From Staff Reports
OAK HILL — When Terri Lynne Treadway Massey lost a courageous four-year battle with breast cancer, her friends and family helped her find peace by making a promise.
That pledge — to take care of her three children — has inspired a scholarship fund to ensure that her children, and other children who’ve lost a parent to breast cancer, will go to college.
With help from Denise Light at Fayette County National Bank and the permission of Terri’s family, the newly-formed T-Team opened a savings account, which they envision will grow into a charitable trust for children of breast cancer victims.
The T-Team and Massey’s family and friends gathered late last week in Oak Hill to initiate the campaign.
Terri’s husband, Barry, obviously still misses his wife, who died on Oct. 29, 2009 at the age of 39. “She was a big-hearted girl, no matter what was going on,” he said. “Even when she was sick, she worried about everybody else.
“Anybody that knew her knew what she was like.”
According to Melanie Lafferty, one of Terri’s friends and a longtime next-door neighbor, working on Terri’s Tribute Fund will serve many purposes. “Of course, the fund will make sure Terri’s kids get a college education, but it will help other children who’ve lost a parent to breast cancer, too,” she said. “And, the fundraising efforts we’ve planned will help all of us find a place to funnel our energy, our sadness and express our love of Terri.”
Although details for the scholarship fund haven’t been completed, the initial fund plan is simple. Donations may be made at any Fayette County National Bank branch to Terri’s Tribute Fund. Donors should mark their checks “Terri” or “General” or “Both.” Money earmarked for Terri’s children will be set aside from the general fund. If a check is marked ‘both,’ it will be divided between the two line items. Oak Hill High School or Fayetteville High School students who have lost a parent to breast cancer will be the eligible recipients for the ‘general’ portion of Terri’s Tribute. Eventually, a charitable trust will be set up with more detailed criteria in hopes continual donations will grow to reach more and more students.
One of the first orders of business for the group will be knitting klatches because members want to make a huge pink ribbon for the Relay for Life, which will adorn the bleachers at Oak Hill High School from top to bottom. Kay Bess, whose son, Ashley, was a close friend of Terri’s, will help organize the knitters. Once the project details are worked out, people can knit toward the scarf from anywhere, and have their piece added into the final product. As people meet to knit, more ideas about fundraisers are expected to surface.
A winter bowl-a-thon, the brainchild of Charlie Toney; a golf tournament, the idea of several golf enthusiasts in the family; and a car show/concert are among the fundraisers planned for 2010. Sherri Selvey of Fayetteville is designing a bracelet for the group to sell, and Dawn Wolfe of Ghent is working on a soap in Terri’s favorite scent: Lemon Pledge. The T-Team will be mailing postcards about the fund to everyone who knew Terrilyn.
“Unfortunately, Terri is not the only mom, sister, neighbor, friend, wife or daughter this community of ours has lost to breast cancer,” said Light, a breast cancer survivor. “So we encourage anyone who’s been touched by breast cancer to contribute to this fund, which will help the children who’ve lost so much.”
“As women we need to remember to take care of ourselves, follow the guidelines for self care, and make sure those we love do the same,” added Lafferty. “Knowledge is power.”
“Women united are a powerful force. Our resources, our energy, our imagination are boundless,” said Cindy Whitlock, another family friend. “And, when faced with such a terrible loss, we have to find a way to heal our hearts.”
“Terri’s Tribute will help us honor Terri’s memory, and help fill the void we feel. Who knows? Her fund may help one of our own follow a career path that leads to the cure. We can only hope, and work toward that end,” said Vickie Slayton Gay, another member of the T-Team. “And since today Terri’s oldest daughter, Jamie, celebrates her 14th birthday, it’s a perfect time to kick off this plan.”
Barry Massey is grateful for the support he and his children — daughters Jamie, 14, and Jordan, 9, and son Josh, 7 — have received.
“I’d really like to thank the community of Oak Hill, all the businesses and others,” he said. “We never knew we had so many friends.
“It’s unbelievable.”
For details about donations, call or stop by FCNB locations in Fayetteville, Oak Hill or Ansted. Donations may be mailed to Terri’s Tribute, FCNB, P.O. Box 209, Fayetteville, WV, 25901.
Upcoming events to help further the fund will be promoted through local media and Facebook. Anyone with questions can write to terristribute@yahoo.com.
