Leader

By Kanobia Russell-Blackmon  |  The Catholic Compass  |  Nov/Dec 2023

With a passion for protecting the lives of the unborn and walking with expectant mothers, Kiera Sheedy Camron became a Catholic leader in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. It has been over a year since Kiera succumbed to complications from breast cancer. As a wife, mother of five, devoted sister and daughter, she not only left a legacy within her family, but she also left her footprint within the Catholic community.



(Photo courtesy of the Sheedy/Camron family)

On March 8, 2023, during Catholic Days at the Capitol, the Florida Catholic bishops presented the Thomas A. Horkan, Jr. Distinguished Catholic Leader Award to Kiera. The award is presented to Catholic Floridians whose lives exemplify Gospel values and whose work has influenced the formation of public policies or programs that have enhanced the life and mission of the church, made for a more just society, and increased appreciation for dignity of human life in all stages. Named after Thomas A. Horkan, Jr, the founding executive director of the Florida Catholic Conference, the honor was first bestowed upon him in 1995.

Kiera, the first recipient to receive this prestigious award posthumously, was recognized for her years of service to expectant mothers and their families. Her eldest daughter, Meredith Camron, accepted the award on her mother’s behalf.  

“My mom would want to share this award with the people from Open Door Women’s Clinic and the Florida Pregnancy Care Network.” With emotion she continued, “the work that happens in these clinics is so important.”

Kiera’s faith journey started as a child. Adopted by Dr. Brian and Wende Sheedy through Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Kiera was welcomed into the family and embraced by her older brother, Michael Sheedy, executive director of the Florida Catholic Conference. Raised in a Catholic home, both children were nourished in the sacraments and received a catholic education from Trinity Catholic School. The Sheedy family attended Mass regularly at Good Shepherd in Tallahassee. Michael explained that because their parents were active in the faith, they were part of a “close knit Catholic community growing up.” Today, the Sheedy family remain active members of the parish.

After graduating from Wesleyan College, Kiera became a member of Catholic Volunteers in Florida where she served in an adoption agency for about a year. Near the end of her tenure, Lynn Mangan contacted Kiera and asked her to lead the effort in establishing the Open Door Women’s Clinic in Tallahassee. Excited about the opportunity, coupled with a passion for pro-life ministry, Kiera said yes. “It was a match made in heaven,” remarked Lynn, the current president of the board of the directors for Open Door.

Kiera, along with her parents, was part of the team that turned an idea into a reality. As the founding executive director of Open Door, Kiera was instrumental in getting it up and running in March of 1999. She hired a nurse and helped with securing a donation for an ultrasound.

“Kiera had a pretty good penchant for organization, so she helped to develop a lot of policies and procedures,” explained Michael. “She helped in training volunteers and other people who would interact with the women who came in the clinic.”

Lynn described Kiera as the heart of Open Door. Kiera was fearless, confident, loving, understanding and always willing to go the extra mile for their clients.

“She connected well with our girls,” said Lynn. “She would be laughing with them, talking with them. Just natural and not judgmental.”

Kiera did not pass up an opportunity to talk about Open Door in the parishes and in the community. She wanted to spread the word about this pro-life clinic and inform women about their options.

As an adopted child, Kiera understood the value of life. She was born nearly three years after the legalization of abortion. In a video presentation at the Distinguished Catholic Leader Award’s ceremony featuring Kiera, she tearfully shared how thankful she was to her birth mother for making an adoption plan for her. “She could have legally made a different choice for me and I think about all of the wonderful experiences that I’ve had.” 

This gratitude is the reason Kiera was committed to helping women with unplanned pregnancies. She empowered them to choose life and walked with them as they became mothers. In the video, Kiera described a time when she was working at Open Door and received a call from an emotional woman inquiring if they offered abortion services. Kiera simply asked the woman if she wanted an abortion and the woman replied no. This was the start of a relationship between the two women. Kiera accompanied her on her pregnancy journey providing practical and emotional support. 13 years later, Kiera had the opportunity to meet the woman again and her 13-year-old daughter.

“The opportunity that I had to thank her for letting me walk with her through that time,” Kiera shared in the video. “Then for her to thank me and to share that even just that moment on the phone of when I responded to her by saying ‘do you want an abortion’ was a turning point for her.” This is just one example of the many lives Kiera touched during her tenure as executive director.

Because of her work with pregnant women, Kiera also became a founding board member of the Florida Pregnancy Care Network. The Network “strengthens the work of pregnancy support centers by providing resources to assist pregnant women as they prepare to parent or place their babies for adoption.” Today, the Network provides over $29M worth of assistance to women and their families annually.

Shortly after becoming a wife and mother Kiera left Open Door, but she always stayed connected to the clinic. In addition to her passion for the pro-life ministry, she was passionate about her faith and her family. She was an example of the Joy of the Gospel. Father Mike Foley, pastor of Good Shepherd, shared that Kiera displayed her faith and her joy in the Lord within her family, her work, and ministry.

“Her faith permeated in every part of her life.” Kiera instilled the Catholic faith within her children, [John Paul, Meredith, David, Leah and James] by not only living the faith, but also by devoting herself to them. As Father Foley put it, “she was the heart of their home.”

Kiera and her husband, Reed, made the decision to homeschool their children and joined Sacred Heart Home Educators (SHHE) at Good Shepherd. SHHE is “an association of Catholic families raising children within the fullness of the Roman Catholic Tradition.” Kiera wanted to educate her children about God and the Catholic faith. Her commitment to the program led her to becoming a teacher and later president, which she served until her illness would not allow her to continue. Father Foley explained that the impact of her leadership will be remembered because she lived by the Gospel values she taught.

Michael and his family were honored to learn that Kiera would be awarded the Distinguished Catholic Leader Award posthumously. Tearfully, Michael described Kiera as a beautiful woman who was kind, thoughtful, and prayerful. She was a great gift to so many people.

“My neighbor mentioned that being with Kiera made her want to be a better version of herself.”

In Kiera’s home parish of Good Shepherd, Masses continue to be offered for the repose of her soul. Demonstrating that she touched many lives because of her deep love for God and her Catholic faith.

“Kiera is now a prayer partner for us, with the Lord,” shared Lynn.

Her passion for God, the Catholic faith, and pro-life ministry made her the servant leader deserving of such a prestigious award.