Cabell West follows in family footsteps as 2026 Richmond Christmas Mother

Since becoming Richmond’s 2026 Christmas Mother, West has been visiting the nonprofits and community groups that make the annual effort possible.

“I have learned so much from all the visits that I've gone on,” she said. “The most impressive piece for me has been the number of volunteers for all of these organizations. I mean numbers.”

At Feed More, West learned that about 200 volunteers help the organization each weekday. She was also struck by the growth of SOAR 365, which serves people with disabilities.

“They've grown and grown and grown, and just a great service for this community,” she said.

West also visited Doorways, which provides lodging for patients and family members who need to be near VCU Health and the hospital. She was impressed by the improvements to the facility and the care it provides.

“It's just such a caring place for who stays there,” she said. “The improvements have been great.”

The number of volunteers has also prompted West to think about her own service.

“I thought I did a lot of volunteer work, but I need to jack it up more,” she said.

Since 1935, The Times-Dispatch has sponsored the Richmond Christmas Mother Fund program, which supports 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.

The role also carries a family connection. West's mother served as Richmond Christmas Mother in 1988, and her aunt held the title in 1986. As a child, West helped her mother write thank-you notes and accompanied her to appearances, giving her an early look at the work behind the campaign.

“Cabell West embodies the spirit of the Richmond Christmas Mother. Her lifelong commitment to service, compassion for others and genuine love for this community make her an extraordinary ambassador for this cherished tradition," said Kelly Till, president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"It’s especially meaningful that she is carrying on a family legacy of giving. We are fortunate to have Cabell leading this year’s effort to bring hope, joy and much-needed support to families throughout the Richmond region."

West's own career and volunteer work have kept her connected to the Richmond community. She studied business at Virginia Commonwealth University and built a career in retail, eventually managing the Miller & Rhoads store at Willow Lawn, then the company's most profitable location. Her work included international travel for merchandise design and purchasing.

After retiring, she devoted more time to volunteer work, including service with the Sacred Heart Center and the Jenkins Foundation. She also supported efforts that helped establish The Healing Place for Women, now part of Caritas, and served as president of the Garden Club of Virginia.

Her work with dogs became another avenue for community service. After training a Bouvier des Flandres that became a nationally top-ranked agility dog, West trained Ellie as a therapy dog through Caring Canines. Together, they have made more than 1,000 visits to hospitals, schools and nursing homes.

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

That spirit of service is something West hopes to bring to the Christmas Mother campaign, while encouraging the people around her to take part, too.

She recently rang a Salvation Army kettle at the Kroger in Carytown with friends, family members, cousins and some of the people she plays mahjong with. She'll also take part in the annual Christmas Parade, riding in a car with Ellie while her husband drives and her son and daughter-in-law hand out candy.

West is looking forward to hosting a lunch at her home for past Christmas Mothers, an opportunity to reconnect with women who have held the role and hear about their experiences.

The role has given her a chance to reflect on the family motto she grew up with, one that has shaped her approach to giving back.

“What we keep, we lose. Only what we give remains our own.”