VP Vance’s mother coming to Charlotte, Ark., to speak at women’s conference

By Andrea Bruner

It’s not often Independence County will host the mother of a sitting U.S. vice president, but Beverly Vance Aikins (pictured) will be here to speak about her struggles with addiction at an upcoming women’s conference.

Aikins will be the headline speaker at the second annual Grow in Grace, set for Saturday, June 7, at John 3:16 Ministries at the multipurpose building. Gates open at 10 a.m.

Starting at 11, there will be music by the John 3:16 Band as well as special guest singers. Door prizes will be given away, and lunch will be served at noon, followed by local speakers and testimonies from women involved with John 3:16.

Other speakers will include:

• Tammy Pearce of Batesville, speaker at and a supporter of John 3:16;
• Jennifer Miller, a peer recovery specialist for the Arkansas County Prosecutor’s Office;
• Kelly Harper, who runs Shackle Free Ministries in Clarksville with her husband Jarad;
• Melissa Bryant of Jonesboro, whose work in the community includes leading Bible studies, evangelizing on the street, ministering to homeless, and taking mission trips.

To conclude the day, Aikins will speak at 2.

Aikins found fame through her son Vice President J.D. Vance’s memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.” Vance’s coming-of-age memoir, which was adapted into a film by the same name, chronicles his mother’s struggles with addiction, which started when she worked as a nurse.

The prescription medication she had access to as a nurse escalated to heroin, sending her into a downward spiral before she hit rock bottom, living out of her car. Eventually she was able to break the bonds of addiction and find a new life through sobriety.

That was 10 years ago, and Vance wrote a 2016 bestselling memoir that was adapted into a movie starring Amy Adams. At the Republican National Convention in July, Vance gave a tribute to his mother: “I’m proud to say that tonight, my mom is here, 10 years clean and sober. I love you, Mom.” Teary-eyed, she stood up as the crowd cheered.

Today, Aikins works as a nurse at an addiction recovery center in the Cincinnati area, helping others who are struggling. In a 2024 interview, Aikins said her message to people battling addiction is, “to reach out, to try to get help, and that recovery is hard, but it’s so worth it.”

Lisa Tuggle, director of the women’s ministry at John 3:16, said she reached out to Aikins on social media about possibly speaking at a conference in Charlotte, and Aikins said she would be happy to accept the invitation.

“She is 10 years clean from addiction and felt like she had a lot of hope to offer these ladies,” Tuggle went on to say. “It was two different families from her church who made a donation for her to get to go to rehab, so she knows what these ladies have been through. She seems to be very humble, but she’s very excited to get to come here – she’s never been to Arkansas.”

Tuggle said they are happy to be able to host Aikins at this conference and said tables are still available for $500 (corporate tables are $1,000).

John 3:16 is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year helping men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction; a women’s ministry was added in 2023, with 26 currently at the campus.

“When people of John 3:16, they think of Crowder, they think of the many faith houses, the 2,000 graduates – they think BIG,” said Erin Trautwein, an instructor at the ministry. “But we are here, too, and we are trying to build relationships with women and restore families as well. It’s my hope that in five years, when someone mentions John 3:16, they’ll think of us, too.”

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John 3:16 is located at 75 Holmes Road in Charlotte. For more information about Grow in Grace or John 3:16 men’s and women’s ministries, call 870-799-2525, visit john316thecure.com, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Image provided by John 3:16