Testament and Memories

Shelby on the bottom left and daughter, Jess on the bottom right/

Yesterday, Tim and I made a trip North. 

Back to my hometown. 

The mountains ever beautiful 

and we could see

 that leaves were starting to change. 

Our hearts were heavy,

 as our trip was to 

pay our respects

to Shelby. 

Too young a life taken.

The family of her father and his cousins,

a dear part of my childhood...

and Shelby ~

a school mate and team mate 

to my daughter, Jess.

I knew it would be a huge sorrow for our small village.

Small communities 

become so very close...

generations old.

https://www.gofundme.com/shineonshelby

Shelby earned her wings, 

several days after a car accident.

So many of us praying for days, 

that she would make it through

severe injuries.

As I stood in the long line yesterday...

(The wake is next door to my Grandparent's house)

Memories flooded.

Shelby's cousin and I 

met under Grampa's Maple tree...

Nancy said...

"how many hours did we spend playing under this tree???"

and oh the tears and memories.

As I looked around,

I saw groups of people,

that were a strong part of

Shelby's growing up...

the medical office,

school staff,

coaches~

team mates,

parents,

church,

and family...

I was reminded of how much life has changed since

Nancy and I played under the Maple.

Nancy's Mom and Dad

owned the

 Montgomery Ward's

mail order store across the way.

We would stop by, 

on our way home from school.

Dr. Lynch, 

would make home visits when needed.

 Medical bag in hand~

The parking lot on either side of the street,

was perfect for kickball or baseball.

The house on the other side of the funeral home...

well, that was the tiny home of

Mr. and Mrs. Barslow.

They seemed ancient to me as a tiny girl.

Mrs. Barslow 

loved to do her friend's hair 

all fancy...

and painted beautifully.

Mr. Barslow was seen 

every morning.

Dressed in a suit; 

fedora atop his head.

Making the short walk to Main Street,

cane in hand...

to buy himself the newspaper;

and donuts to share with his bride.

The community has grown.

Life has changed.

 Many gathered in a line  

(that remained

a length of a football field, 

beyond the calling hours).

The line, 

a testimony

of just how many 

lives were touched

by the gift of

Shelby.

I wanted to share with you, 

Shelby's legacy~

This is the local write up.

~*~

GRANVILLE — Shelby McEachron will live on, in her hometown and in other people’s lives.

“One of the things about Shelby was that so many other people felt like she belonged to them,” Suzanne McEachron said Wednesday, two days after her 21-year-old daughter died from injuries suffered in a July 17 car accident. “It was hard, because we were like, ‘She is our daughter,’ but really, I realized she belonged to the whole community. She was just a special kid.”

The family established “Shine On Shelby,” a fund that will renovate the softball field at the Granville Little League complex, and it raised $25,000 in just two days, including one $5,000 donation and another of $1,000.

“How does that happen?” Suzanne McEachron asked. “It is just amazing.”

Shelby was an organ donor, and her mother heard back from the doctors Tuesday night.

“The doctor said her heart was fantastic and will give someone 30 good years,” Suzanne McEachron said. “They were also able to take both of her kidneys and her liver, so that is four people who will live on because of her.”

“Some of the donation people were surprised she was a donor, because she was so young,” McEachron said. “But there was the option when she first got her driver’s license, and we told her to go for it.”

Helping others

McEachron was about to begin her senior year at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, working toward a degree in logistics. She had been an active volunteer and athlete in high school, volunteering with Granville Food Pantry, Granville Little League and other causes.

She performed in plays, was an active musician and singer and played softball, field hockey, track, basketball, golf and her favorite sport, softball.

Her father, Andy, coached her and her sister in softball, and it was his idea to move forward with the field project.

“I asked him what he was thinking, trying to do something like that, and he told me, ‘It was like Shelby spoke to me,’ “ Suzanne McEachron said.

The plan is to put in new dugouts, fencing and a scoreboard and to light the field.

 Bill Toscano/ The Post Star

Shelby was an amazing gift 

to so many people.

There is a link to the "GoFundMe"

(Shelby's angel picture)

that will be used

to renevate the fields and name Field 7

in her honor.

I am not one to ask any for funding,

it is there if you would like..

but I will ask all of you

to say a little prayer~

send your best 

to Shelby's family.

Fly high, sweet angel~