Greg and Cathy Buffkin live in South Carolina and have been married for nearly forty-nine years. Greg retired from the pharmaceutical industry, and Cathy is a retired school teacher. They are the proud parents of two amazing children, Whitney and Ryan, and two beautiful grandchildren.

Tragically, in October of 2015, they lost Ryan by suicide. Because of this devastating loss and after a few years of processing the intense grief, they knew that God was calling them to do something that would not only honor Ryan’s memory, but also bring glory to God, while helping other parents and siblings who were dealing with the same kind of loss. After many months of prayer, research, and discussion, they partnered with two other couples who had lost children to form The Empty Chair Endeavor. It was launched in November 2021, and in January of 2022 they started a podcast called Hope After Child and Sibling Loss, where grieving parents have the opportunity to share their stories of loss and hope. Through the two ministries, God has blessed them with countless opportunities to connect and share with others who have experienced similar stories of loss and grief. 

On the podcast, Greg and Cathy share candidly about the struggles and challenges they have faced in the aftermath of Ryan’s passing, as well as GOD’s faithfulness in taking those shattered pieces of their lives and making something even more beautiful than before. He restores hope, meaning, and purpose, like only He can.