Voices of The Willows

KelLee Parr
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Semimonthly

The Voices of The Willows tells the adoption stories of the women and children of The Willows Maternity Sanitarium in Kansas City, Mo.

  1. Oct 8

    Episode 12 - The Carol Price Story

    On Episode 12 of Voices of The Willows, co-host Megan Brown interviews KelLee Parr to learn more about Carol Haworth Price, the granddaughter and daughter of the women who ran The Willows for 65 years. Sadly, Carol, herself a baby born and adopted at The Willows, recently passed away and was unable to participate personally in the podcast. The legacy of The Willows was extremely important to Carol, and she was proud of the work her grandparents and parents did to help so many women in crisis in their young lives. Starting in 1905, Carol’s grandparents, E.P. and Cora Mae Haworth, began a lifelong dedication to providing a place for pregnant, unmarried women to come and live in seclusion, out of the ostracizing eye of society. The Haworths also wanted to help young couples who couldn't have children adopt and build families of their own.  Carol was born on March 23, 1944, at The Willows. Her parents wanted to adopt a baby girl. Carol’s grandmother hand-picked baby Carol for her son and daughter-in-law to adopt. In Carol’s own words, she could never have had a more loving and wonderful family. She was especially close to her Grandma Cora Mae, who taught her to knit.  She spent time at The Willows, especially remembering the Sunday family dinners in the small dining room off her grandmother’s apartment. Carol said she was never around the young women staying there but spent time helping in the nursery to hold and feed the babies. After Cora Mae passed away when Carol was nine years old, Carol’s mother, Garnett, ran The Willows until it closed in 1969. KelLee met Carol after reaching out to her on Facebook. He wanted to learn more about the place where his mother was born and write about The Willows' history. Carol and KelLee became good friends through their connection to The Willows. Carol provided hundreds of documents and information about her family. She was very proud to have her family’s history recorded and to share the wonderful work they did to help thousands of young women and families. The book is titled Mansion on a Hill: The Story of The Willows Maternity Sanitarium and the Adoption Hub of America. Along with sharing the history of The Willows, the book includes a section called “Voices of The Willows.” Eleven stories, including Carol’s, are shared by people connected to The Willows in some way. Because of the book, Carol and KelLee were contacted to take part in a documentary called Unintended: Unlocking a Nation’s Pregnancy Secrets, produced by Pink Spear Productions. They were interviewed to share the history of The Willows and its role in Kansas City being known as the “Adoption Hub of America” in the early- to mid-1900s.  On Carol’s 80th birthday, a culmination of a lot of hard work to bring remembrance to The Willows came to fruition. A celebration was held at the site of The Willows to dedicate a historical marker in remembrance of the place and the family who touched so many lives. People with a Willows connection came from all over the country to take part in the ceremony. To this day, “Willows alums” travel to Kansas City to see where they were born and take a photo next to the historical marker.  Listen to Episode 12 of “Voices of The Willows” to hear KelLee and Megan recount the life of Carol and her family’s legacy.  For more Voices of The Willows, visit voicesofthewillows.com, or to help us make future episodes, visit VoicesofTheWillows.com/support/.

  2. Sep 24

    Episode 11 - Lifetime Looking

    Belinda Koenig and William Tranzow are the featured guests for Episode 11 of Voices of The Willows podcast. Belinda is a bio mom who searched for her son over a lifetime. They join co-hosts Megan Brown and KelLee Parr and share their emotional reunion and connection. Belinda stayed at The Willows in 1968 for several months before giving birth to her son, whom she named Cameron. She was not given a choice to keep the baby, and her parents were not supportive throughout her pregnancy. It was a very difficult time for Belinda. She said the other women at The Willows were her support system, and she was grateful to stay there. To pass the time, Belinda was allowed to help care for the babies and developed a bond with the nurses. This aided her after her son was born, as she was able to spend extra time with her baby before he was adopted. She watched from the upper windows as her son was taken home by his adoptive parents. Though she tried to search for her son, closed records in Missouri made it impossible to learn his whereabouts. She resolved that she may never find him. Belinda’s first husband passed away, and she remarried. Her new husband, Jan, asked whether she wanted to find her son. She, of course, said yes, and that set Jan on a quest to find Belinda’s son. Through one of Jan’s connections in Kansas City, they did find Belinda’s son, now named William. Belinda didn’t want to interfere in her son’s life unless he wanted to know her. She contacted his adoptive parents, asked for their blessing to be in touch, and asked them to pass along her information to William. They said they would, but ultimately, it would be William’s decision if he was interested in contacting her. To Belinda’s surprise, William had already searched for her without having any luck. He even traveled to Kansas City to get information from The Willows, which by then had already closed. Reaching a dead end, he too ended his quest until the day his adoptive father called him to tell him about Belinda. Twenty minutes later, the mother and son were reunited in conversation. Both Belinda and William feel blessed to have found each other and developed a deep connection. William says he is grateful Belinda gave him life and loves sharing their story. In his own words, it is as if the final piece of his puzzle has been found, and he is forever thankful to have met Belinda and Jan and have them in his life.  You can help us share more Voices of The Willows by making a gift at www.voicesofthewillows.com/support. Make a one-time or recurring gift with Buy Me a Coffee. Get more Voices of The Willows on our website, www.voicesofthewillows.com.

  3. Sep 10

    Episode 10 - Hidden Blessings

    Janet Byars, her mother Joanne Thompson and sister Kim Thompson Rost tell the story of their hidden blessing that was a secret for 70 years. In the latest episode of Voices of The Willows, they join hosts KelLee Parr and Megan Brown and share the remarkable reunion of a daughter with her biological parents and siblings. A young couple, Allen and Joanne, were given no choice but to give up their baby for adoption, even though they had gotten married after finding out Joanne was pregnant. Joanne was sent to The Willows and returned home to live with her parents while Allen lived with his parents. Allen and Joanne resumed dating, and a year to the day after they married the previous year, they “remarried.” The couple kept their earlier pregnancy and marriage a secret, even from Joanne’s sister and later their children. Janet was adopted at The Willows and raised by a loving couple with four other adopted siblings, including her older brother, who was also adopted from The Willows. Being adopted was normal for Janet and her siblings. They felt truly blessed and had a wonderful life growing up together. Johnny, her older brother, was in an adoption support group run by Sharon Cummins in Springfield, Missouri. She helped him locate his birth family. Encouraged by her brother, Janet met Sharon and shared the original birth certificate she had recently received after the Missouri laws were changed. Within twenty-four hours, Sharon had found Janet’s birth parents, both in their 90s and living in Illinois. It is always difficult to know how to reach out after locating a biological family member. Sharon took the initiative for Janet, making phone calls and uncovering the 70-year-old secret that Allen and Joanne had given birth to a daughter. They had never told anyone in the family, including Joanne’s sister and their children. Needless to say, it was quite a shock, but Allen and Joanne had always wondered where their daughter was located. They prayed she was healthy, happy, well educated and raised the way they wished they had been able to raise her. Their prayers were answered. Allen and Joanne met Janet, and she eventually met her siblings Brian, Craig and Kim. Kim was elated to have the sister she had always dreamed of. The secret was out, and Allen and Joanne wanted everyone to know about Janet. They had a 69th/70th wedding anniversary party, which raised quite a few questions. They were happy to finally share about Janet and the two wedding dates. Janet's highlight was dancing with her dad at the party. Listen to “The Hidden Blessings,” Episode 10 of “Voices of The Willows,” to learn more about Janet, Joanne and Kim’s amazing story. For more Voices of The Willows, visit www.voicesofthewillows.com. To support future episodes, visit VoicesofTheWillows.com/support/.

  4. Aug 27

    Episode 9: Twice Blessed

    Jill Nelson Stauffer shares her story of being “Twice Blessed” in the latest episode of Voices of The Willows. Jill was adopted from The Willows in the 1950s. She asked God for a “blessing that looked like a blessing” and received just that. She was amazingly reconnected to her biological parents. Her conversation with hosts Megan Brown and KelLee Parr offers hope and encouragement to anyone considering searching. Jill grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her parents went to Kansas City to The Willows to adopt her, then returned a couple of years later and adopted another daughter. Their family was complete when they gave birth to Jill’s little brother. Jill described her life as a blessing, with wonderful parents who raised her and her siblings.  Typical of many adoptees who share about searching, Jill didn’t want to cause any hurt to her parents or let them know she was interested in looking for her biological parents. Her parents had given her all her adoption records but said they were her parents and didn’t want to know if she found her biological parents.  It wasn’t until after both her parents passed away that she registered her name with an adoption organization in case her biological mother ever did want to reach out to her. Her sister had found her biological mother much earlier, at a time when DNA tests and original birth certificates were not available. Still, they never told their parents about finding her. A special friend of Jill’s birth mother, BG, wanted to do something special for BG’s birthday. She knew that BG had given up a daughter for adoption. Secretly, this friend, Britt, started looking for a baby girl born in Kansas City with the same birth date. Because of Jill’s registration, Britt made the connection and reached out to Jill. The long-lost mother and daughter were reconnected.  The wonderful reunion didn’t stop there. Jill also learned her biological father's name, John. BG and John had remained friends over the years. BG contacted John to let him know that she had found their daughter.  The relationship she built with her biological parents was amazing. BG even sent out announcements to friends about Jill. BG never got married or had any other children. John married and had daughters closer to Jill’s daughter’s age. A special moment was when John and BG attended Jill’s daughter’s wedding. They also attended a surprise birthday party for Jill, an event she will always hold dear.  Jill encourages anyone interested in searching for a biological relative to do so with love in their heart. Not all connections are as special as hers, but the knowledge alone is very beneficial to an adoptee.  Listen to “Twice Blessed,” Episode 9 of “Voices of The Willows,” to learn more about Jill’s story. For more Voices of The Willows, visit www.voicesofthewillows.com. To support future episodes, visit VoicesofTheWillows.com/support/.

  5. Aug 13

    Episode 8: I Was Chosen - Esther Headrick's Story

    This episode of “Voices of The Willows” features the story of Esther Headrick, who passed away in 2022. The conversation between co-hosts Megan Brown and KelLee Parr shares the story of Esther and KelLee’s friendship that developed after Esther heard about KelLee’s book, My Little Valentine. Esther was born in 1929 and grew up knowing she was adopted. She felt blessed to have been “chosen” by her parents after they had traveled from western Kansas by train to Kansas City to visit relatives. Unable to have children, the couple were given the suggestion to adopt by one of these relatives, who knew of a maternity home where babies were given up for adoption. To everyone's shock back home upon their arrival, they had a beautiful baby girl with them. Esther shared with KelLee how she had always wanted to know about her biological parents but never wanted to hurt their feelings. She never searched. After learning from KelLee about the change in the Missouri law to give access to one’s Original Birth Certificate, Esther ordered hers. With KelLee’s help, the two unlocked much of the mystery behind Esther’s biological parents. Listen to “I Was Chosen,” Episode 8 of “Voices of The Willows,” to learn more about Esther’s joy at being chosen at birth and the search that led to answers she had long wanted to know. For more Voices of The Willows, visit www.voicesofthewillows.com. To support future episodes, visit VoicesofTheWillows.com/support/.

  6. Jul 30

    Episode 7: Megan Brown - The Family Tree

    This episode of “Voices of The Willows” features Megan Brown, who tells the story of her search for her grandmother’s biological family. Using DNA testing, Megan shares with host KelLee Parr how she discovered a whole new family, including her great, great-aunt Jane. Megan’s Nona Linda was adopted from The Willows in 1942. Her adoptive parents also adopted Linda’s younger sister, Janie, from The Willows a few years later. She had a beautiful life growing up in the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area. Megan believes that Linda knew from an early age that she was adopted. As far as Megan knows, her grandmother never wanted to search for her biological family.  Around age 10, Megan became curious about her grandmother’s family history. As an adult, she did a DNA test and reached out to some names who popped up as possible relatives, but she didn’t have any luck making a connection. She and her brother bought a DNA test for her father as a present. It wasn’t until after his passing that they recalled he had taken the test. After searching for the code to access her father's account, Megan discovered that someone had reached out to her father nearly a year earlier. She messaged this man and heard back immediately. The answers Megan had been searching for were all there. After several hours of messaging and connecting with other relatives, one person stood out. It was Aunt Jane, the sister of the woman who gave birth to Megan’s grandmother. Her reply to Megan was that she had been waiting years to find out what happened to her niece, who was given up for adoption. Little did she know that the birth mother and daughter had lived blocks from each other for years and surely passed one another in the grocery store or on the streets.  In this episode, Megan also shares the joy in meeting the family her grandmother never knew existed. She also discovered the heartbreaking reality of the circumstances in which her grandmother was conceived. She encourages others to be persistent and keep searching.  As a side note, at the end of the podcast, there is a photo of Mrs. Haworth at The Willows. There is a photo of a young girl on display. It turns out the photo is of Linda, since Megan’s family has the same one.  Enjoying Voices of The Willows? You can support future episodes or listen to past episodes on our website, VoicesofTheWillows.com.

  7. Jul 16

    Episode 6: A Team Effort - Carolyn's Story

    This episode of the Voices of The Willows podcast features Carolyn Noble Vagourdes, an adoptee from The Willows Maternity Sanitarium, along with her daughter, Lisa Toner, and her granddaughter, Melanie Gordon. Together, they discuss their recent journey to uncover Carolyn’s biological history. Carolyn grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and was always aware she was adopted. Although she knew she was born at The Willows in Kansas City, Missouri, early attempts to find information about her biological family were unsuccessful because the records were sealed under Missouri law.   The search was reignited after Melanie read one of KelLee Parr’s books about The Willows that contained updated information regarding the shifting legal landscape for accessing adoption records. Melanie reached out to a Willows alumni group on Facebook. Within two hours, a member provided Carolyn’s birth name: Ardes Hastings. Lisa, an attorney, managed the complex process of requesting the original birth certificate. Melanie spent considerable time researching family trees on Ancestry.com to identify Carolyn's birth mother, Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Miller. Melanie located an obituary for Betty’s brother and, through persistent outreach on a business website, connected with a cousin who facilitated contact with Carolyn’s half-brother, Gordon. Gordon, who was unaware he had a sister, has since established a warm relationship with Carolyn and her family. Carolyn and her family emphasize that it is never too late to begin a search and encourage others to be "bold and curious.” While they have not pursued information regarding Carolyn’s biological father, the family expresses deep satisfaction with the relationships they have built and the healing this discovery has brought to Carolyn’s life. Listen to “A Team Effort,” Episode 6 of “Voices of The Willows” to learn more about Carolyn’s journey. For more Voices of The Willows, visit www.voicesofthewillows.com. To support future episodes, visit VoicesofTheWillows.com/support/.

  8. Jul 2

    Episode 5: The Search Angel - Jan Koenig

    This episode of “Voices of The Willows” features Jan Koenig, a Search Angel who helps adoptees find their biological families with DNA technology and genealogical research. The conversation between host KelLee Parr and Jan provides a look into the world of Search Angels and the complexities of adoption discovery through The Willows. Jan’s involvement is deeply personal. His wife gave birth at The Willows in 1968, shortly before the institution closed. This connection sparked his interest in helping others from The Willows family navigate their own histories. He notes that searches involving The Willows are often more successful because the home kept meticulous records, sometimes including non-identifying background information that experienced researchers can decode. His primary tool is Ancestry DNA, which he recommends because its massive user database provides the most data points for matching. He explains how to identify relationships using centimorgans (cM), allowing him to narrow down potential relatives from a list of thousands. Once Jan can establish a genetic connection, he uses his “detective skills,” searching through obituaries, public records and old newspapers to build family trees and identify the specific common ancestors. This episode also covers the emotional complexity of reaching out to biological relatives. Jan emphasizes the importance of the first contact in an adoption-related search. The searcher, not the Search Angel, should always make the first contact to avoid trauma or the risk of a third party messing up a one-time opportunity. While many reunions are joyous, Jan acknowledges the risk of negative reactions from birth parents who may have kept their past a secret for decades. Beyond the closure of finding family, Jan and KelLee highlight the life-saving potential of uncovering medical histories. KelLee shares an anecdote of an adoptee whose discovery of a family history of breast cancer led to proactive medical decisions that ultimately saved her life. Jan encourages anyone hesitant about searching for their biological family to proceed, noting that he has never met anyone who regretted gaining more clarity about their origins. Jan can be reached at jakoenig@comcast.net.  Listen to “The Search Angel,” Episode 5 of “Voices of The Willows,” to learn more about Jan’s journey. For more Voices of The Willows, visit www.voicesofthewillows.com. To support future episodes, visit VoicesofTheWillows.com/support/.

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8 Ratings

About

The Voices of The Willows tells the adoption stories of the women and children of The Willows Maternity Sanitarium in Kansas City, Mo.

Information

  • Creator
    KelLee Parr
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 KelLee Parr
  • Show Website
    Voices of The Willows