View Full Version : Finally, A Warden With A Heart!!!


Goody's Girl
09-16-2002, 09:15 PM
I just have to share this with my wonderful PTO friends and family.

I work at the local Waffle House. One of the women that works there has been with this company for over 25 years. Her husband and her 25 year old daughter both have cancer. Her daughter has either 4 or 5 children (all VERY young). Anyway, one of her sons is in the local prison here in FL, called Walton Correctional Institution. A couple of months ago, knowing that the end for her husband was drawing near, Miss Sue approached me for information. She knows that my husband is in prison and that I work with the JDMC and have lots of online contacts regarding helping inmates. She wanted to know who she could contact to get her son home for a bedside visit with his father before he died. I told her to call the Warden at the facility he was in and if he acted like he didn't want to do it, threaten him with going to the local news media. So, she did.

Last week, Hospice told her it was a matter of days until her husband was to die. So, she once again called the warden (don't know his name, but am trying to find out) and told him the situation. He informed her that the paperwork had been sent to Tallahassee for approval by Michael Moore's office. Now, keep in mind in order for her son to be brought home to see his dying father, his mother would have to pay gas, mileage and an hourly rate for the CO's handling the visit. They had agreed to a 3 hour visit.

After she got off the phone with the Warden on this day, the Warden took it upon himself to call the DOC office and DEMAND that the approval be given verbally right then and they could fax the written approval later. Chris (her son in prison) was home to see his father within 2 hours. When the car pulled up to her house and Chris stepped out of it, the CO's came around and took off the cuffs and shackles so that Chris could actually have a visit like at the prison.

When Chris got into the room where his father lie dying, he sat down and took his father's hand. He told him "Daddy, it's me. It's Chris, I'm home". Now, his father had been semi-comatose for days. At this point, hearing his beloved son's voice, he actually tried to open his eyes. He knew his son was there!

Forty-five minutes into the visit, he died. Holding Chris' hand.

I think the warden deserves a hand shake and a pat on the back for being sympathetic to this families time of sorrow. The family was able to take pictures during the visit and what a wonderful story.

tekela
09-16-2002, 09:26 PM
Goody's Girl,

What a touching story!

38special
09-16-2002, 09:33 PM
Ms. GG,
That is a wonderful story. I can certainly agree that the Warden needs a Letter of Acknowledgement placed in his personnel file. It would be nice if everyone @ PTO flooded his office with "Thank You" notes. The publicity would cause a significant impact on future person's request. Wardens like being in the "good" spotlight. I am glad the father and son got time together while he was alive.

Find out the cost of the visit and an address of the family, please. Also, find out the address of the Warden @ his Correctional Facility. Thank you for posting the story...........38 Special.......

Goody's Girl
09-16-2002, 10:10 PM
38 Special - I will check on this tomorrow at work and will PM you about it. If I find out the warden's name, I will post it here.

Thanks,
Tracy

danielle
09-17-2002, 04:50 AM
Wow - what a wonderful story. Thanks Tracy for sharing it!

sherri13
09-17-2002, 11:43 AM
Tracy-that is a beautiful story- i too, would like the warden's name and address

torrey
09-17-2002, 01:59 PM
Please post this warden's name and addy. I would love to send him a note of appreciation. Even though I don't know the family it is a good story that the warden allowed the prisoner to be with his father.

Kristin
09-17-2002, 02:24 PM
Oh I would love to give him my thanks too...!!!!!!!!

Kristin

JodyAnnShaw
09-17-2002, 11:53 PM
That is so wonderful..... I just knew there was still some good people left in the system!

Jodygirl

Phil in Paris
09-18-2002, 02:38 AM
Wow!! This is quite a wonderful touching story !!! This warden deserves respect.
Thanks for sharing
Phil

aprilcat
09-18-2002, 06:06 AM
Agreed ~ this warden is an A+ guy! GG, please post his addy and we'll all send him a "thanks". These acts should not go unnoticed!

Goody's Girl
09-18-2002, 08:19 AM
Here is the information on the Warden:

Carl Kirkland
Walton Correctional Institution
691 World War II Veteran's Lane
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433

email:
waltonci@mail.dc.state.fl.us

torrey
09-18-2002, 11:02 AM
I just sent off an e-mail telling him I heard about this all the way to Dallas Texas. His kind act of generousity towards a woman and son about to lose thier husband and father was too great. May blessings rain down on him.

Phil in Paris
09-18-2002, 11:31 AM
I did it too.
thanks for his addy Goody'sGirl

sherri13
09-18-2002, 02:19 PM
thanks tracy! i sent him one too from NC

Shortie
09-18-2002, 07:22 PM
thank is amazing.. i would like to say that i am now crying thank yoy.. :) we should send that warden a thank you card for the family..

lilsquaw
09-18-2002, 09:50 PM
that is so touching story! onc ei read it i cried like a baby! i couldnt stop crying. im glad his dad got chance to see his son again before he go home

loosielucy
09-18-2002, 10:49 PM
I just sent him one from California....God Bless Him

38special
09-19-2002, 01:27 AM
Ms. G.G.,
I got your personal e-mail and will act on it soon. Thank you. I have just written Warden Kirkland a letter and an e-mail. I will mail the letter in the morning.

PTO friends, we have a responsibility for aiding the family in recovering the cost for their son's home visit. Let's all send them a small donation whatever your budget can afford or however God leads you. A hundred small checks would probably help the family a thousand times. They have suffered a tremendous expense dealing with the cost of Cancer, having their son escorted home, and the burial. Give from your heart and God will bless you seven fold. It is guaranteed in writing. Think about it and send it today. Let's overwhelm the family with cards and donations! Let's start a new trend that will spread across America like the recent fires in California. Thank you, 38 Special

Melody
09-19-2002, 02:10 AM
unbelieveable!!!!!

Budwoman
09-19-2002, 08:06 AM
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE BUT SUCH A GREAT STORY. I JUST WROTE WARDEN KIRKLAND AN E-MAIL AND TOLD HIM JUST HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE HIS COMPASSION AND KINDNESS TO THIS FAMILY.

38 AND JDS. I TOO WOULD LIKE TO SEND THE FAMILY SOMETHING TO HELP WITH THEIR EXPENSES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE, PLEASE SEND ME AN ADDRESS THAT I CAN MAIL A DONATION TO..

LOVE YA
DONNA

bella
09-19-2002, 09:16 PM
tears, chills...wow a ton of emotions going on inside me right now! I sent out a letter to Michael Moore as well as the warden. With all the horrors of the system here in Florida it is so wonderful to see that this man has a heart!

Hilde Bogaerts
09-22-2002, 02:10 PM
I was so amazed when I read this...there are good people out there...I also send this man a e-mail to say thank you. Hope he likes all of them...thank you goody's girl for telling good things about the system...it is not all bad, thank you

JacksGirl
09-28-2002, 10:14 PM
I just sent him an e-mail also. What a blessign this man is. Brings joy to my heart to know Chris was able to go home. :)

Sharon

theunknowable
11-24-2002, 12:48 AM
Thank you for your act of kindness. May you have many blessings. Sherry

flygirlaa2
11-24-2002, 04:36 AM
WOW.......I also would like the addy for the family so I may help in their time of need. I have sent the warden a letter of appreciation with cc to his boss.