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Life Changes In Seconds

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 5037

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Sep 21 2016 11:21 PM

DOTHAN - HOUSTON COUNTY:    Last evening I attended the Houston County Volunteer Fire Chief Association meeting. Most months I do attend the meeting.


While I am not a Fire Chief, I normally attend to keep involved. I am also the Houston County Representative on the 911 Board. But the Association President also serves on the board.


After the meeting I have a lengthy conversation with an elected official in the parking lot. Make it home about 10 PM.


That brings me to today.


Started normal. My daughter normally drops off my grandson to me for me to carry him to Covenant so that she does not have to travel so far to work.


Brantley and I talk and he wants my air pad to watch motorcycles for kids. We arrive at Covenant. In the elevator I take his picture in his fire shirt that Danielle Shirah ( thanks Danielle) made for him.


As we walk to his class I am alerted to a Dale County structure fire.


My plans were haircut, breakfast, office, court and leave town. That page changes things.


STRUCTURE FIRE


I respond to the house fire and cover it news wise. I watch as volunteer fireman work to save someone’s home and belonging’s.


COURT


I leave at 8:15 from the scene to meet some people in court. I made a promise to support a young man today in court. I kept my promise.


While in the courtroom I get a phone call and step out of court. I learn ( 9:31 AM ) the Sheriff Department is responding to Gordon where a body has been found in the river.


Speak with Matt who is responding. Step back in the courtroom. Matt and I text. I tell the person I am standing next to, Tony Weber with Community Corrections, what the Sheriff Department is responding to.


In the courtroom, Tony in the middle, I am to his right, and a court official to his left. From my phone, in the courtroom, I post the breaking news of the body found.


After the court proceedings I am there for are over, I leave the courthouse and go to the office.


OFFICE


Handle some matters, gather some work and leave town. And as usual stay on the phone. 


Stop,in Headland for brief visit with my sister and brother in law, Terry Walden. He has leukemia and not doing well.


Leave and northbound.


11:42 AM


McGriff from my office text me to call someone. At 11:51 I return the call.


That is when I find out that the man found in the river was my long time friend Gerald Love. And it was Gerald’s son Steve I was talking with. I was asked to withhold the name for a while which I gladly honored.


2:30 PM


I am north bound on I-185 and a accident had just occured. We park, cross the interstate. No emergency officials are on the scene. I get on my knees and stomach and as much into the cab to find the man dead.


We try to determine if anyone else is in the vehicle but the entire cab is crushed.


Troup County Emergency Officials arrive. We speak with them and leave.


We stop at a truck stop where I change clothes because I have diesel fuel all over my clothes.


3:54 PM


Steve Love calls me. He gives me approval to release his dad’s name. We talk a few because I have known his dad since A.B. Clark was Sheriff. First met him when a Houston County youth was missing at Neal’s Landing in the 1970’s.


But here it shows you never know.


Remember earlier in the article I mentioned I was in the courtroom when I found out the body was found. And Tony was in the middle, I was to the right and a court official to the left.


Little did I know or anyone know, the court official was a close family connection to Mr. Love.


That goes to demonstrate, we never know when something strikes or who all it affects.


And why all things are to be settled with our Heavenly Father?


I never listed in my plans today.... To watch someone’s home burn, report a man found floating in the river and report it almost shoulder to shoulder in the courtroom with a close family connection, or come up on a wreck where a man’s life was suddenly taken.


KEN DUNCAN


I have learned via FACEBOOK the man killed in the accident is Ken Duncan in Georgia. There is a go fund me account I noticed set up to help the family with funeral costs. If you can help please do so.


WHAT I HAVE LEARNED


Having been Coroner I know life is short. During my tenure as Coroner, my joy came from making a bad situation, somehow easier.


I had the honor and privilege of helping a young man who turned his life around in court. Seeing him to have a chance to be productive, a husband and a father to his kids.


The honor and privilege of talking to a young man in Teen Challenge who is doing great. A young man I played a small significant role in him being in Teen Challenge to get his life in the right directions. Demons are attacking him not in the addiction but in bitterness of relationships. But he is doing well to a positive life.


And witnessing in seconds how people’s lives are forever, changed in seconds....literally seconds.


GOD LOVES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US NO MATTER WHAT.


From what I have been involved in just today, make every second count, but first get your salvation nailed down...NOW!




 





Life Changes In Seconds

Life Changes In Seconds

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Life Changes In Seconds

Life Changes In Seconds

Life Changes In Seconds

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