09 Oct A Life Reclaimed: Byron’s Inspiring Path from Addiction to Leadership at Goodwill

Longtime Goodwill employee Byron Sheffield says he owes his life to the nonprofit organization. Byron grew up in Nashville and had a troubled childhood that started with his father’s death. His absence left a void that even a caring mother and seven siblings couldn’t quite fill.

Financial hardships made it difficult for Byron’s family to have their basic needs met. At a young age, Bryon would make friends with people who sold drugs on the streets of Nashville. He found that drugs temporarily took away his pain. What felt like a solution would turn into an addiction that would gnaw at him for decades.

A few years later, Byron’s “Brother Daddy,” whom he idolized, was shot and killed. This tragedy caused Byron to focus his energy on retaliation, anger and violence. He eventually found himself on the wrong end of a gun and was shot multiple times. His left leg had to be amputated due to the injuries.

After spending years in and out of prison, Byron knew it was finally time to change his life around. He was in a desperate search for a job that would keep him busy and out of trouble. That’s when he found Goodwill and started as a Donation Express Center attendant in 2000. He also joined a substance abuse recovery program. With the help of Goodwill-provided insurance, Byron was able to get a prosthetic leg. Within a year-and-a-half of his start date, Byron was promoted to a position to train new donation attendants, where he served for three years before being promoted again to a supervisor leading 30 attendants. He has been a supervisor for 18 years and has now been employed with Goodwill for more than 23 years.

Byron recently celebrated 24 years of sobriety and has become a leader and mentor to countless Goodwill employees over the years who have struggled with substance abuse, which he says is his life’s calling. When reflecting back on his time with the organization, Byron says he applied for a job, and Goodwill gave him a life.

Byron is the winner of the LaVoi-Katz Award at the 2024 Impact Awards.

LaVoi-Katz Award

This award is named in honor of two women who were loyal supporters of Goodwill — Madelaine LaVoi and Elsine Katz. It is given to a Goodwill Career Solutions client who made outstanding progress. This award is sponsored by the Enchiridion Foundation.