Area native affected by death of local man
Published 3:00 pm Wednesday, November 5, 2008
By Staff
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my deepest and most heart felt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Richard Wayne Terry.
I am a native of Atmore and now live in Wellington, Florida which is just outside of West Palm Beach.
I had the unfortunate opportunity of being one the first people on the scene of Mr. Terry's accident.
As a former EMT and now an RN I went to try to provide medical care and stayed at Mr. Terry's side until Palm Beach Fire Rescue arrived. It was at that time I moved to the back of his car and noticed the Alabama plates. I was struck by the coincidence that I had just left Wal-Mart and noticed the same car parked just across from me as I'd pulled into the lot and was there when I had left. He must have left the store right behind me.
How very small this world is when two people from such small towns in Alabama cross paths in such a way that we did. I wish I could have done more, but I hope that Mr. Terry knew that in his last minutes he wasn't alone.
I don't know what caused his accident, I did speak with several others on the scene and no one knew why he went off the road. I only know I was stopped waiting to turn, we were in the same lane and my car was right in front of him. Perhaps he didn't see me, and then when he did he swerved to avoid hitting me and pushing my car into the intersection into oncoming traffic. He may have saved my life, but gave his own instead. I'll never know. I'll only know how affected I was by the fact I'd just seen his car at Wal-Mart and wondered where in Alabama “they're” from and then having our lives cross paths again so suddenly.
I hope you will see fit to publish my letter and perhaps it will make its way to Mr. Terry's family so they will know they have been in my thoughts and prayers.
Bobbi K. Tucker, RN
Wellington, Florida
Community support of blood drive recognized
D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital would like to thank their employees and our two great communities for supporting our hospital at the first annual Tailgate and Donate Battle of Murder Creek blood drive.
We had 121 people sign up to give blood and were able to get 99 units of blood.
A special thanks to the T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal cheerleaders. Great job girls.
The winners of the door prizes are Alice Lyons and Susan Crawford - football tickets; Nehemiah Cooler and Donna Hudley - I pods; James H. Henry - Beach house trip (congratulations on your 47th wedding anniversary).
Grand prizewinner of $350 in school supplies and a Dell laptop computer, with blood donation bragging rights for one year was W.S. Neal High School.
Phillip Ellis, principal of W.S. Neal High School, received the prize from Lynne Ellis and Lisa Nordmeyer.
Thanks to all of you for supporting our hospital and supporting our schools.
Also, a special thank you to Winn Dixie, Piggly Wiggly, Superfoods, M&S t-shirts, Pepsi, WKNU, Medical Center Pharmacy, The Brewton Medical Center, Southern Pine and Brewton Iron Works for your support.
Lisa Nordmeyer
D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital