A Sad Thanksgiving for my family
I come to you, my Bama family with a heavy heart. I just returned from the hospital after spending hours with my sister and my nephew and their family...what's left of it. My nephew, Jeffrey William Martin, 32 and the youngest of my sister's only two sons was killed in a one car accident tonight as he was returning home from boating with his friends. His friends were following him and suddenly his truck left the road and rolled three times. He had a blow out. He wasn't wearing a seat belt. My sister who had the strongest faith of anyone I have ever known has been out of town for three week on an annual trip to visit a friend in Memphis. She had gotten the news last Thursday that while her husband was at work someone had kicked her back door in and burglarized their home. She returned home at 3:00 this afternoon to that and then received the phone call a few hours later that her baby boy was being Life Flighted to USA Medical Center and his wife said the paramedics said "it didn't look good." The next time she saw her baby boy he was dead. She did say she talked to him the day before and it was a good talk.
When we got to the hospital she and his wife were in the back taking care of the paperwork, my brother in law was in the waiting room with another sister, and other family members. My other nephew, Nick, Jeff's brother was outside with their father, my sister's ex. I went to speak to them and was remembering the last time I got a call from the same sister about two years ago that Nick was being Life Flighted to the same hospital because a tree had fallen on him and how I just knew he was dead...and here he was waiting to see how his brother was. He said they were still doing CPR and they were waiting to hear something. It gave me hope that we would have the same outcome. I went back in and sat down in the waiting room. A young woman came and took my sister and her husband, Jeff's wife, his dad and his wife, Nick and his wife into that little room off to the side of the ER waiting room. My stomach fell...Then two nurses went into the room and shut the door. There wasn't a doctor so I had hope that he was okay and I was praying ...we all were. All of the sudden I heard my sister and Jeff's wife screaming Nooooooo!! I will never forget that sound as long as I live. My ex-BIL came out and had the worst look on his face and he just went out the door. Nick's stepdaughter and stepson, 18 and 11 were next to me and started crying and I grabbed them. When I finally got to my sister, she was so together and was trying to comfort me!! She said I'm okay...Jeff's okay, Jesus came and met him, he's fine. I know she is right, but she was too together. I know it is just those chemicals in our body that help us get through these things. His sweet wife was just sobbing and saying how am I going to tell my babies their daddy is gone...they love him so much!! He has left behind two precious babies, Mandi his 4 year old princess and JW (name for his Papa who died this year also) who is daddy's 3 year old little man.
Sorry this was so long, but I needed to let it out and I knew I could come here and you would allow me to do just that. I also knew I could count you my Bama Family for support and prayers. It feels so surreal even though I went back to see him and touched him. It's hard to believe that beautiful, strong, tough, loving, young man that was loved by so many is gone. His mama said it all when we went back to see him one more time before we all left (my first and only time), "The world will never be the same." If you are a praying person, please pray for our entire family, if not, please keep us in your thoughts. This is going to be a tough holiday season for our family starting with Thanksgiving tomorrow...Love you guys
When we got to the hospital she and his wife were in the back taking care of the paperwork, my brother in law was in the waiting room with another sister, and other family members. My other nephew, Nick, Jeff's brother was outside with their father, my sister's ex. I went to speak to them and was remembering the last time I got a call from the same sister about two years ago that Nick was being Life Flighted to the same hospital because a tree had fallen on him and how I just knew he was dead...and here he was waiting to see how his brother was. He said they were still doing CPR and they were waiting to hear something. It gave me hope that we would have the same outcome. I went back in and sat down in the waiting room. A young woman came and took my sister and her husband, Jeff's wife, his dad and his wife, Nick and his wife into that little room off to the side of the ER waiting room. My stomach fell...Then two nurses went into the room and shut the door. There wasn't a doctor so I had hope that he was okay and I was praying ...we all were. All of the sudden I heard my sister and Jeff's wife screaming Nooooooo!! I will never forget that sound as long as I live. My ex-BIL came out and had the worst look on his face and he just went out the door. Nick's stepdaughter and stepson, 18 and 11 were next to me and started crying and I grabbed them. When I finally got to my sister, she was so together and was trying to comfort me!! She said I'm okay...Jeff's okay, Jesus came and met him, he's fine. I know she is right, but she was too together. I know it is just those chemicals in our body that help us get through these things. His sweet wife was just sobbing and saying how am I going to tell my babies their daddy is gone...they love him so much!! He has left behind two precious babies, Mandi his 4 year old princess and JW (name for his Papa who died this year also) who is daddy's 3 year old little man.
Sorry this was so long, but I needed to let it out and I knew I could come here and you would allow me to do just that. I also knew I could count you my Bama Family for support and prayers. It feels so surreal even though I went back to see him and touched him. It's hard to believe that beautiful, strong, tough, loving, young man that was loved by so many is gone. His mama said it all when we went back to see him one more time before we all left (my first and only time), "The world will never be the same." If you are a praying person, please pray for our entire family, if not, please keep us in your thoughts. This is going to be a tough holiday season for our family starting with Thanksgiving tomorrow...Love you guys
Christ's peace,
Connie aka Teal Rose
Connie I am so sorry. It is never easy to lose any one but much much harder when they are so young. It is going to be hard for this young wife and those precious children espicially with the holidays right around the corner. It has been over 4 years since my son and his wife lost our grandson to a freak accident, the best advice I have is to just be there for the family and let them talk. As you know it does get easier with time but the lost and hurt never does go away. Glad you came to the Bama Board I just happen to be lurking this morning. We all love you and I will keep you all in my prayers and thoughts during this time. If you need to talk email me.
Louise,
Thank you so much for your kind words, love and prayers.
I remember when you lost your grandson. I can't believe it has been 4 years already.
Jeff's funeral is tomorrow and there is 100% rain predicted. I worked today and didn't realize how distracted I am. Tomorrow will be hard, but I will be there for my sister and his wife and babies
Thanks again, it means a lot to know you care.
Thank you so much for your kind words, love and prayers.
I remember when you lost your grandson. I can't believe it has been 4 years already.
Jeff's funeral is tomorrow and there is 100% rain predicted. I worked today and didn't realize how distracted I am. Tomorrow will be hard, but I will be there for my sister and his wife and babies
Thanks again, it means a lot to know you care.
Christ's peace,
Connie aka Teal Rose
John,
Thank you so much for the prayers. We could really feel the love and prayers pouring out from all over.
Please continue prayers tomorrow. The funeral is Tuesday. I know it will be hard. Jeff was so loved. His mother, my sister is so strong in her faith...she has inspired me so much.
I haven't seen his wife, but from what I understand there has been an outpouring of support. His family for three generations has worked for Alabama Power and he was in the Woodworkers local. There have been so many coming forward from both places. They loved Jeff. A rep from his local came and said he was there speaking for the local and said if Melissa (his wife) needed anything...if something needed repairing, anthing, to just call and one or more of the members of the local would be there to take care of it,
It has been amazing. People are good.
Oh yes, tell Biscuit I said thank you and give him an extra scratch on his belly or behind his ear...whatever his preference from Teal Rose.
Thank you so much for the prayers. We could really feel the love and prayers pouring out from all over.
Please continue prayers tomorrow. The funeral is Tuesday. I know it will be hard. Jeff was so loved. His mother, my sister is so strong in her faith...she has inspired me so much.
I haven't seen his wife, but from what I understand there has been an outpouring of support. His family for three generations has worked for Alabama Power and he was in the Woodworkers local. There have been so many coming forward from both places. They loved Jeff. A rep from his local came and said he was there speaking for the local and said if Melissa (his wife) needed anything...if something needed repairing, anthing, to just call and one or more of the members of the local would be there to take care of it,
It has been amazing. People are good.
Oh yes, tell Biscuit I said thank you and give him an extra scratch on his belly or behind his ear...whatever his preference from Teal Rose.
Christ's peace,
Connie aka Teal Rose
Kim,
Thank you so much for the inspiration prayers in my time of pain and sadness.
You are right, the Lord is who is carrying all of us through this horrific time.
It means a lot to have a community of people to love and support you at a time like this. Please continue your prayers, the funeral is Tuesday and I know it is going to be tough saying final good-byes and his babies will be there too.
Please pray especially or his dad, my sister's ex. He has no connection to God and he is really angry and hurting. I don't see how anyone can survive such a loss without God. Our prayer is that somehow Jeff's death won't be in vain, but maybe it can bring about a conversion in his dad. That has been my prayer and I know my sister and his other son's also.
Thank you again Kim. God bless you and your family.
Thank you so much for the inspiration prayers in my time of pain and sadness.
You are right, the Lord is who is carrying all of us through this horrific time.
It means a lot to have a community of people to love and support you at a time like this. Please continue your prayers, the funeral is Tuesday and I know it is going to be tough saying final good-byes and his babies will be there too.
Please pray especially or his dad, my sister's ex. He has no connection to God and he is really angry and hurting. I don't see how anyone can survive such a loss without God. Our prayer is that somehow Jeff's death won't be in vain, but maybe it can bring about a conversion in his dad. That has been my prayer and I know my sister and his other son's also.
Thank you again Kim. God bless you and your family.
Christ's peace,
Connie aka Teal Rose
Felix,
Thank you for your kind words and inspiration during this time of great loss for my family.
We do know that God is in control. Several of us felt a flood of peace at the hospital before we knew whether he has survived or not. His niece was confused because she felt such peace and had told everyone that God had given her such peace that she knew Jeff was going to be okay. When they said he had died, she was so confused. I told her that what God had given her was right...she did feel that peace because Jeff is okay. We are suffering because we lost someone we love so much and we will miss him, but he is okay. He is in Paradise, no pain and totally happy. I think she got it, but she is young and was in such pain.
It meant so much and was very comforting to read the words that you and the others shared with me on our Bama Board. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you and yours.
Thank you for your kind words and inspiration during this time of great loss for my family.
We do know that God is in control. Several of us felt a flood of peace at the hospital before we knew whether he has survived or not. His niece was confused because she felt such peace and had told everyone that God had given her such peace that she knew Jeff was going to be okay. When they said he had died, she was so confused. I told her that what God had given her was right...she did feel that peace because Jeff is okay. We are suffering because we lost someone we love so much and we will miss him, but he is okay. He is in Paradise, no pain and totally happy. I think she got it, but she is young and was in such pain.
It meant so much and was very comforting to read the words that you and the others shared with me on our Bama Board. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you and yours.
Christ's peace,
Connie aka Teal Rose
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