Dear Gamecock family,
I been waiting a long time to finally be able to share this with the Gamecock Central family. I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this possible. Please excuse any grammatical errors because I got very emotional typing this up. I would of had it proof read. However I was sitting here at home alone, and I wanted to share this with all of you asap on here as I promised I would when I asked for your help three years ago. I would of posted this two days ago but I had to figure out how to actually post a picture on here because the old way I use to use would no longer allowed me to use it. So anyway I typed all this up after the Big win today because I found out late last night that I could use a link from my own Twitter page to post a picture on here. I know this is kind of long, but try to read what you can because I owe so much to the people on this site. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart and God bless each if you.
So when I lost my dad three years ago on December 28, 2018 my family and I didn't have any money to bury him. Much less pay for a funeral, or to be able to pay to have a gravestone put down marking where he was laid to rest. My Dad needed a heart transplant for any hopes of long term survival. He ultimately never got the transplant but they did put a pacemaker, defibrillator, and a heart pump into his chest in hopes of him being able to survive long enough to get a transplant. However because of all and his condition it led to many long stays in the hospital. Sometimes for a day or two, but also for weeks at a time or even a month or more down in Charleston at MUSC. He and my mom even had to move into an RV after his heart pump surgery because for the first three months after the surgery he had to stay within 15 mins of the hospital. That wasn't easy on them or any of us for that matter. Especially considering our home was over three hours away. Yet we always made it work as a family often does. However due to those long stays and my mom always staying with him no matter how long he was in the hospital my parents didn't get their mail regularly. So the notices that came in the mail telling them that his life insurance was going to lapse without immediate payment they simply just didn't get because they weren't home to get their mail. Unfortunately they never had it set up to be automatically drafted out after my dad was forced to retire early due to his medical condition. So after a particularly long stay in the hospital my dad's life insurance did indeed lapse and with his heart condition they would never offer to cover him again for obviously reasons. When your going through the things my family was at the time some things just slip through the cracks. No matter how important those things may be. So when he passed away being a life long Gamecock fan because of my dad who took me to games as soon as I could walk. So I ultimately did something I had hoped I'd never have to do. That was come on this site and ask for the help from my fellow Gamecock family in first helping us raise the money to have a small funeral, and be able to have him laid to rest. Well by your help and by the help of many others who knew my dad so well from where we're from we raise the money to cover his funeral and burial cost. The only thing I had fortten about at the time that we were discussing the funeral arrangements with the funeral home and cementary was my dads grave stone. Never having to deal with going through something like that before I just assumed it was included in the funeral cost. Obviously it wasn't and it hurt me going to his grave and there was nothing there but flat grass. I felt my dad deserved better from me because he was such a great Dad to me and role model. So after many trips to his grave side, long nights, talks with my mom, and prayer I decided to ask for your help again to help me pay pay for a gravestone for my Dad. It's just incredibly hard going to visit a loved ones grave with nothing there but dirt. So with that being said I'm still humbled and blown away by the kindness and all the help so many of you gave through donations. For those that couldn't donate you still gave me words of encouragement and sent prayers my families way. Both meant the world to me as well as my family. I said back then that once I was finally able to get it paid for, made, and put into place I would share it with all of you. I knew from the beginning it had to have the Gamecock on it. Because besides God and family the Gamecocks were my dad's life. Well it took two years longer than it was supposed to because of covid, and many hoops I had to jump through to be allowed to let someone other than the cemetery where he was laid to rest at be able to make the gravestone that I wanted for him. It was difficult due to the fact that he was laid to rest in a private cemetery. I never knew there was such a thing as a private cementary. Again I had never had to go through planning a burial and what all it entails never-mind the cost of it all. Anyway the cementary will allow to have gravestones made by another source obviously, but in doing so they make every step of it as difficult as possible. They do this because they expect you to buy from them. However they couldn't make what I wanted plus the guy I found to make gave it to me much cheaper with much more detail. It's not Like your not already dealing with enough as it is, but the cementary want to all but force you to buy from them. So once you buy from somone else they charge more than three times the amount to put it down for because I didn't buy from them. Thankfully my dad's older brother knew on the main guy who ran the cementary. So he went and spoke to the guy and they worked out a deal that I still don't know all the details of to this day. My uncle just told me to let him know when it's ready. So it was finally finished sometime in October and delivered. I had hoped it would be put down by his birthday witch was Nov 20th. Needless to say it wasn't and they said they couldn't guarantee it would be down by Christmas. We'll it was finally put down sometime last week. Although no one bothered to let us know they finally put it down even though they said they would let us know once it was put down. My mom just happened to stop by at the end of the last week to put some Christmas flowers on his grave and saw that it had finally been put into place. So my family and I went together the day after Christmas to see it together for the first time. Well besides my mom because she saw it by accident.
So today I just want to say thank you again to everyone who may have donated to help me get this done. I also thank you for the prayers as well because they help tremendously as well. Its still very difficult for me to this day no longer having my dad. They say it gets easier but it really hasn't yet for me. My whole world shattered when I lost my dad, and I know that it can't ever be put back together again. I know I will never be the same man I was before he passed away. I've had to learn to adjust to life without him and I'm still learning how. I've had to try and learn to be happy knowing he's in a better place, and I know it's what he would want. So I try hard every single day to live in honor and memory of him. The one thing I really admired and something that will always inspire me is that as sick as my dad was and got he never lost his joy. He could've easily became done so, and became bitter. He could've allowed his whole personality to changed with all he was going through. If he had no one would of probably even blamed him for doing so. Yet he never did any of that or change who he was. He was the same guy sick as he was when he was healthy as far as his attitude. It really amazed me and taught me how to apperciate the little things more. Especially when I think of how he went from a man who was always busy doing something even on his days off. He loved his job and that was the first thing taken away from him. He to travel and loved being outdoors as much as possible. Then over time that to was taken from him unless I took him outside in a wheelchair. Sometime I think that was worse part for him. Not being able to just get up on his own to walk outdoors. Then eventually he became bedridden the whole final year of his life, and was basically that way even several months before that. So for him to go through those things and the humiliating things that come with being bedridden were worse than any pain most if the time. Especially for such a proud man like he was. Yet with all that being said my Dad never lost his joy. It just tells you a lot about the man my Dad was to go through all that but still smile and to be happy everyday. So I now use never lose your joy as my motto. It's such a simple thing to say, but not a simple thing to do. A lot had to do with his faith in God. He always told me God wouldn't put me through this if I couldn't handle it. He would also say he has his reasons for everything although we can not see it just yet. So his strong faith in his lord and savior Jesus christ and the love for his family always kept him smiling and happy. He told me all the time those were the only things he needed. It taught me some humility and perspective on things that's for sure. Every morning I'd walk passed him and He would smile and would always say as I left for work have a great day son I love you as I leaned over to give him a hug. Then when I got home from work as soon as I opened the door he would ask me how my day was without fail no matter how bad of a day he just had. It's one of the few things I always looked forward to after he became bedridden. He may have been in a pain on some of those days but he made sure to always show me and anyone who came through the door a smile while asking you how you where doing and how was your day.
Not only did I lose my dad on December 28th, 2018 I lost my best friend, my hero, and my inspiration. I also lost the one guy I could sit and talk football with all day especially Gamecock football. Like I said he took me when I first started walking and he and I didn't miss a home game for 30 plus years. He went over 40 plus years. It was heartbreaking to finally have to give up the seats we had had my whole life, but we had no choice. I did try the next year by getting us handicap seats, and we went for one more season together because he was able to ride his motorized wheelchair to get into the stadium as well as use that for his seat in the south endzone in the upper deck. However after that season he could no longer go to the games. So for me getting his gravestone put into place seeing that Gamecock there helps me heal just a little bit more. I know he would of never felt this way, but I felt like I was letting him down everyday that passed by that he didn't have a gravestone marking his grave. So finally after almost 3 years to the day he passed my family and I went together to see it for the first time the day after Christmas. Besides Christmas day in 2015 when my brother and I gave my dad his replica brick of the one that was put down in Springs Brooks Plaza in honor of him. That Christmas was actually the first time I ever saw my dad cry. Thankfully it was tears of joy. He even got so chocked up that I had to read the letter I had wrote for him about his gift. This Christmas ranks right up there with that one because it meant so much to me getting that put in place. It was the last thing I could do for such a special man, dad, husband, and friend to many. I feel like the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders when I first saw it. I could finally take a big sigh of relief. Now everyone can now see exactly where my dad is laid to rest and also know he loved his Gamecocks. So being able to finally walk up to his grave and read his name it meant the world to me. I can finally truly say rest in peace Dad, and there's some closure in being able to say that. I hope most of you like the design of gravestone that you helped make possible. As I sat there and talked to him at his graveside I told him I kept my promise although it took longer than I had hope. Because before we unplugged everything to let him go although he was in a coma I whispered in his ear Dad your gravestone is going to be amazing. I will make sure everyone knows how much the South Carolina Gamecocks mean to you. I just hope he can see it in heaven. I hope and pray that most of you who sent prayers my way and especially the ones who made donations to make this possible are still on the site to see it. If so I hope you remember helping me so you can see what you helped me get done for my Dad. You all deserve to get to finally see what you helped this son do for his amazing dad one last time. RIP Dad FINALLY! 🙏 ♥
Ps. What a great day to be a Gamecock. The Gamecocks won their bowl game today by running it down their throats, and looked excited to be there doing it. No doubt the future looks bright again. So I know my dad dancing in heaven. I just wish I could talk to him about it. I do know he would've absolutely loved Shane Beamer. He loved him when he was here as an assistant coach. I do know he's smiling for sure because again he never lost his joy here on earth so I can't imigine how much joy he has in heaven with his parents, brother, friends, and his lord and savior. Thank you all again for your support and help making this all possible. Words can't express my gratitude. Just know none of the support went unappreciated or unnoticed. The Gamecock fans are truly a family. May God bless each of you! So here it is my Gamecock family.
Ps. Never lose your joy!
I been waiting a long time to finally be able to share this with the Gamecock Central family. I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this possible. Please excuse any grammatical errors because I got very emotional typing this up. I would of had it proof read. However I was sitting here at home alone, and I wanted to share this with all of you asap on here as I promised I would when I asked for your help three years ago. I would of posted this two days ago but I had to figure out how to actually post a picture on here because the old way I use to use would no longer allowed me to use it. So anyway I typed all this up after the Big win today because I found out late last night that I could use a link from my own Twitter page to post a picture on here. I know this is kind of long, but try to read what you can because I owe so much to the people on this site. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart and God bless each if you.
So when I lost my dad three years ago on December 28, 2018 my family and I didn't have any money to bury him. Much less pay for a funeral, or to be able to pay to have a gravestone put down marking where he was laid to rest. My Dad needed a heart transplant for any hopes of long term survival. He ultimately never got the transplant but they did put a pacemaker, defibrillator, and a heart pump into his chest in hopes of him being able to survive long enough to get a transplant. However because of all and his condition it led to many long stays in the hospital. Sometimes for a day or two, but also for weeks at a time or even a month or more down in Charleston at MUSC. He and my mom even had to move into an RV after his heart pump surgery because for the first three months after the surgery he had to stay within 15 mins of the hospital. That wasn't easy on them or any of us for that matter. Especially considering our home was over three hours away. Yet we always made it work as a family often does. However due to those long stays and my mom always staying with him no matter how long he was in the hospital my parents didn't get their mail regularly. So the notices that came in the mail telling them that his life insurance was going to lapse without immediate payment they simply just didn't get because they weren't home to get their mail. Unfortunately they never had it set up to be automatically drafted out after my dad was forced to retire early due to his medical condition. So after a particularly long stay in the hospital my dad's life insurance did indeed lapse and with his heart condition they would never offer to cover him again for obviously reasons. When your going through the things my family was at the time some things just slip through the cracks. No matter how important those things may be. So when he passed away being a life long Gamecock fan because of my dad who took me to games as soon as I could walk. So I ultimately did something I had hoped I'd never have to do. That was come on this site and ask for the help from my fellow Gamecock family in first helping us raise the money to have a small funeral, and be able to have him laid to rest. Well by your help and by the help of many others who knew my dad so well from where we're from we raise the money to cover his funeral and burial cost. The only thing I had fortten about at the time that we were discussing the funeral arrangements with the funeral home and cementary was my dads grave stone. Never having to deal with going through something like that before I just assumed it was included in the funeral cost. Obviously it wasn't and it hurt me going to his grave and there was nothing there but flat grass. I felt my dad deserved better from me because he was such a great Dad to me and role model. So after many trips to his grave side, long nights, talks with my mom, and prayer I decided to ask for your help again to help me pay pay for a gravestone for my Dad. It's just incredibly hard going to visit a loved ones grave with nothing there but dirt. So with that being said I'm still humbled and blown away by the kindness and all the help so many of you gave through donations. For those that couldn't donate you still gave me words of encouragement and sent prayers my families way. Both meant the world to me as well as my family. I said back then that once I was finally able to get it paid for, made, and put into place I would share it with all of you. I knew from the beginning it had to have the Gamecock on it. Because besides God and family the Gamecocks were my dad's life. Well it took two years longer than it was supposed to because of covid, and many hoops I had to jump through to be allowed to let someone other than the cemetery where he was laid to rest at be able to make the gravestone that I wanted for him. It was difficult due to the fact that he was laid to rest in a private cemetery. I never knew there was such a thing as a private cementary. Again I had never had to go through planning a burial and what all it entails never-mind the cost of it all. Anyway the cementary will allow to have gravestones made by another source obviously, but in doing so they make every step of it as difficult as possible. They do this because they expect you to buy from them. However they couldn't make what I wanted plus the guy I found to make gave it to me much cheaper with much more detail. It's not Like your not already dealing with enough as it is, but the cementary want to all but force you to buy from them. So once you buy from somone else they charge more than three times the amount to put it down for because I didn't buy from them. Thankfully my dad's older brother knew on the main guy who ran the cementary. So he went and spoke to the guy and they worked out a deal that I still don't know all the details of to this day. My uncle just told me to let him know when it's ready. So it was finally finished sometime in October and delivered. I had hoped it would be put down by his birthday witch was Nov 20th. Needless to say it wasn't and they said they couldn't guarantee it would be down by Christmas. We'll it was finally put down sometime last week. Although no one bothered to let us know they finally put it down even though they said they would let us know once it was put down. My mom just happened to stop by at the end of the last week to put some Christmas flowers on his grave and saw that it had finally been put into place. So my family and I went together the day after Christmas to see it together for the first time. Well besides my mom because she saw it by accident.
So today I just want to say thank you again to everyone who may have donated to help me get this done. I also thank you for the prayers as well because they help tremendously as well. Its still very difficult for me to this day no longer having my dad. They say it gets easier but it really hasn't yet for me. My whole world shattered when I lost my dad, and I know that it can't ever be put back together again. I know I will never be the same man I was before he passed away. I've had to learn to adjust to life without him and I'm still learning how. I've had to try and learn to be happy knowing he's in a better place, and I know it's what he would want. So I try hard every single day to live in honor and memory of him. The one thing I really admired and something that will always inspire me is that as sick as my dad was and got he never lost his joy. He could've easily became done so, and became bitter. He could've allowed his whole personality to changed with all he was going through. If he had no one would of probably even blamed him for doing so. Yet he never did any of that or change who he was. He was the same guy sick as he was when he was healthy as far as his attitude. It really amazed me and taught me how to apperciate the little things more. Especially when I think of how he went from a man who was always busy doing something even on his days off. He loved his job and that was the first thing taken away from him. He to travel and loved being outdoors as much as possible. Then over time that to was taken from him unless I took him outside in a wheelchair. Sometime I think that was worse part for him. Not being able to just get up on his own to walk outdoors. Then eventually he became bedridden the whole final year of his life, and was basically that way even several months before that. So for him to go through those things and the humiliating things that come with being bedridden were worse than any pain most if the time. Especially for such a proud man like he was. Yet with all that being said my Dad never lost his joy. It just tells you a lot about the man my Dad was to go through all that but still smile and to be happy everyday. So I now use never lose your joy as my motto. It's such a simple thing to say, but not a simple thing to do. A lot had to do with his faith in God. He always told me God wouldn't put me through this if I couldn't handle it. He would also say he has his reasons for everything although we can not see it just yet. So his strong faith in his lord and savior Jesus christ and the love for his family always kept him smiling and happy. He told me all the time those were the only things he needed. It taught me some humility and perspective on things that's for sure. Every morning I'd walk passed him and He would smile and would always say as I left for work have a great day son I love you as I leaned over to give him a hug. Then when I got home from work as soon as I opened the door he would ask me how my day was without fail no matter how bad of a day he just had. It's one of the few things I always looked forward to after he became bedridden. He may have been in a pain on some of those days but he made sure to always show me and anyone who came through the door a smile while asking you how you where doing and how was your day.
Not only did I lose my dad on December 28th, 2018 I lost my best friend, my hero, and my inspiration. I also lost the one guy I could sit and talk football with all day especially Gamecock football. Like I said he took me when I first started walking and he and I didn't miss a home game for 30 plus years. He went over 40 plus years. It was heartbreaking to finally have to give up the seats we had had my whole life, but we had no choice. I did try the next year by getting us handicap seats, and we went for one more season together because he was able to ride his motorized wheelchair to get into the stadium as well as use that for his seat in the south endzone in the upper deck. However after that season he could no longer go to the games. So for me getting his gravestone put into place seeing that Gamecock there helps me heal just a little bit more. I know he would of never felt this way, but I felt like I was letting him down everyday that passed by that he didn't have a gravestone marking his grave. So finally after almost 3 years to the day he passed my family and I went together to see it for the first time the day after Christmas. Besides Christmas day in 2015 when my brother and I gave my dad his replica brick of the one that was put down in Springs Brooks Plaza in honor of him. That Christmas was actually the first time I ever saw my dad cry. Thankfully it was tears of joy. He even got so chocked up that I had to read the letter I had wrote for him about his gift. This Christmas ranks right up there with that one because it meant so much to me getting that put in place. It was the last thing I could do for such a special man, dad, husband, and friend to many. I feel like the weight of the world lifted off my shoulders when I first saw it. I could finally take a big sigh of relief. Now everyone can now see exactly where my dad is laid to rest and also know he loved his Gamecocks. So being able to finally walk up to his grave and read his name it meant the world to me. I can finally truly say rest in peace Dad, and there's some closure in being able to say that. I hope most of you like the design of gravestone that you helped make possible. As I sat there and talked to him at his graveside I told him I kept my promise although it took longer than I had hope. Because before we unplugged everything to let him go although he was in a coma I whispered in his ear Dad your gravestone is going to be amazing. I will make sure everyone knows how much the South Carolina Gamecocks mean to you. I just hope he can see it in heaven. I hope and pray that most of you who sent prayers my way and especially the ones who made donations to make this possible are still on the site to see it. If so I hope you remember helping me so you can see what you helped me get done for my Dad. You all deserve to get to finally see what you helped this son do for his amazing dad one last time. RIP Dad FINALLY! 🙏 ♥
Ps. What a great day to be a Gamecock. The Gamecocks won their bowl game today by running it down their throats, and looked excited to be there doing it. No doubt the future looks bright again. So I know my dad dancing in heaven. I just wish I could talk to him about it. I do know he would've absolutely loved Shane Beamer. He loved him when he was here as an assistant coach. I do know he's smiling for sure because again he never lost his joy here on earth so I can't imigine how much joy he has in heaven with his parents, brother, friends, and his lord and savior. Thank you all again for your support and help making this all possible. Words can't express my gratitude. Just know none of the support went unappreciated or unnoticed. The Gamecock fans are truly a family. May God bless each of you! So here it is my Gamecock family.
Ps. Never lose your joy!
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