Dear Editor:
Like many of you, for the past week I grieved the loss of one of our county’s prominent citizens and reflected on the many memories expressed by his family and friends. His passing continues to be difficult for so many to process, as it occurred as a result of such a tragic accident. It is my sincere hope that the stories he told and the life he lived will continue to impact each of us and keep him alive in our hearts as long as we live. I knew Roy Embry first when he leased my pastures for hay many years ago, but I grew to count him among my friends. Roy was all about helping anyone who needed help, and I’m sure no one knows just how many people fell into that category.
Recently, as I surfed the internet in search of a quote about good deeds, I found several Good Deed apps! And a Good Deeds Day! Imagine that? The app provided a list of good deeds you could do from visiting a friend to helping your neighbor and visiting a nursing home. With some of these apps you even get points for good deeds! Folks, Roy Embry never needed a Good Deeds app to send him off to visit the nursing home, or a sick friend, make a phone call to check on a neighbor, take some barbeque and stew over when someone had a death or sickness in the family…..and sometimes just because he wanted to share the results of his latest cooking at the cabin. And heaven knows how many of Ruth’s casseroles, cakes and pies he carried off to bereaved families. He didn’t give a hoot about points and every day was a Good Deeds Day!!
St Francis of Assisi reminds us to remember that “when you leave this earth you can take nothing you have received….but only what you have given: a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.”
Roy’s family, especially those wonderful grandchildren, and friends knew this to be an appropriate remembrance.
In closing, I feel compelled to note that perhaps Sheriff Sills’ Office should have been more diligent and thorough in its investigation before they had the Messenger print that the operation was illegal. My understanding is that it wasn’t, that a permit had been issued. It would have been simple enough to ask Roy’s son, Terry, about this at an appropriate time, before printing Sills’ comment and leaving a false impression,
Doris Moody
Eatonton