My dear friends and neighbors,
There are moments in life when words feel too small for what we are feeling. This is one of those moments.
Our family has been overwhelmed by the kindness, prayers, messages, visits, flowers, meals, shared tears, and countless other expressions of love following the tragic loss of my daughter, Katherine Abernathy.
I want you to know how deeply each of those gestures has touched us.
In a time when our family is trying to make sense of something that makes no sense, the outpouring of support from you all has reminded us that we are not alone. People have reached out who have known us for years, people we have never met, and people whose paths have crossed ours only briefly.
Each one was meaningful and left an imprint. There is no perfect thing anyone can say or do in the face of a loss like this. But every call, prayer, hug, kind word, and quiet act of compassion has mattered more than you can know. The indescribable pain of loss we are feeling is tempered by your steady presence and kindnesses.
I have spent much of my life believing in the importance of community and in showing up for one another, especially when circumstances are difficult. There is a difference between believing in that kind of community and being carried by it yourself. Our family has been carried by it these past weeks.
Thank you for remembering Katherine. Thank you for remembering our family. We are so very blessed to be a part of this wonderful community and to live among people who care. We are deeply grateful.
Terrell E. Abernathy Putnam County