Cabell West is this year’s Richmond Christmas Mother

It’s a philosophy West has carried throughout her life and one she’ll bring with her as Richmond’s 2026 Christmas Mother.

“I’m excited and elated,” she said. “I have the privilege to join a very esteemed group of women and walk in their footsteps.”

Since 1935, the Richmond Christmas Mother Fund has worked to support families in need during the holiday season. Each year, a Richmonder is selected to serve as Christmas Mother, helping lead efforts to raise and distribute resources across the community.

For West, the role is more than a title; it is a continuation of a family tradition rooted in service. 

Her mother served as Richmond’s Christmas Mother in 1988, and her aunt held the role in 1986.

As a child, she remembers helping her mother write thank-you notes and accompanying her to appearances during her year as Christmas Mother.

“So I have a slim idea of what it was like,” West said with a laugh. “It really is an honor.”

That commitment to service has shaped much of West’s life.

After studying business at Virginia Commonwealth University, she built a decades-long career in retail, eventually managing Miller & Rhoads’ Willow Lawn store, the company’s most profitable location. Her work took her around the world, from Israel and Italy to South America, Korea, China and Japan, where she designed and purchased merchandise while working in an industry where women were often underrepresented in leadership roles.

And when she retired, West wanted anything but a quiet life. 

Instead, she found a new passion in dog training.

One of her Bouviers des Flandres became one of the nation’s top-ranked agility dogs, taking West across the country for competitions. Later, she rescued Ellie, a miniature Goldendoodle, and trained her to become a therapy dog.

Together, West and Ellie have completed more than 1,000 visits to hospitals, schools and nursing homes through Caring Canines, bringing comfort and companionship to people throughout the region.

“People say the dog just loves this,” West said. “Yes, she loves it, but I get back more than I give from this experience.”

That belief has guided West’s volunteer work for decades. She has served with organizations including the Sacred Heart Center and the Jenkins Foundation, where she helped support efforts that led to the creation of The Healing Place for Women, now part of Caritas.

She has also served as president of the Garden Club of Virginia, helping lead thousands of members while continuing her work in the community.

As Christmas Mother, West hopes to build on that legacy alongside the Salvation Army, Feed More, United Way and dozens of nonprofit partners that help provide gifts, meals, coats and other support to families throughout the region.

“Year after year, the Richmond Christmas Mother demonstrates what it means to care for our community,” Feed More's Aaron McClung said. “We're deeply grateful to this year's Richmond Christmas Mother, Cabell West, and the entire organization for their continued generosity and partnership. We know that hunger doesn't take a holiday and thanks to this partnership, we're helping ensure more neighbors across Central Virginia have access to the nutritious food they need.”

Last year's Richmond Christmas Mother Fund, led by Mary Jane Hogue, raised almost $400,000 for families in need.

For West, the work is a reflection of the lesson her mother passed down — that the greatest gifts are often the ones given away.

“When I help someone, I always say I get back more than I give,” she said.