Upcoming FHF teams up with DPS to fight impaired driving
Events: You may have seen some fa-
August: Regional miliar faces and names on bill-
Support Group boards, gas pump toppers or on
Meetings: Charleston, citation holders recently.
Several FHF families agreed
Greenville, Columbia to allow the image of their loved
Details coming on one — who was killed by an
Facebook/Web Site impaired driver — to be used in
different venues to fight drunk
driving.
“I was truly touched by
FHF ON THE WEB:
Don’t forget to check Above: Billboards
out the new FHF web featuring FHF fami-
site at www.scdps.org/ lies are on roadways
fhf. We make updates throughout the state
to discourage DUI.
weekly. Joy Batchelor’s three
sons were killed in
Follow FHF 2002. Left: Col. Lan-
updates and caster, commander of
the Highway Patrol
event an- announces plans for a
nouncements DUI team with FHF
on the Families of members in atten-
Highway Fatalities’ dance.
Facebook site.
seeing my daughter’s picture on was killed in 2007. In addition to the DUI edu-
INSIDE THIS the billboard. She touched the South Carolina ranks second in cational campaign, the High-
hearts of so many in the short the nation for DUI-related fatali- way Patrol announced a team
ISSUE... time she was here. Through this ties. The department’s goal is to of 31 troopers whose sole duty
campaign, she will touch the lower those fatalities through pub- will be to battle DUI. The
Page 2: hearts of many more,” said Jim lic education and enforcement team began work over the July
Waters, whose daughter, Kia, efforts. 4th weekend.
FHF workshop
inspires an artist
Page 3: FHF families enjoyed an
outing at Lake Murray on
Two FHF Blood July 18 with a picnic,
Drives net 105 swimming, games and
Units of blood support activities; 48 peo-
ple attended the event.
The monthly events allow
Page 5: families to meet and enjoy
We need your outings as part of their
healing process in addi-
input on event tion to quarterly Hope
planning and Healing workshops.
FAMILIES OF HIGHWAY FATALITIES PAGE 2
By Cindy Sease
When my daughter, Kelsey, died on April
FHF
15, 2005, I struggled to maintain my familiar
life, but nothing felt “familiar” anymore.
I lasted almost two years in my job as an
auto claims’ adjuster, but dealing daily with
accidents no longer felt like the right way to
spend my life. Every time someone com-
plained about some minor accident, it made
me re-live my own experience as a major
tragedy.
Support...Fellowship...Safety Education
After leaving my job, I worked part time
while still searching for something fulfilling.
I wanted to be creative but didn’t yet have an
outlet.
Then, my niece got married and I painted Left: Cindy with husband, Mike. Right: Cindy dis-
champagne glasses for the wedding. The plays some of her artwork in a local store.
process of painting and making her some- fun and realized it helped make me feel positive
thing special were both rewarding, but I fig- and happy. I could start the day gloomy and sad,
ured it was a one time deal. Weddings don’t but as I painted, I could feel my mood changing.
roll around that often, right? Painting was in itself therapeutic, but seeing the
Shortly after that wedding, I took part in finished product made it even better.
the FHF Peer I painted a 40th birthday glass for my friend,
Team Training Sherrie, who loved it and encouraged me to do
taught by Dr. more. Next thing I knew, she had shown it to
Dee Gulledge. In many people who loved it and wanted to know
the class, she where they could get something similar.
introduced the Less than a year later, Sherrie and I have a
concept of using small business making glasses, frames, plaques
art as a way to with inspirational sayings and jewelry. We sell
process and deal at local festivals, by word of mouth, at a local
with our grief. pet store and will soon have a web site. We spe-
The main lesson I learned is that it is pos- cialize in made-to-order gifts.
sible to take the shattered pieces of my life Dr. Gulledge taught me a valuable lesson last
and create something positive with them. summer — that we can take tragedy in our lives
That experience really touched me and in- and make something positive from it. Using “art
spired me to pursue my inclination to keep as medicine,” I feel that’s exactly what I’ve
painting, even if it was just for me. done. Making other people happy is an added
In the following weeks, I painted just for bonus.
Welcome, New Members...
Dawn Shick of Union; Elizabeth Livingston of Columbia
William and Theresa Gadsden of Charleston, Judy Huggins of Dillon
Karen Hughes of Augusta, GA Martha Grant of Hollywood
Diane Best of Columbia Dennis Flowers of Hartsville
Ned and Margaret Blackmon of Lancaster Hattie Mae Burton of Saluda
Joyce Sullivan of Bethune, SC Martha Wood of Lugoff
Becky Kopp of Blythewood, Joy Eubanks of Campobello
Denise Gowan of Boiling Springs Donna Bishop of Roebuck
Charles and Linda Dewitt of Orangeburg Bridget Musteata of Duncan,
Carolyn Walker of Winnsboro Tracy Reynolds of Baldwinsville, NY
Jamie Mae Brown of Charleston Richard Smith of Newberry
Alice Doolittle of Wagener Jean Guthrie of Darlington
Elaine Rej of Lexington Ken and Amy Encinas of Rock Hill\
Courtney Smith, Columbia
Michael and Tracy Hobbs of Rock Hill
PAGE 3 FAMILIES OF HIGHWAY FATALITIES
FHF holds two summer blood drives, raising 105 units
The Families of Highway Fatali- at each location to serve as the
FHF
ties held two summer blood drives representative and the “face” of
Left: The Charleston
on June 17 and July 2, collecting highway tragedies. blood drive was held
more than 105 units of blood. Theresa and William Gads- in memory of Theresa
The Families of Highway Fatali- den agreed to serve as the host Gadsden’s (left) son,
ties responded to a need in 2006. family in Charleston this year. Jacob Wright. She
The group, having just been formed, Their son, Jacob Wright, was stands with Elizabeth
decided to hold two annual blood killed in Colleton County this Steed who was the
drives. year. host last year. Below:
The purpose was twofold — to “The blood drive was such Chuck and Judy
Beasley stand with
hold an event in memory of those an uplifting experience for us. It
Tony Clyburn, a DJ at
who had died on the highways and gave us a chance to meet many B106. Clyburn helped
to help address the need for blood people who knew and loved our spread the word about
donations during the summer son as well as many strangers the drive in memory of
months. who offered their support,” said Wesley Beasley.
Even though traffic collisions Theresa Gadsden.
rise during the summer — often The Beasleys — Chuck and
resulting in the need for blood — Judy — were the representative
donations actually fall off as people family in Columbia.
travel and get away from their rou- Their son, Wesley, was
tines. killed in 2005 in Lee County.
Live 5 News in Charleston and “We remember Wesley the
the Riverdogs’ Minor League Base- most for his smile and positive
ball Team became partners there. attitude. I know he would be
Fuddrucker’s Restaurant on Bush proud to know we are trying to
River Road agreed to be the host in make some good come from
Columbia. this terrible void in our lives,”
Each year, a family is chosen Judy Beasley said.
Opportunities to get involved with speakers’ bureau, safety advocate program...
Members of the FHF Speakers’ Bureau had an active
Spring between high school proms and pre-trial intervention
classes.
The Highway Patrol and SCDPS are again gearing up for
a number of safety programs in the Fall where they will be
inviting volunteers from FHF to assist with programs.
Labor Day Welcome Center Events: Need volunteers
to assist troopers giving out safety materials to motor-
ists.
Back to School Car Pool Lines: Need volunteers to
assist troopers in handing out child safety materials to
parents/caregivers in car pool lines.
State Fair Booth: Need volunteers to help SCDPS em-
ployees staff the booth and talk to the public about
safety.
Sober or Slammer DUI Media Events: Members will
be asked to attend media events and consider doing me-
dia interviews. The Highway Patrol will introduce its Rollover Simulator this Fall.
If you are interested in volunteering for any of these The simulator is meant to teach people about the effects of not
events, please contact us at FamiliesofHwyFatali- buckling up, even at slow speeds. The Highway Patrol will use the
ties@scdps.net. Please remember to wear your FHF shirt simulator first in three counties with a high number of deaths in-
when representing the organization in a professional capac- volving lack of safety belt use: Lexington, Berkeley and Florence. It
ity. If you do not have a shirt, please contact Faith. will eventually be used throughout the state.
FAMILIES OF HIGHWAY FATALITIES PAGE 4
FHF Photo Gallery— FHF Activities
Zoo Outing, May 30, 91 participants Charleston Blood Drive, June 19
The Charleston Blood Drive was held in memory of JC
Wright. His stepfather (left), William Gadsden, talks with
Columbia Blood Drive, July 2 family friend, Keith Wright; 50 units were collected.
Left: Member Lisa
Chapman donates
blood at the Co-
lumbia drive held
on July 2; 55 units
were collected.
Right: Another
DUI billboard.
Kenny is the son of
new members, Ken
and Amy Encinas.
Lake Murray Outing, July 18
Far left: A group
photo at Lake
Murray where 48
people attended the
most recent peer
support event. Left:
Myrna Shelley and
grandson, Gavin,
talk with Theresa
Gadsden.
PAGE 5 FAMILIES OF HIGHWAY FATALITIES
FAMILIES OF HIGHWAY FATALITIES
FHF
SC Department of Public Safety Headquarters Phone: 803-896-8171
Attn: Faith Turner, Coordinator Mobile: 803-608-7664
P.O. Box 1993
Blythewood, South Carolina 29016 Fax: 803-896-7922
What’s In the Works: We need your input...
We are busy planning events for the remainder of the years or less from
year. There are a number of ideas and plans in the works, but their losses. We will
we want your feedback. provide child care at
We try to keep our events child friendly because so many this function.
of our members have young children and grand children. In December, we
When we host workshops, we typically provide on site child are considering hold-
care. ing a small, candle-
In August, several regional coordinators are hosting a light ceremony to
support group meeting, including a “guy’s night.” A support remember your loved
meeting will be held in Greenville, Charleston and Colum- ones. If you’re inter-
bia. ested in such an
If you live in one of those areas, we encourage you to event, please let us
attend. This will be an informal time for families to talk and know.
provide support for each other as well as allowing new fami- Finally, we have
lies to meet. had several families
We are currently planning a service project(s), which may express an interest in Deb Harding, FHF Member, displays
include making hobby horses to give to children in hospitals holding a scrapbook- hobby horses she has made as part of
or children’s homes during the holidays. We are planning a ing workshop. We other service projects. FHF is consider-
trip to the Corn Maize in Lexington in the Fall. are trying to gauge ing this for an upcoming service pro-
The next formal workshop will be in November. We are interest in this as ject.
currently working with a counselor at Palmetto Health Bap- well.
tist who has agreed to facilitate the workshop. This seminar Our goal through all FHF activities is to provide a safe
will once again focus on helping families find ways to cope and welcoming environment where people can find support
through the holidays. after facing terrible tragedy.
Members of our Peer Team are asked to consider working If you would like to submit ideas for future programs or
at this event to assist our new members. This workshop will the newsletter, please contact Faith Turner and Sherri Iaco-
be especially helpful to new members or those who are three belli at FamiliesofHwyFatalities@scdps.net.
For inquiries regarding the non-profit, FHF
Assistance Program Inc., or to donate please
contact Ms. Gert Thompson
at Post Office Box 916, Blythewood, SC,
29016, or FHFINC100@yahoo.com
Families of Highway Fatalities (FHF) Newsletter is published six times a year and sponsored by the
SC Department of Public Safety.