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Experiencing a pair of difficult goodbyes
Published June 6, 2009
It was sometime after 6 p.m. on May 29 when David Clemons and I shook hands, hugged and exchanged goodbyes.
He walked out the door with Monroe, Ga., on his mind, while I walked back into my office, sat down at my desk and pondered our future at The Reporter without “Scoop.”
I should have realized our publisher, Ben Shurett, was grooming David for a publisher’s job, but I didn’t.
I knew one of David’s career goals was to become a publisher, but I never dreamed it would happen this fast.
Of course, you could argue everything has happened fast in David’s journalism career, but that’s what occurs when you’re as talented as Mr. Clemons.
After David began writing for The Reporter during his days as an Albertville High School student, I quickly realized I might be working for him some day.
David thanked me for telling our former publisher, Cliff Clements, he wanted the job as managing editor of his hometown paper three years ago.
That move paved the way for David to land his new gig in Georgia, which puts him much closer to his beloved Atlanta Braves and in “Uga’s” backyard.
I hope I’ve enriched David’s life as much as he’s enriched mine.
Remembering Cody
Following David’s bittersweet departure, I was faced with the tragic loss of my cousin, Cody McMullins, a Marine Lance Corporal from Collinsville.
Cody, who was only 22 years old, passed away Sunday afternoon due to injuries he received in a one-vehicle accident early Sunday morning.
Cody’s dad, Phillip, is my first cousin. Cody’s grandparents are Randell and Jeanette McMullins. Aunt Jeanette is my mom’s sister.
Tuesday night at Collinsville Funeral Home, I counted the pages of the registry for Cody’s mom, Debra Hood, who believed between 500 to 600 mourners came to pay their respects.
Cody wasn’t a tall guy, but he was strong for his size.
He loved his days playing sports for the Panthers, and he was a true scholar-athlete, earning salutatorian of his Collinsville graduating class.
Countless Marines have given their lives for the cause of freedom in the history of the Corps.
Cody didn’t lose his life in battle, but his death gave a better quality of life to a select few Alabama residents.
Cody was an organ donor, and he gave several of his major organs, including his heart and kidneys.
A 44-year-old man received Cody’s heart.
I didn’t get to attend Cody’s funeral on Wednesday, but my mom told me it was a celebration of Cody’s life, a life lived in service to his family, friends, country and hometown.
Although the quantity of Cody’s years were cut short, the quality of his years will live forever inside the hearts of those he touched.
Shannon J. Allen is sports editor of The Sand Mountain Reporter. His e-mail address is sports(at)sandmountainreporter.com.)
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