Caroline Sims Stevens' desire to be reunited with her mother and three sons, who are in Liberia, gave her strength for several months.

But March 29, a weak Caroline, 44, couldn't talk when one of her sons called, but she smiled at the sound of his voice. A few hours later Caroline succumbed to an aggressive cancer that began hounding her in a refugee camp, said Kelly Perrington, who with her husband Josh, befriended the family through Vinton Baptist Church.

"I want to thank all the people who sent cards," Joseph Stevens said. "They were very comforting to Caroline. She would lay in the bed and read them. She died trusting God."

Prayers, trust in God and other acts of kindness have "helped ease our pain," he added.

In February, Caroline said she knew her death was inevitable but she was trying to remain strong so her daughters, Diamond, Jovina and Stanlyn wouldn't see her suffer.

At that time Joseph Stevens was concerned about how weak his wife was getting, but he said, "We strongly have faith in God. If it's his will, no bad feelings. We know he's doing it for a purpose."

Caroline, Joseph and Diamond, then an toddler, fled to a Guyana refugee camp during Liberia's civil war. Her sons, now ages 25, 23 and 21, fled to another camp with their father.

Caroline never gave up hope of seeing her mother and sons from a previous marriage. Her only contact with the boys in the past 10 years has been via telephone.

Vinton Baptist Church helped the Stevenses to relocate in Vinton and then aligned with HomeTown Bank, several restaurants and WSLS (Channel 10) to organize "Coins for Caroline," a fund drive to help the family with mounting medical bills and to try find a way to reunite Stevens with the rest of her family.

Since mid-December, Coins for Caroline has collected over $6,000, Perrington said. The funds are now being used for funeral arrangements and to help Joseph learn to drive.

Funeral services have been delayed until 10 a.m. Saturday at Vinton Baptist Church because of efforts to get Caroline's mother and one son to Vinton, Joseph said.

Donations to the "Coins for Caroline" fund can be sent to Vinton Baptist Church, 200 E. Washington Ave., Vinton, VA 24179; HomeTown Bank 3521 Franklin Road S.W., Roanoke, VA 24014 or by visiting coinsforcaroline.org.