Remembering lives misplaced through the coronavirus pandemic

Bella Smith fondly remembers the time she hit her first house run. Then 9, she stepped as much as house plate on a softball area in East Alabama, learn the pitcher like a ebook and swung with all her would possibly. The ball soared over the outfielders. She charged via the bases and safely reached house nicely earlier than the catcher may tag her out.

Bella’s father, coach and hero, Jody Smith, was cheering her on from the sidelines. The 2 bonded over softball and spent their free time practising of their yard. For numerous hours, Bella pitched curveballs and he hit popups for her to catch.

“However actually what I cherished most in regards to the sport was my daddy being there and now he’s not,” stated Bella, now 14.

Her father died from COVID-19 problems Sept. 3. Smith, 48, labored for eight years on the Carroll County Sheriff’s Workplace in Carrollton, the place he was accountable for driving detainees to different jails and prisons. His widow believes he contracted the illness within the Carroll County Jail.

Born in Ranburne, Alabama, Smith was a tenacious athlete who was enthusiastic about softball.

“From the minute Jody was sufficiently old to carry a ball, he by no means put it down,” stated his mom, Brenda Smith.

Smith’s mates stated he intently resembled “Soiled Dancing” star Patrick Swayze when he was youthful. Cheryl Smith, who grew up in the identical hometown, was enamored by his appears and located his deep stomach laughs contagious. They married in 2005. Jody cherished Cheryl’s son, Tristen, and raised him as his personal. Three years after they married, Jody and Cheryl introduced Bella into the world.

Smith stayed upbeat after he examined optimistic for COVID-19, stated his widow, including their household anticipated him to completely get well. However his blood-oxygen stage started to fall. His household took him to the hospital and he was finally moved into intensive care. When Cheryl Smith visited her husband, she lifted up his oxygen masks and the 2 shared a kiss.

“And even at that time, I by no means as soon as doubted he was coming house,” she stated.

The Carroll Sheriff’s Workplace and Smith’s household held a prayer vigil exterior of his hospital room. A nurse advised Cheryl that he was bettering. However the subsequent morning a physician referred to as to inform her that he was not going to make it via the day.

Bella stopped enjoying softball after she misplaced her father. She stated she by no means performed with out him and doesn’t plan to now.

Capt. Michael D’Angelo Garigan, 56, of Calhoun, died with COVID-19 on Jan. 24 of final yr. To honor her husband, Leslie Garigan is beginning a nonprofit, “Be Like Mike.” The faculty scholarship, she stated, might be given to people who find themselves dedicating their lives to creating the world a greater place.

Credit score: Offered

Credit score: Offered

Capt. Michael D’Angelo Garigan, 56, of Calhoun, died with COVID-19 on Jan. 24 of final yr. To honor her husband, Leslie Garigan is beginning a nonprofit, “Be Like Mike.” The faculty scholarship, she stated, might be given to people who find themselves dedicating their lives to creating the world a greater place.

Credit score: Offered

Credit score: Offered

Capt. Michael D’Angelo Garigan

Age 56, of Calhoun. Learn the obituary.

By Caleb Groves

Contemporary Take Georgia

A whole bunch of mates and family members gathered at Phil Reeve Stadium in Calhoun for a memorial service final yr for Michael Garigan, a regulation enforcement officer who served Gordon County for 31 years. A church pastor associated to Garigan led the viewers within the chant, “Be Like Mike,” a nod to Garigan’s admiration of NBA legend Michael Jordan.

“We’re right here as a result of we love Mike,” stated Pastor James C. Marable, who leads Bethel Baptist Church in Barnesville.

Garigan, 56, died with COVID-19 on Jan. 24, 2021. He was married with three kids and 4 grandchildren.

A Calhoun native, he graduated with a bachelor’s diploma in prison justice from Jacksonville State College. He served as a deacon at First Corinth Christian Church in Calhoun, coached youth soccer and labored because the commander of the Gordon County Jail. The youngsters he taught within the D.A.R.E. program remembered him as form and respectful, stated his widow, Leslie Garigan. He was enthusiastic about sports activities and training, she added, and refused to let others rejoice him, regardless of his accomplishments.

The pandemic modified him. He and his spouse spent hundreds of {dollars} on cleansing provides and scrubbed their partitions till paint got here off. He by no means left the home with no masks and spent as little time as doable within the jail, the place social distancing is troublesome.

“He was scared of COVID,” his widow stated.

When he grew to become ailing final yr, his household was sure it wasn’t COVID-19. However it will definitely grew to become clear to them that his sickness was greater than a chilly as he struggled to breathe. Leslie Garigan referred to as 911 4 occasions. Each time, she stated, 911 operators advised her the hospitals had been full. She nursed her husband till he was admitted to an intensive care unit, the place he spent 19 days. When he was advised he had COVID, he denied it, she stated, and shook his head, repeatedly saying “No.” Garigan died later that day.

Leslie Garigan stated she believes her husband contracted COVID-19 within the Gordon County Jail.

“COVID was the one battle we’d come up in opposition to that we weren’t capable of overcome,” she stated.

To honor her husband, she is beginning a nonprofit, “Be Like Mike.” A school scholarship, she stated, might be given to others who’re like he was — devoted to creating the world a greater place.

Sgt. Bobby Williams, 56, of Columbus, died from problems with COVID-19 on Sept. 13. His household believes he contracted the illness within the Muscogee County Jail, the place he labored. “He was joyful, he was form,” stated Yairick McFadden, Williams’ oldest son. “He was simply that individual somebody would look as much as.”

Credit score: Offered

Credit score: Offered

Sgt. Bobby Williams, 56, of Columbus, died from problems with COVID-19 on Sept. 13. His household believes he contracted the illness within the Muscogee County Jail, the place he labored. “He was joyful, he was form,” stated Yairick McFadden, Williams’ oldest son. “He was simply that individual somebody would look as much as.”

Credit score: Offered

Credit score: Offered

Sgt. Bobby Williams

Age 56, of Columbus. Learn the obituary.

By Melissa Walsh

Contemporary Take Georgia

Bobby Williams’ sons vividly keep in mind tagging together with their father whereas he labored the evening shift as a safety guard in LaGrange through the Nineteen Eighties. They might hop within the household automotive together with their sister, eagerly awaiting the chance to stroll the warehouse grounds and be taught from their dad maintain watch.

He instilled self-discipline and willpower in his kids. Williams constructed them an out of doors health club with a basketball hoop. His kids keep in mind him cheering them on from the sidelines at their sporting occasions.

“He was joyful, he was form,” stated Yairick McFadden, Williams’ oldest son. “He was simply that individual somebody would look as much as.”

Williams, 56, died from problems with COVID-19 on Sept. 13, 2021. His household believes he contracted the illness within the Muscogee County Jail, the place he labored as a sergeant.

Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Warsaw, North Carolina, by his grandparents. Shortly after graduating from highschool, he moved to Columbus, the place he joined the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Workplace in 1993. Williams cherished to gather weapons and uncommon cash and go fishing together with his youngest son, Jordon Williams.

When Bobby Williams started experiencing signs, he didn’t need anybody to fret about him. He struggled to catch his breath however sought to reassure his household it was only a chilly. Just a few days later, Williams, who lived alone, didn’t present up for work, prompting his colleagues to contact his household. Williams was too frail to stand up and reply the door.

Williams was positioned on a ventilator on the hospital. His relations weren’t allowed to go to due to the pandemic, so fellow sheriff’s deputies who had been stationed there related them by telephone. That allowed his household to speak with him on daily basis till he died.

Muscogee deputies now routinely verify on his members of the family, purchase them dinner and share recollections about Williams. In the meantime, his oldest kids are actually educating their very own kids what he taught them as they reminisce in regards to the days after they had been capable of trip with their dad to work.

Cpl. Gregory Bernard Campbell, 54, of Augusta, died from problems from COVID-19 on Sept. 18, simply 5 months after he was promoted corporal on the Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace. “There was a brightness and countenance about him that at all times left an impression on folks,” stated his widow, Pamela Campbell.

Credit score: Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace

Credit score: Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace

Cpl. Gregory Bernard Campbell, 54, of Augusta, died from problems from COVID-19 on Sept. 18, simply 5 months after he was promoted corporal on the Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace. “There was a brightness and countenance about him that at all times left an impression on folks,” stated his widow, Pamela Campbell.

Credit score: Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace

Credit score: Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace

Cpl. Gregory Bernard Campbell

Age 54, of Augusta. Learn the obituary.

By Lilly Carter

Contemporary Take Georgia

Gregory Bernard Campbell loved spending his early mornings on the health club when it was quiet so he may learn his Bible whereas he labored out. He worshipped at Restoration Ministries Worldwide in Augusta, the place he grew to become a minister, ushered and labored with kids. He met his spouse, Pamela Campbell, there at a Wednesday evening Bible examine greater than 26 years in the past.

His religion, hearty snigger, and “winner’s smile” are amongst his qualities she remembers most.

“There was a brightness and countenance about him that at all times left an impression on folks,” she stated. “He was one of many nicest folks you’d ever meet.”

Campbell, 54, died from problems from COVID-19 on Sept. 18, 2021, 5 months after he was promoted to corporal on the Richmond County Sheriff’s Workplace. He began as a deputy jailor and labored there for greater than 14 years.

Campbell was working intently with detainees within the Charles B. Webster Detention Heart when he contracted COVID-19 in August. He battled the illness within the hospital for a number of weeks earlier than he was positioned on a ventilator. Campbell’s well being was sophisticated by sleep apnea, a typical situation that may forestall folks from getting sufficient oxygen.

He had three sons, all of whom shared his Christian religion. His eldest son, Reign, runs a automotive detailing enterprise they began collectively earlier than the pandemic, Reign and Greg’s Strain Wash. In reminiscence of his father, Reign wrapped his work van with a photograph of him and one in all their favourite Bible verses, John 3:16: “For God so cherished the world that he gave his solely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him wouldn’t perish however have eternal life.”