A Bitter Sweet Valentine Day

This holiday season is bitter sweet for the family and friends of Tammy Watkins. Bitter in the heartbreak felt of her not being here with us, but sweet in the great memories she left with us.

Please visit Christina's blog for her memorial to Tammy. http://www.cinawatkins.blogspot.com/

I would like to tell you of the Tammy I knew. I was privileged to work with Tammy at the hospital the first 2 years of my nursing career. She was the most awesome nurse ever! Tammy was the kind of nurse you were always glad to have around. Her intelligence and kind heart gave her the qualities to provide the most excellent care to her patients.
The doctors loved her, too. They always knew their patients were in the best of hands when Tammy was their nurse. In the world of Labor and Delivery, the nurse spends so much more time with the patient during their birth process than the doctor. Sometimes the doc doesn't make it in time and the nurse delivers. This happened to Tammy many times in her career!! She was indeed the best!!!

Later it became apparent to me that Tammy's son Adam would someday be my son-in-law. I often thought about how fun it would be to someday share grandchildren. Although it is sad to know that our grandchildren will not know her in this life, I will make sure they know all the memories I have of her.

Leigh Anne

In Memory Of...

On Feb. 5, 2008 a killer tornado ripped through Macon County Tennessee. Two days later, on Feb. 7, 2008, another tragedy hit the town of Lafayette, Tn.


The Rev. Michael Welch, his wife Julie and two of their children Jesse and Hannah were killed in a car wreck during their attempt to minister to the victims of the tornado.

Michael was the pastor of Lafayette United Methodist Church. As you could imagine his congregation was devastated. As a church member I can't imagine losing my pastor much less his family.

As a family member I know the heartbreak. You see Michael was my first cousin. He was eleven years older than me. We hadn't seen each other much due to living far apart. We had recently kept in touch by email and I received my last email from him that morning only hours before his death.

I cherish the many funny stories I have heard all my life about Michael. Especially how my Daddy used to call him " Michael the Great the Bald Headed Ape".

His family was very sweet and I wish I could have known them better. They were indeed a unit. It is a blessing that God saw fit to take them all home together.

Please say a prayer for my family, especially my aunts Kitty and Pat and Julie's grown son Garrison.

Tragedy is not marked on your calendar. It sneaks up on you when you least expect it. I can't imagine how people get through it without knowing the love of God.

I am thankful to know that my family had a relationship with Christ and I will see them again in heaven.


Leigh Anne


"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away". Revelations 21:4