A Rockwall County volunteer who spent 12 years advocating for abused and neglected children in local courts has retired. Lone Star CASA announced Monday, Aug. 24, that Sharon Chapman stepped down as a volunteer advocate after serving 23 children across 13 cases since February 2012.
Chapman holds a unique place in the organization's history as the first volunteer advocate appointed to a Court Ordered Services case, a model that allows children to remain at home while their parents work through court-required services. Her willingness to take on that unfamiliar assignment opened the door for Lone Star CASA to expand into COS advocacy, according to The Rockwall Times.
That program took off. In June, Lone Star CASA received a federal grant through National CASA/GAL, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, to expand its Order to Participate Program in Kaufman County.
"Her dedication to the children she served, her willingness to take on new challenges, and her genuine care for others are just a few of the qualities that made her such a remarkable volunteer," said Elizabeth Mosman, operations director at Lone Star CASA.
Chapman's influence reached beyond her assigned cases. She supported staff, mentored fellow volunteers and, in 2024, completed a two-year term on the National CASA/GAL Association for Children's National Volunteer Council, bringing a local perspective to the organization's national strategy.
As of mid-2026, the nonprofit has served 256 children this year, with 85 already placed in safe, permanent homes through reunification, adoption, guardianship or placement with relatives. Residents interested in volunteering, donating or learning more can visit lonestarcasa.org.
What's next
Lone Star CASA's annual Clays for CASA sporting clay tournament takes place Friday, Aug. 28, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Texas Gun Ranch, 15950 State Highway 205 in Terrell. The event features an 18-station course, breakfast, lunch, raffles and a silent auction.
