1 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: Y'all tonight, I am so honored. I have a former 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: Miss South Carolina, second runner up to Miss America. She's 3 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: a singer, she's an author, she's a mother. Now this 4 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: might not sound like the average Zone seven topic that 5 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: just hang on, there's a twist. Tonight We're going to 6 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: talk about bravery, overcoming just tremendous heartbreak and forgiveness. It's 7 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 1: a new year, and y'all are about to be uplifted. Honey, y'all, 8 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: please welcome down Smith Jordan to Zone seven. Dawn, Thank 9 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: you so much. Happy new Year, and welcome to Zone seven. 10 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 2: Thank you, Cheryl, Happy new year, and thank you for 11 00:00:58,880 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 2: having me. 12 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: I could hardly sleep with just the excitement of being 13 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: able to talk to you and just you know, tell 14 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:11,919 Speaker 1: your story and again uplift people in this new year. 15 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: But first things first, do you still wear your crown? 16 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 2: Not what? 17 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: Let me tell you something. Let me tell you something, child. 18 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: I would wear it to waffle house, Walmart, to the 19 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: family re union. I'd let people know. I would let 20 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: them know every day. I would No. 21 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 2: I tell you what I do because I have a 22 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: private piano and voice studio, and so when I work 23 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: with contestants, that are competing. I let them put it 24 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 2: on and take a picture with it. But that crown 25 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 2: has not been on my head since nineteen eighty six. 26 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,520 Speaker 1: Well, I will just say for the record, it would 27 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: be on my sugar. But that's wonderful, And you know, 28 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: there's so much that goes into that. I guess it 29 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: was thirty years ago. I went to Columbus Georgia and 30 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: watched the Miss Georgia paget. I was k noted out. 31 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: I had no idea what really went all into it. 32 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 2: You know, it's a lot. It was a lot. It 33 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 2: is a lot, but especially in this day and age, 34 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: it's so much more. I mean back in nineteen eighty six, 35 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 2: oh my goodness. I mean we were just normal girls 36 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: and I really never envisioned I would be Miss South 37 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: Carolina and second runner up to Miss America. I was 38 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: just a college student. And now girls have they have trainers, 39 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 2: they have hair and makeup, they have interview coaches. I 40 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 2: was just a normal girl who showed up and happened 41 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 2: to win, and it was by the grace of God. 42 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: But you know, Miss America is a lot different these days, 43 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: and they have platforms and issues and so but yeah, 44 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 2: I mean, and then when I won, I mean, that 45 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 2: was my full time job that year. I did three 46 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 2: hundred I did three hundred and fifty appearances in one year, 47 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 2: and that was incredible, and that was really the platform 48 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: by which God opened the doors for me to do 49 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: what I do today. So it was just I think, 50 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 2: meant to be obviously, and here I am, all these 51 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 2: years later, so grateful for that opportunity and just that 52 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: huge platform to be able to begin the ministry to 53 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: which I've been doing all these years later. 54 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: Well let's talk about what you're doing now, but I 55 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: want to start kind of for me where your ministry 56 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: really started. And that's May thirty first, nineteen eighty five. 57 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 2: I was a rising senior at Columbia College. I was 58 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: majoring in vocal performance. My sister, Sherry was seven, our 59 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 2: brother Robert was fifteen, and Sherry was two days from 60 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 2: high school graduation and in the fall she was planning 61 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: to come to Columby College to study music as well. 62 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 2: So we were so excited, and I was thinking I 63 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 2: was on Broadway. I was a singer dancer at a 64 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: theme park, Cara Wins in Charlotte. So I had hit 65 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: the big time and that was my summer job, and 66 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: so the show was going to open on June the first. 67 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 2: So May thirty first, I had gone out shopping for 68 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: Sherry's graduation present. And we are a big animal loving family. 69 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: My dog is sleeping at my feet right now, My 70 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: cat's rooming around on the kitchen calendars. And we I 71 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: had hamsters in college because I wanted a pet. So 72 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 2: I had gotten Erry a hamster for her graduation gift 73 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 2: to take to the dorm. And I came in from 74 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: shopping and my roommate said, dog, you need to call 75 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: your mom back. She said Sheery has been abducted. And 76 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: in that instant I couldn't even understand, like it just didn't. 77 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: I couldn't rep I couldn't comprehend abducted. What has abducted me? 78 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 2: I don't even I can't compute that. And of course 79 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 2: I knew what that word meant, but at the time 80 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 2: I was like, wait, what you didn't say abducted. And 81 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 2: so sure enough I called my mom and she said, 82 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: a patrolman is coming to your apartment. He'll be there 83 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 2: in a few minutes. Pack a bag, you're coming home. 84 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: And at twenty one years of age, I just remember 85 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 2: thinking this is ridiculous. Sheery has not been taken, She's 86 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: just gone off somewhere with her friends. I mean this, 87 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: I'm going to miss the opening of my show and 88 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: get home and everything's going to be normal. And at 89 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: twenty one, you just don't even begin to imagine your 90 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: sister has actually been kidnapped. 91 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: Well, I think again. I mean, obviously you knew what 92 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 1: the word meant, but trying to tag that word with 93 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:11,480 Speaker 1: your sister, there's no way that you could let your 94 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: mind go there. No. 95 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: And I remember saying my roommate's name was Jody. I said, Jody, 96 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 2: what are you even talking about? What are you saying? 97 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 2: And she said, just call your mom. And you know, 98 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 2: especially back in nineteen eighty five, that just did not happen. 99 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 2: And we lived out in the country in Lexington, South Carolina. 100 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: We were in the middle of a field was where 101 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 2: our house was of twenty acres. We had no neighbors. 102 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 2: We were surrounded by woods. My dad had moved us 103 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: out to the country because he wanted us to have 104 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: a simpler life. And your dad was home, Yeah, Dad, 105 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 2: Mom were home because Dad's office was in our house. 106 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:01,600 Speaker 1: This was a Friday afternoon Broad daylight, y'all family home, and. 107 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: Dad looked out the window and here, Mom, I think 108 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: Mom saw Cherry's car at the top of the driveway 109 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: and she just yelled, Cherry's home. And then it was 110 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: just strange because she didn't come down the driveway. Her 111 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 2: car just sat there. And so something in my dad's 112 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: gut just said, something is wrong. And so when your 113 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: driveway is seven hundred and fifty feet from the road, 114 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: you don't walk to the mailbox in an emergency. So 115 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 2: he grabbed his keys and he raced up the driveway 116 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 2: and when he got there, Cherry's car door was open, 117 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 2: the engine was still running, her purse was in the 118 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 2: passenger seat, and there was no sign of sha So. 119 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 1: By the time you get home, there's a full man hunt. 120 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, we pulled you know. That was That was 121 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: the most odd, uncomfortable ride from Charlotte, North Carolina to Lexington, 122 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: South Carolina. And I just, I mean, I just remember it. 123 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: It's almost like it was another lifetime. But then it's 124 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 2: almost like it was just yesterday, and I just remember 125 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: being in the back seat going this is so stupid. 126 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 2: Cherry is shopping. Cherry's at her friend's house, Cherry is 127 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 2: somewhere else. There's no way she's been taken. And I'll 128 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 2: never forget the minute we turned into my driveway and 129 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 2: I saw the yard and the field full of sheriff 130 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 2: Department cars, police, and then in that instant, I knew, 131 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 2: oh my gosh, this is not a mistake. This is real. 132 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 2: This is really happening. And I remember walking in the door, 133 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 2: and the minute I saw my mom's face, I knew. 134 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 2: I just knew, oh my gosh, this is real because 135 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 2: I'd never seen an expression on her face like the 136 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 2: one that she had, just horror, disbelief, pain like you've 137 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 2: never I'd never seen. And there were my family members, 138 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 2: my aunts had come, people from our church were in 139 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 2: our house, and it was it was just so surreal, Cheryl, 140 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 2: because I just remember going, I don't even know what's happening. 141 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 2: This is like a bad dream. I'm gonna wake up. 142 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 2: This cannot be real. And of course it was real. 143 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: To law enforcement's credit, there's so many things that I 144 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: admire that they did. Number one, going and picking you up. 145 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: Number Two, immediately believing that there was something wrong, not 146 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: just oh she'll show back up, she's with a friend, 147 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,679 Speaker 1: you know, whatever, and then the amount of people they 148 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 1: put on it immediately from different agencies. So the scene 149 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 1: that you're painting for me is just their action with 150 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: stellar in that moment. 151 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 2: They were amazing. Law enforcement was amazing from the beginning. 152 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 2: And I never really realized it until I became an 153 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 2: adult and had children of my own and a family 154 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 2: of my own and realized those people literally put their 155 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 2: lives on hold for my family and families like my family. 156 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 2: They basically stayed with us. Sheriff Mets of Lexington stayed 157 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 2: with us his deputies. So yes, they really were incredible 158 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 2: to my family. 159 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: Well, then the other thing he did that I thought 160 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: was remarkable is he called John Douglas. I am certain 161 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: everybody knows who he is. That's listening to his own seven. 162 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: But John Douglas original mind hunter. He established the behavioral 163 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: unit at the FBI. So he came to lexingon South 164 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: Carolina to develop the profile of this killer. 165 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 2: Yes, and profiling was a brand new science, and he 166 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 2: came and he had this whole profile put together of 167 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: this person that he believed to have taken Cherry. And 168 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 2: it was remarkable at how exact he was. 169 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: He was, He was on the money spot on. 170 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 2: Thank God for that, for that man, for that brand 171 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 2: new science, for my family's sake, and for all those 172 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: following and. 173 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: In nineteen eighty five, I mean, he was unknown. This 174 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 1: ability was not something that people utilized. They didn't know 175 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: about it. In Atlanta, we used it with the miss 176 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: and Murdered Children, which was seventy nine to eighty one. 177 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 1: But even then we didn't really understand it. We didn't 178 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: understand how we could do it. So when your case 179 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: in eighty five, when you're talking about, oh, he'll probably 180 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: live with his parents, he's a white male, he's going 181 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: to be in his thirties, he's going to probably have 182 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: a blue collar job. I mean, party, y'all might have 183 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 1: been like, Okay, this is kind of hocus pocus John, 184 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,679 Speaker 1: right right, but he was spot on. Now I want 185 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: to talk about your mama for a minute again, because 186 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: I cannot, as a mama ever think about what happened 187 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: next in this case without thinking to her. Because here 188 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: you have a child that has been kidnapped. John Douglas 189 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 1: shows up at your house and wants your other baby 190 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: to do something. Tell everybody what John Douglas asked you 191 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 1: to do. 192 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 2: Well, first of all, my mother was amazing because when 193 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 2: this person called our home for the very first time, 194 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 2: it was a man, and he asked to speak to 195 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 2: my mother. And so it was in the wee hours 196 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,679 Speaker 2: of the morning and we were all groggy. We're all 197 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 2: in mom and Dad's bed, Robert, Dad, Mom, and me. 198 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 2: I'm trying to get some rest. And this phone call 199 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 2: comes in the middle of the night and this person says, 200 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 2: I want to speak to miss Smith. And so Mom 201 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 2: answered the phone and he began to say, this is 202 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: what Sherry was wearing. She was at the mailbox. I 203 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:40,080 Speaker 2: took her at gunpoint and Mom hung up the phone 204 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,720 Speaker 2: and she said, oh my god, that man has Sherry. 205 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 2: And so he didn't. And the profile so panned out 206 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 2: because he would not speak to a man. He wanted 207 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 2: to speak to Mom. He wanted to be in control, 208 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 2: and so Mom took that call. She took another call, 209 00:13:59,280 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 2: and then of course she became so upset and she 210 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:08,120 Speaker 2: screamed into the phone, please do not kill my daughter. 211 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:13,679 Speaker 2: And so at that point, John Douglas said, I'm gonna 212 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: need Dawn to take the phone calls. Now, I was 213 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 2: twenty one years old, and I remember the lady that 214 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 2: took me up in my bedroom. Her name was Lydia Glover. 215 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 2: I still see her face to this day. And she said, 216 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 2: we're going to need to ask you to do something. 217 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 2: She said, this man needs to feel like he's in control, 218 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 2: and he needs to feel like you care about him. 219 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 2: And she told me all these things, and she said, 220 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 2: we're going to need you to answer the phone. Your 221 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 2: mom is too upset. She really doesn't need to be 222 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 2: doing this. Can you do it? And I remember that 223 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 2: day I didn't bad an. I I said absolutely, because 224 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 2: the point was we want you to keep him on 225 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 2: the phone as long as possible. You need to be paid, 226 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 2: you need to be kind, You need to keep them 227 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 2: on the phone. You need to lead the conversation and 228 00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 2: hopefully the calls will be traced and we will get 229 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 2: Sherry back. And so at that point I didn't think 230 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 2: with my emotions. I thought with my Okay, this is 231 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 2: something I can do to help get my sister back, 232 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 2: because it's the most helpless feeling to be sitting there 233 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 2: knowing your sister is somewhere and there's nothing you can 234 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: do to find her. But all of a sudden I 235 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 2: could at least take these phone calls. And so I did. 236 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: That love that you had for your sister was beyond bravery, 237 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: It was beyond anything. I don't even know why. I 238 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 1: can't put into words what I'm feeling, but you know 239 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. You would do anything for her, even 240 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: if it meant you were the lure of this killer. 241 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 2: Well, at that point, you know, everything stopped, Our lives 242 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 2: completely stopped. And I'm not one to just sit around. 243 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 2: I'm always busy doing something, and that just made, you know, 244 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,360 Speaker 2: it just made me feel like, if this is the 245 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 2: one thing I can do, I don't even see myself 246 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 2: as brave. We were desperate, We were so intent on 247 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: finding Sherry that it was just what I could do 248 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: one thing. 249 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: So you did take that call and he said something 250 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: to you so horrifying. It just it gives me chills 251 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: right now down my spine that you would be on 252 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 1: this call and this killer would say to you, God 253 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: wants you to join Cherry. 254 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 2: Yes. So he had called our home eight different times 255 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 2: during a month long investigation that is still to this 256 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 2: day the largest man hunt South Carolina has ever seen, 257 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: and so eight different phone calls where Mom answered the 258 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 2: first few, then I answered with her, and then I 259 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 2: began to take them on my own. But he had called, 260 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 2: and he had said different things in the phone calls, 261 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 2: cruelly taunting our family. He had called saying a letter 262 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,920 Speaker 2: would be coming from Sherry. That proved to be true. 263 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 2: On the fifth day he called, he read some directions 264 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 2: that while he had led us to believe for five 265 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 2: days that Sherry was alive, he had actually killed her 266 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 2: the very first night, and he had left her body 267 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 2: outside and in South Carolina, that he'd index that summer 268 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: was well over one hundred and ten degrees and so 269 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 2: because he left her outside, all forensic evidence was destroyed. 270 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:49,200 Speaker 2: Really would never know what actually was the cause of death, definitively. 271 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 2: But he read those directions, the authorities followed them, they 272 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 2: found her body, and then you know, so at this point, 273 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 2: I'm thinking, Okay, all this time he's been leading us 274 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 2: to believe she was alive. We were holding on to 275 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,920 Speaker 2: hope that she was because if you tell me something, 276 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 2: I'm going to believe you. And so then to find 277 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 2: out she's actually been dead all these days that we've 278 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 2: been searching, that we've been on the phone with him, 279 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 2: that we've been praying, pleading with God. People have been 280 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 2: out in the woods in the heat, searching for Sherry, 281 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 2: and all the while she was already dead, and so 282 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 2: we kept calling, he kept calling, And then it was 283 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 2: the last phone call after we'd basically been prisoners in 284 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 2: our own home for that whole month, and he did 285 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 2: say he said, don did you know that God wants 286 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 2: you to join shery And it's just a matter of time. 287 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 2: And I remember him saying something to the effect this month, 288 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 2: next month, this year, next year, but you can be 289 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 2: sure I will get you too, And I remember thinking, Okay, 290 00:18:55,560 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 2: our lives have already been on hold for an entire month, 291 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 2: and these law enforcement officers are going to have to 292 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 2: go back to their own families and their whole own lives. 293 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 2: This man can get me, will he get me? Am 294 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 2: I going to live the rest of my life in 295 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 2: fear of when he's going to do to me what 296 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: he did to my sister. It was It was a 297 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 2: horrifying phone call to receive. 298 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: No, it is horrifying and in some awful way accurate. 299 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: There's no way they can continue to protect you every 300 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: single day. You do eventually have to leave your house. 301 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: And you didn't know who this person was. You didn't 302 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: still know who you were looking for. 303 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 2: Yes, exactly. And also the reason that we absolutely knew 304 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,040 Speaker 2: he could do it was not only had he taken 305 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 2: Cherry's life, he had taken a nine year old little 306 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 2: girl's life and called and had given and had given 307 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:57,320 Speaker 2: me directions to her body as well. And so we 308 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:01,360 Speaker 2: couldn't really even grieve the loss of because we were 309 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 2: so afraid of where he was, what was he doing 310 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 2: when we knew he was quite capable of doing this 311 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 2: to more people. 312 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: And John Douglass had already said he believed he was local. Well, 313 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 1: I believe he was driving by your house. I think 314 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,719 Speaker 1: that's why he said that about they can't continue to 315 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: protect you. And then when he did kidnap and murder 316 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,280 Speaker 1: again only nine. 317 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 2: Yes, she was nine years old, Deborah may Helmick from 318 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 2: her front yard where she was playing with her little brother, 319 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 2: same situation. Her dad was in the house and looked 320 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 2: out the window and he killed that nine year old 321 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 2: little girl and just senseless and sick. And so he 322 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 2: had already taken two precious lives, and we absolutely knew 323 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 2: he would do it again because he seemed to enjoy 324 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 2: the cat and mouse game. To him, it was a 325 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 2: game and he was in control, and so yes, I 326 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:06,399 Speaker 2: just wondered, how long are these law enforcement officers going 327 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 2: to stay here and protect me? At some point, everybody's 328 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 2: going to get back to their. 329 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,399 Speaker 1: Lives, that's right, especially no, when he's still out there. 330 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: And it wasn't just law enforcement. When the postmaster learned 331 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,679 Speaker 1: about the letter, he went and opened up the post 332 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: office and looked for that letter himself. 333 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:30,880 Speaker 2: Yes, and it was in the It was in the 334 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 2: early hours of the morning, and my dad had a 335 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,959 Speaker 2: post office box for his business because he worked from home, 336 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 2: and the letter was there in the post office, and 337 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 2: sure enough, it was in Sherry's writing. It was a 338 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:54,320 Speaker 2: two page letter, and we were so grateful to receive 339 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 2: that letter from her because we read I remember thinking, well, 340 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: if she wrote this letter, she was alive to write 341 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 2: this letter. This is her handwriting. She's still alive, and 342 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 2: that gave us hope that we were grasping to. 343 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,239 Speaker 1: You're saying, letter, but can you tell people what the 344 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: title was when you opened it? 345 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 2: I can. Yes. It was entitled Last Will and Testament, 346 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:25,760 Speaker 2: and I think Sherry named it that, probably because she 347 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 2: was supposed to graduate on June the second, and by 348 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 2: this point it was. It's dated six one eighty five, 349 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 2: three ten am, which means he had been holding her 350 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:46,240 Speaker 2: for about twelve hours. And she wrote this amazing letter 351 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,639 Speaker 2: to my family that will forever be such a gift 352 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 2: to us because in her letter she I mean, I 353 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 2: just put myself in her place. She was seventeen years old. 354 00:22:58,000 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 2: She was sitting in her room with a man. She 355 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 2: didn't no. I can't even fathom being given a piece 356 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 2: of paper, a blank piece of paper, a pen, and 357 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 2: being told you can write a letter of farewell to 358 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 2: your family, and then I'm going to kill you. And 359 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 2: that's basically what she was facing. This is the most 360 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 2: amazing display of courage and bravery, as my sister sat 361 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:27,639 Speaker 2: there and wrote these words. So I'll read it to you. 362 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 2: It says Last Will and Testament, six one eighty five, 363 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 2: three ten am in capital letters. I love y'all. I 364 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 2: love you, mommy, Daddy, Robert down and Richard and everyone 365 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,439 Speaker 2: else and all other friends and relatives. I'll be with 366 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 2: my father now, So please please don't worry. Just remember 367 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:52,400 Speaker 2: my witty personality and great special times we all shared together. 368 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 2: Please don't even let this ruin your lives. Just keep 369 00:23:56,560 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 2: living one day at a time. For Jesus good will 370 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,840 Speaker 2: come out of this. My thoughts will always be with 371 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 2: and in you, And in parentheses, she wrote casket closed. 372 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 2: I love you all so and she underlined damn much. 373 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 2: Sorry Dad, I had to cuss for once. Jesus forgave 374 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 2: me Richard Sweeteye that was her boyfriend. I really did, 375 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:24,880 Speaker 2: and I always will love you and treasure our special moments. 376 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 2: I ask one thing, though, except Jesus as your personal savior. 377 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 2: And beside that, she put smiley face. My family has 378 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,879 Speaker 2: been the greatest influence of my life. Sorry about the 379 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:40,680 Speaker 2: cruise money. Somebody please go in my place. I am 380 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,959 Speaker 2: sorry if I ever disappointed you in any way. I 381 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 2: only wanted to make you proud of me because I've 382 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 2: always been proud of my family mom, Dad, Robert, and Dawn. 383 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,159 Speaker 2: There's so much I want to say that I should 384 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 2: have said before. Now. I love you. I know y'all 385 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:00,199 Speaker 2: love me and what will miss me very much. But 386 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 2: if y'all stick together like we always did, y'all can 387 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 2: do it. Please do not become harder upset. Everything works 388 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 2: out for the good for those that love the Lord 389 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:16,960 Speaker 2: all My love always, Sharon in Prientan sies Sherry F. Smith, 390 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 2: and then in capital letters, she wrote, I love y'all 391 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 2: with all my heart, pes Nana, that was our grandmother. 392 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 2: I love you so much. I kind of always felt 393 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 2: like your favorite. You were mine. I love you a lot. 394 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: Seventeen years old, and I just think. 395 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 2: It's the most amazing letter of faith over fear of 396 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 2: more concern for my family than herself. I think she 397 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 2: had come to terms with the fact that it's seventeen 398 00:25:55,359 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 2: years old, her life really could be ending, and I 399 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 2: think she came to peace with that, and it's just 400 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 2: the most amazing letter in it even all these years later, 401 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 2: I'm so grateful because at that point when we realized 402 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 2: she had been taken, I mean, I just remember and 403 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,159 Speaker 2: I remember looking at my mom and I remember saying, 404 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 2: mom our lives are shattered. They're over, aren't they. And 405 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 2: I remember her saying, I don't know, honey, I just 406 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:36,120 Speaker 2: don't know. But in that moment, I thought, how can 407 00:26:36,160 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 2: we get on with life? Cherry is gone? How do 408 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 2: you pick up the pieces? And how in the world 409 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 2: could she say some good will come out of this? 410 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 2: There could never be any good because Sherry wasn't just 411 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:54,879 Speaker 2: my sister. She was my best friend. She was my 412 00:26:54,960 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 2: singing partner. I mean, when you live in the country, 413 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 2: your family is also they're your friends because you don't 414 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,959 Speaker 2: have people. And so we had ridden horses together, we 415 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 2: had swam together, we had been best buddies together. And 416 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:17,280 Speaker 2: I just remember thinking I'll never be able to get 417 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 2: on with life after this. But I took to heart 418 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 2: her words, just keep living one day at a time. 419 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,360 Speaker 1: And she even said, she said, don't let this make 420 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:31,400 Speaker 1: you hard. 421 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 2: Don't let this ruin your lives. Absolutely believable. Don't let 422 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 2: this make you hard or upset. Because everything and you know, 423 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 2: my dad, he was a Baptist deacon and we were 424 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,399 Speaker 2: raised in the South, and we were a Baptist in 425 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 2: church Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, Tuesday night, you 426 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:49,600 Speaker 2: name it. 427 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: We were there, like my grandmama said, every time the 428 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 1: doors were open. 429 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,080 Speaker 2: In time, the door were open. And my dad, my 430 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 2: dad said, when I was a little girl, it was 431 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 2: a it was a night that we were having dinner 432 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,920 Speaker 2: and Daddy stood up to walk out the door and 433 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 2: he said that as a little girl, I said, well, Daddy, 434 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:09,720 Speaker 2: wear you what meet? No are you going to at 435 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 2: church tonight? Because it was always church. But and my 436 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 2: dad was famous for this, and I cannot agree or 437 00:28:20,040 --> 00:28:22,440 Speaker 2: deny that I may have done this to my own children. 438 00:28:22,480 --> 00:28:26,679 Speaker 2: But he would tape Bible Versus on the bathroom mirror. 439 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 2: I guess he figured with two daughters and a son, 440 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 2: that was the best shot at us seeing them. And 441 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 2: the very scripture that Sherry included in that letter, to 442 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 2: the best of her memory, just is remarkable because she said, remember, 443 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 2: everything works out for the good for those that love 444 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 2: the Lord. Some good will come out of this, and 445 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 2: that's that's Romans eight twenty eight. That was the scripture 446 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 2: that was on the bathroom mirror at this time. And 447 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 2: that scripture says, for we know that God causes all 448 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 2: things work together for good for those who love Him 449 00:29:03,440 --> 00:29:07,760 Speaker 2: and are called according to His purpose. And at that time, 450 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 2: never in a million years could I have ever imagined 451 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 2: that life would ever be good again, but that God, 452 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,760 Speaker 2: even God, could cause something good to come out of this, 453 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 2: because there was nothing good in this. 454 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: Well, let me just tell you about Sherry. Now, in 455 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: that moment, she had already been with this killer for 456 00:29:27,080 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 1: twelve hours. She wasn't treated good in those twelve hours. 457 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 1: But in that letter, Not only does she uplift y'all, 458 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 1: tells y'all, hey, I'm gonna be fine. I know where 459 00:29:39,960 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: I'm headed. It's good. She tells y'all to go on, 460 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: be happy, live your life. She tries to save the 461 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: soul of her boyfriend. And then my favorite part of 462 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: the whole letter, she ends being funny when she tells Grandmama, 463 00:29:57,720 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: you know I'm your fai. 464 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 2: Well, I'm sorry, but I thought I was Nana's favorite, 465 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 2: and I to say that, so I'm not. I don't 466 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:10,480 Speaker 2: know what Cherry was talking about. But when I get 467 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 2: to Heaven, Cheryl, I'm gonna say, excuse me, we got 468 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:19,600 Speaker 2: was Nana's favorite. But Sherry actually had a very rare 469 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 2: disease that is called diabetes incipitus. There were only two 470 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 2: children in the state of South Carolina at this time 471 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:30,000 Speaker 2: that had it, and and so my nana always said, 472 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:33,960 Speaker 2: will bless her heart, she's afflicted. And so that's why 473 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 2: Sherry was the favorite. Also. And then also I love 474 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 2: that she said, y'all remember my witty personality. Because as 475 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 2: a senior in high school, you know they always have 476 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 2: senior superlatives. Well, Sherry was the only one in her 477 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 2: senior class that was voted on and got two. Everybody 478 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 2: loved her. She loved everybody. I still have people to 479 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 2: this day that they will meet me where I'm seen 480 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:03,000 Speaker 2: at the church somewhere, or I'm in the grocery store 481 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 2: or in the line at the post office, that say 482 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:07,840 Speaker 2: you're Sherry Smith's sister. I went to school with her. 483 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 2: I was somebody that was bullieder. I was an outcasta 484 00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:13,960 Speaker 2: and she said to me, hey, don't sit by yourself, 485 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 2: come over here and say with us. I mean, she 486 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 2: was just that kind of person. But she was voted 487 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 2: most talented and wittiest, and they told her she had 488 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:25,440 Speaker 2: to choose which one, and she chose wittiest. I would 489 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 2: have chosen most talented, but anyway, she chose wittiest. And 490 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 2: she was funny and she always I can remember Mom 491 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 2: would be so mad at us about something, and Mama 492 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 2: would just be on the verge of wanting to cuss 493 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,480 Speaker 2: at us, and Sherry would say, Mama, just say it, 494 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 2: just say it. It'll make you feel better. And I 495 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 2: think that's why she passed him the lesson, because we 496 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 2: weren't closed to but I got that moment. She had 497 00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 2: every right because amen, Amen, that was a moment that 498 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,800 Speaker 2: called for it, but she was funny and she did 499 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 2: in that moment. I think so turned the focus from 500 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 2: herself to the ones that she loved the most, which 501 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,479 Speaker 2: was her mom or dad, or brother, her sister, her friends, 502 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 2: her boyfriend, her grandmother. And what a beautiful example of 503 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 2: living life until it's over, taking hold of the last 504 00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 2: moments that she said to speak like. I can't even 505 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 2: understand how she did it, but she did it, and 506 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 2: she spoke words of faith and hope and love and perseverance. 507 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 2: And she's my hero. She's the hero in my family's story. 508 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:45,080 Speaker 1: Well, I want to talk about you real quick too, 509 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:49,720 Speaker 1: because forgiveness that's a hard road. Because I'm going to 510 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,920 Speaker 1: tell you. People think, oh, I'm going to forgive this 511 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,400 Speaker 1: person that hurt me or this person that did wrong 512 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:01,000 Speaker 1: to me, and you think it's a one step. It's not. 513 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: You've got to make your mind up that you're going 514 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 1: to forgive that person every day. And you have forgiven 515 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:11,680 Speaker 1: her killer. 516 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 2: Cheryl, I will say only by the grace of God, 517 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 2: because I am not a forgiver on my own. Larry 518 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 2: Jean Bell was arrested and the very piece of evidence 519 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 2: that led to his capture was Sherry's letter. There was 520 00:33:26,600 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 2: an imprint of a phone number on her letter that 521 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 2: led to where he was house sitting, and he was 522 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 2: arrested and my mom and I were immediately taken to 523 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:43,120 Speaker 2: the Lexington County Jail cell where Larry jan Bell and 524 00:33:43,160 --> 00:33:45,880 Speaker 2: the sheriff sat across from my mom and me. And 525 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 2: the minute he began to speak, our job was to 526 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 2: go there and identify the voice of the caller with 527 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:54,800 Speaker 2: the man sitting there, to verify that this was him. 528 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 2: And the minute he began to speak, my mother looked 529 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:01,200 Speaker 2: at him and she said, I know that you are 530 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:04,680 Speaker 2: the man that killed my Sherry. And she said there 531 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:07,240 Speaker 2: is nothing you can say or do that will justify 532 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 2: your choice. She's gone, and she said, but I'm looking 533 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 2: at you. I know you did it, and I don't 534 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 2: even hate you. And I remember walking out of that 535 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 2: room and saying to my mom, how in the world 536 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:26,279 Speaker 2: could you say that to him? He didn't deserve it, 537 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:29,360 Speaker 2: And I'll never forget what she said. She said, Honey, 538 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:32,440 Speaker 2: in that moment, I didn't just see him as the 539 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:37,400 Speaker 2: man who killed Cherry. I saw him as another mother's son. 540 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:43,120 Speaker 2: And she said, in that moment, I believe God supernaturally 541 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 2: took care of the bitterness in my own heart. She 542 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,120 Speaker 2: said there was so much pain, it was like a 543 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,160 Speaker 2: physical ache in my heart. And she said there was 544 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 2: just no room for unforgiveness. And she said, I just 545 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 2: believe for me, God settled it then and there. And 546 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,800 Speaker 2: it was not long after that I received a letter 547 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,799 Speaker 2: from Larry Bell on death row. He had been sentenced 548 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 2: to two death sentences and he was executed years ago, 549 00:35:10,840 --> 00:35:12,439 Speaker 2: but he wrote me a letter. And it had been 550 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:16,280 Speaker 2: two years since he took Sherry's life in Deborah Mayhelmet's life, 551 00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 2: and he wrote me from prison, and he said that 552 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 2: someone there had come and they had shared the gospel 553 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:24,239 Speaker 2: with him, that God so loved the world that he 554 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:27,800 Speaker 2: gave his only son, that whoever believes in him won't perish, 555 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 2: but he'll have everlasting life. And he claimed in that 556 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:33,520 Speaker 2: letter that he had asked God to forgive him. And 557 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:35,799 Speaker 2: then he asked me the question, will you and your 558 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 2: family ever forgive me? And I wish I could tell 559 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:42,400 Speaker 2: you I was like my mama, but I wasn't because 560 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 2: I thought, first of all, how dare you even ask 561 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 2: me that question? Because I don't hate you? I think 562 00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:50,560 Speaker 2: I'm doing pretty good, but I never wanted to hear 563 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 2: from that man again, justifiably so. But I remember taking 564 00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:59,319 Speaker 2: that letter and thinking, I don't hate you, dude. You're 565 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:02,080 Speaker 2: doing better than you ever should. And I shoved it 566 00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 2: in the bottom of a filing cabinet. And so for 567 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 2: two years I sat on that letter and I would 568 00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 2: go speak at a church somewhere. I'd sing it a 569 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 2: church somewhere. If I was asked to tell my story, 570 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:16,319 Speaker 2: I would, and somebody would always ask me, well, you 571 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:18,799 Speaker 2: didn't talk about the man, how do you feel about him? 572 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 2: And sometimes somebody would be bold enough to say, have 573 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:25,439 Speaker 2: you forgiven him? And I thought, in my mind, how 574 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:29,399 Speaker 2: dare you ask me that question? But finally I came 575 00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:32,839 Speaker 2: to the place and I said, God, I know we're 576 00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:36,319 Speaker 2: supposed to forgive. My Daddy raised me to understand where 577 00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:39,520 Speaker 2: to forgive like we've been forgiven, But how in the 578 00:36:39,680 --> 00:36:42,200 Speaker 2: world do you forgive the unforgivable? Because if ever there's 579 00:36:42,239 --> 00:36:45,839 Speaker 2: anything unforgivable, this is it. And so I just had 580 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:47,560 Speaker 2: to go to the Bible, and I just had to 581 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:51,600 Speaker 2: go to scriptures that would say forgive as you've been forgiven. 582 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:56,320 Speaker 2: And so I finally came to the place to understand 583 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:59,080 Speaker 2: that forgiveness is a choice that we make, just like 584 00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:03,239 Speaker 2: Sheery sitting in that room chose faith over fear. I 585 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:05,959 Speaker 2: had a choice to make, and so I sat down 586 00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:11,440 Speaker 2: and it was the scripture in Ephesians four thirty two. 587 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:14,839 Speaker 2: It says be kind and compassionate to one another. What 588 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:17,160 Speaker 2: did John Douglas tell me I had to do on 589 00:37:17,239 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 2: the phone calls be kind and compassionate to that So 590 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 2: here I was looking at the word of God, be 591 00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:29,000 Speaker 2: kind and compassionate forgiving each other, just as God through 592 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:33,000 Speaker 2: Christ has also forgiven you. And so in that moment, 593 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:36,279 Speaker 2: that is where I made the conscious decision, not a 594 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:40,080 Speaker 2: heartbelt decision, but just like I made a conscious decision 595 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:42,239 Speaker 2: to be kind and compassionate to this man on the 596 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:45,600 Speaker 2: phone who was holding my sister and who later killed her, 597 00:37:46,080 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 2: to forgive him. And I wrote him back and I 598 00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:54,720 Speaker 2: just told him, dear mister Bell, I can never forget 599 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:57,800 Speaker 2: what you've done. My life is forever changed, my sister 600 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:02,120 Speaker 2: is no longer here. However, because of the grace I've 601 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:05,200 Speaker 2: received from God. I want you to know I choose 602 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 2: to forgive you. I didn't feel a bit different I 603 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:12,880 Speaker 2: didn't have fireworks going off, but I can tell you 604 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:15,240 Speaker 2: that it was a work just like my mama said. 605 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:19,400 Speaker 2: It was a supernatural act of God within my heart 606 00:38:20,239 --> 00:38:23,480 Speaker 2: that allowed me to go on with life, because I 607 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 2: do believe that saying that says you either are going 608 00:38:26,719 --> 00:38:30,480 Speaker 2: to be bitter or you're going to be better. And 609 00:38:30,520 --> 00:38:32,640 Speaker 2: I didn't want to be better. I didn't want to 610 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:36,279 Speaker 2: be that girl. And you know, I still have it 611 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:39,839 Speaker 2: all these years later. I mean, I'm telling you I 612 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:44,359 Speaker 2: was somewhere, Oh my gosh, Oh, I was in the 613 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:51,560 Speaker 2: line at a restaurant yesterday picking up a to go order, 614 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:54,759 Speaker 2: and this lady behind me goes, you're done Smith Jordan, 615 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:56,840 Speaker 2: aren't you? And I said, I am, and she goes, 616 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:00,120 Speaker 2: I remember that story from all those years ago, and 617 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,279 Speaker 2: so many times I have people say to me, you're 618 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:05,440 Speaker 2: Sherry Smith's sister. You're that girl whose sister was murdered, 619 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:08,359 Speaker 2: aren't you? And so all these years later, while I 620 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:11,719 Speaker 2: am very proud to be Shery's sister, that's not all 621 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:15,120 Speaker 2: there is to this chick, because I'm not just that 622 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 2: girl whose sister was murdered. Because I didn't stay there 623 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:21,879 Speaker 2: and Sherry said, y'all keep living your lives. And that's 624 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:24,439 Speaker 2: what we did, That's what we've done, that's what I'll 625 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:28,879 Speaker 2: continue to do, because life is a gift. Sherry lived 626 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:33,040 Speaker 2: hers beautifully for seventeen years, and I'll do the same. 627 00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 2: One of my preachers said, if you ain't dead, God 628 00:39:36,120 --> 00:39:39,200 Speaker 2: ain't done, and Cheryl, I ain't dead. I'm getting older. 629 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 2: Come in, honey, I'm still here. And every day that 630 00:39:43,320 --> 00:39:47,279 Speaker 2: I'm given, it's a gift to make a difference in 631 00:39:47,320 --> 00:39:52,120 Speaker 2: somebody else's life. And I take that very seriously. And 632 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:55,120 Speaker 2: whether I'm standing on a stage in a church, whether 633 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 2: I'm talking on a podcast with a sweet lady like you, 634 00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:02,280 Speaker 2: or whether I'm in the line at the grocery store, 635 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:06,880 Speaker 2: I want to take that seriously to allow something good 636 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:09,840 Speaker 2: to come in this life that I've been entrusted to 637 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:11,360 Speaker 2: live and to live it well. 638 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:15,480 Speaker 1: Well, you know, I have four sisters, and our mama 639 00:40:15,560 --> 00:40:19,759 Speaker 1: used to say, forgiving somebody it and for them it's 640 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:23,799 Speaker 1: for you. Yes, yes, and you have done that beautifully. 641 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:25,719 Speaker 1: But I got to quote you because I want people 642 00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:29,279 Speaker 1: to hear this, because I laughed so hard when I 643 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:33,480 Speaker 1: read this your quote when you tell people get out 644 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:35,120 Speaker 1: of the mire and get in the choir. 645 00:40:36,360 --> 00:40:39,160 Speaker 2: Oh listen. It was one of my favorite stories of 646 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 2: I was sitting on the front row of the First 647 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:44,560 Speaker 2: Baptist Church of Wagner, South Carolina, about to give a 648 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:47,400 Speaker 2: concert on a Sunday morning, and I heard the gentleman 649 00:40:47,680 --> 00:40:50,080 Speaker 2: behind me on the second row say to the girl 650 00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:54,000 Speaker 2: beside him, who has that? And she said, that's our 651 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:56,560 Speaker 2: speaker singer for today. I literally want to turn around, 652 00:40:56,640 --> 00:41:01,640 Speaker 2: go I can hear y'all. And then I heard him say, oh, yeah, 653 00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:05,760 Speaker 2: that's that girl whose sister was murdered. And I stood 654 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:09,759 Speaker 2: up that day and I said, you know, somebody just 655 00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:13,560 Speaker 2: said this morning, that's that girl. But that ain't all 656 00:41:13,640 --> 00:41:16,759 Speaker 2: that that is to this girl, because we either had 657 00:41:16,800 --> 00:41:19,920 Speaker 2: the choice to stay stuck in the mire or to 658 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:21,800 Speaker 2: get out of the mar and get in the choir 659 00:41:22,320 --> 00:41:25,880 Speaker 2: and sing about the goodness that God still has in 660 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:30,160 Speaker 2: our lives. And that quote came from this gentleman at 661 00:41:30,160 --> 00:41:34,040 Speaker 2: this church. I sang at this elderly man, he said, sweetheart, 662 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:36,640 Speaker 2: you know what you remind me of. Have you ever 663 00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:39,200 Speaker 2: heard that quote? Get out of the mire and get 664 00:41:39,239 --> 00:41:40,960 Speaker 2: in the choir? I said no, but I'm going to 665 00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,279 Speaker 2: steal that because I love that, Because That's the way 666 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:46,640 Speaker 2: I want to live my life, because every single one 667 00:41:46,640 --> 00:41:51,360 Speaker 2: of us we have those circumstances that we would never choose. 668 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:55,440 Speaker 2: But when we choose to take God at his word 669 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:59,200 Speaker 2: and we choose to live them to the best of 670 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:03,360 Speaker 2: our ability, just like Sherry did every day, that is 671 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:05,799 Speaker 2: when we're not stuck in the miyre anymore, but we 672 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:08,360 Speaker 2: choose to get out of them. And the truth of 673 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 2: the matter is, forgiveness does not make the offense all right. 674 00:42:13,120 --> 00:42:16,760 Speaker 2: It can't be made okay, he did kill my sister, 675 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:19,680 Speaker 2: but it makes us all right. And that is what 676 00:42:19,719 --> 00:42:23,120 Speaker 2: I have found. I am not bitter, I am better, 677 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:25,960 Speaker 2: I can say, just like my mama did. While we 678 00:42:26,040 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 2: never would have chosen this, we are thankful to God 679 00:42:29,560 --> 00:42:31,799 Speaker 2: for the good He has brought out of this that 680 00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:36,000 Speaker 2: in nineteen eighty five we never could have imagined. But 681 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:39,600 Speaker 2: now I can't even begin and probably won't know this 682 00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:42,359 Speaker 2: sight of Heaven all the good that did come out 683 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:44,600 Speaker 2: of this, and so we can just be grateful. 684 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:48,680 Speaker 1: There ain't nothing I can add to that. Honey, Dawn. 685 00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:51,239 Speaker 1: I can't tell you how much I appreciate you being 686 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:53,960 Speaker 1: with me today and talking about Sherry. And I'm going 687 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:55,239 Speaker 1: to tell you you and I are going to get 688 00:42:55,239 --> 00:42:57,800 Speaker 1: together soon and I'm gonna wear your crayon. 689 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:03,360 Speaker 2: Well, let me just say, Cheryl, I love your accent. 690 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:07,759 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm with a homegirl because you know, 691 00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:10,520 Speaker 2: my accent is what it is and I have not 692 00:43:10,680 --> 00:43:14,160 Speaker 2: changed it because it's who I am and it's part 693 00:43:14,200 --> 00:43:18,240 Speaker 2: of my roots. And I love your down home humor. 694 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:22,160 Speaker 2: I love your warmth that I feel across this call today, 695 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:24,640 Speaker 2: and I just thank you for thank you for the 696 00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:28,520 Speaker 2: invitation to come and share my family's story and share 697 00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:34,840 Speaker 2: the journey of forgiveness and perseverance and taking life for 698 00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:37,000 Speaker 2: all it's worth for the glory of God. So I'm 699 00:43:37,040 --> 00:43:40,160 Speaker 2: just grateful for the privilege to be with you today, y'all. 700 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:42,040 Speaker 1: I'm going to end Zone seven the way that I 701 00:43:42,160 --> 00:43:47,560 Speaker 1: always do with a quote, some good will come of 702 00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:53,000 Speaker 1: this Cherry Smith. Y'all, it's a new year. Go out 703 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:58,520 Speaker 1: there and do some good in Cherry's name. I'm Cheryl McCollum, 704 00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:00,320 Speaker 1: and this is Zone seven.