September 29, 2003
Coffee County- Crosses, flowers and teddy bears line the southbound shoulder of Smith Cemetery Road- a memorial for Kayla,Dustin, Lindsay, Megan and Courtney.
"That's what's bringing us through this is everyone's prayers and support," says Ann Varnedore.
She hangs on to memories of 11 year old Dustin and 14 year old Kayla, her children who she now calls angels.
"They were always wanting to go somewhere and always wanted to do something. Dustin just had the biggest smile and Kayla was just silly all the time. They were just fun to be around; they kept everybody happy," adds Varnedore.
"I've told several parents if you've got young ones, cherish them while you've got them because you don't know one day from the next what's going to happen," says Lindsay Joyner's mother, Terri.
Joyner smiles when she looks at Glamour Shots of her daughter Lindsay, one of the few times the softball star ever dressed up.
"With all the support that we've had it's really helped. I just want to thank everybody that's had a hand in it," Joyner says.
One of those people is Bernie Evans the former principal of four of the children. Evans has set up a fund for the families.
"The family immediately became overwhelmed with food and then they said 'well what if we want to make a donation could we do that,' so, after a few of those calls I realized that we need to establish a fund," explains Evans.
Both Varnedore and Joyner say the community support is helping them through the most painful time of their lives.
The families also say knowing one child Heather Bass, survived the wreck has helped through the grieving process. They say she should be released from Savannah Memorial hospital within the next few days.
Donations to the Ambrose Children's Fund can be made at First National Bank of Coffee County, P. O. Box 1679, Douglas, Georgia 31534. All donations will be divided equally between the families of the six children.
Posted at 7:05 PM by elaine.armstrong@walb.com
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