Yesterday I received a call that the emergency service was over to a close friends house. I drove around there and found that he had had a heart attack while taking a bath. He was 79 years old. He and his family lived next door to me twice. When I first moved to Mississippi, he and his family rented the house next door. A few years later we brought another house and the house next door was rental property, so I talked to the owner and they moved in that house. His wife babysit my son. Most days when I came home from work I would park my car in the driveway and my son and I would go over there and eat.

When I arrived at the house they were taking him to the hospital and the driver told us to take our time and what hospital they were taking him to, I said God he must be dying. I drove his wife to the hospital and we sat there for about an hour, then they came and got us. As I turned the corner I saw the coroner, and my knees buckled. It brought back Keith's death so clear to me and all I could do was cry, and try to be strong for his wife. As I walked in where they had his body lying on the gurney, I looked at him and he had a smile on his face, he looked happier than I had seen him in years. I took a picture with my cell phone to save for Tryone.

He has a son who is in prison. Last night I had to call the prison chaplain and asked him to tell Tyrone that his dad is dead. The chaplain said more than likely they will let him come to the funeral.

I saw Tyrone when I went on a prison ministry visit, and he was so concerned about his Dad. I feel so sorry for him that he can't be with his family during this. Tryone was the one who drove me to Hattiesburg when Keith was killed. He was there with me during the entire thing.

Please keep the Shaw family in your prayers.

They are in my thoughts and prayers. That too is my biggest fear that my husband's parents will pass away before he gets out, since they are both not in the best of health.

Menia,

I am so sorry for all you have been going thru. It seems like the Lord keeps putting us in these situations and I am hoping it is to make us stronger for ourselves and to help the others that need our help. I too have found myself in these situations and find it helpes to guide those that have not been thru what we have.

Having to again go thru the memories of Keith's day must have been so hard and yet for you to be able to put those memories aside to be strong for her in the midst of your own greif and memories of that day shows your STRENGTH.

I think this is part of Gods plan. For us to help others who are going thru what we have already been thru. It may be a beginning of a mission.

I am trying to help a mother who's son is incarcerated in NC. I have tried to get her everything about the prison and visitation and it has helped. Because of all the info and since she is out of state she will get to stay two days and visit on both days.

She now goes to our church and we went to a memebership class together today.

Stay strong and be there for her and her son as he was for you. I believe that is why God has put you there.

I have a son who lives in Long Beach, MS and dates a girl in Hattiesburg. Is it too far from where you are? I am planning on taking another trip down there in the Spring/Summer to see him. I would like to meet for lunch or coffee and just talk about our men/boys and just have someone to talk to about these things with someone who feels the same way I do. We seem to have alot in common. I will drop my husband off with the girls to visit with their brother.
Let me know if you are ok with this and maybe we can plan something at the local waffle house or maybe you can suggest a better place. I am open to just about anything even sitting on the beach and just talking (my favorite place in the whole world!) I feel like I am closer to him and God there.

I will keep you and the Shaw family in my prayers.

Tigger Mom

I live in Gulfport, about 10 minutes from Long Beach. I would love meeting and talking with you. The beach would be fine. I will PM you on how to contact me.

We also had to get in touch with our son while he was still in the jail (before being sentenced) to tell him that his brother was killed in an auto accident. They were very close. It is so hard to go through these things but I can not imagine how hard it must be for their family members that are incarcerated. We can only pray that God will hold them close and comfort them as only he can. My thoughts and prayers will be with the Shaw family and Tyrone especially, you are a real friend he is really going to need you now. My son is in the Wilkinson Co. prison. We live 10 hours away, I hope to visit him in March. Chatty CaTHY

i really feel for tyrone and his family. my man lost both of his parents while he was incarcerated. they died a couple years apart from one another. he wasnt able to go to either funeral because we live in NJ and the funerals were in PA. i know how much this devastated my man to lose his parents while he was in prison so my heart goes out to tyrone.

That is one good thing I can say about MS prisons - some (not sure about all) will let a person out for the funeral of immediate family members. My aunt (dad's sister) passed away yesterday afternoon. She had battled cancer for the last 3 years. We did find out that my cousin (her son) who is in prison here in MS, will be able to attend the funeral service. I know it must be hard to lose a parent while inside, but I think missing out on the services and that final goodbye - would make it even worse. I'm thankful that he will be able to be there.

I'm very sorry to hear about Tyrone's loss & I know this original post was done several days ago - but his family will be in my thoughts & prayers.

Tryone was brought to the funeral home for a private visit with the family. He was there for 2 hours. People brought food and it was really nice the way it was set up. Tyrone was in good spirits, he said his Dad did not have to suffer any more. The COs that brought him just set back and watched, but it was OK because we all knew that were just doing their jobs. The really small kids kept going and talking to them and they were really nice to the kids.

They (Tyrone and the COs) arrived early, before the rest of the family and I the officers were really good at supporting Tyrone during that emotional time before the family arrived.

I am so pleased about the way the situation turned out and Tyrone told me that he was OK and that he had 43 days to go, then he fussed at me because I do not answer his letters. Then I reminded him that when we was out there doing all of that wrong, that I promised him then that I would not write or visit him. Then he just laughed and told me that he remembered how I use to fuss at him. He promised me that he would do better when he gets home. I sure hope so because he has a wife in the Nursing Home, and a 16 year old daughter that needs him.