Brandi Johnson Terwilliger

Prayers for the family

Q: How did you meet Brandi? A: I met Brandi in 2013 working at TOA. She shared a office with Sheila Hicks whom I knew from working at TOA for so long. Quickly her sense of humor was evident that I was going to like this coworker. Many days I would get up from my office to step away and find myself in Brandi and Sheila’s office. We had lunches outside of work together and dinners too. The conversations that we had were very interesting and very entertaining. Laughter and getting so tickled till we all were crying because one of us had said something so funny. Brandi spoke about Dwight and her boys ALL the time. She loved her family. She spoke about her parents and brother often. She talked about her girlfriends she would go on trips with. RIP Brandi. Watch over those boys of yours and that grand baby. Angie Wood

Oh my sweet girl, I don’t know how Dad and I are going to get through life with you not being here . Rest assured that I will look after Dwight, Dwightie, Shelby, Avery, and Dakota for as long as I am on this earth. You were my beautiful, loving, caring as well as stubborn daughter with the most outgoing personality. This enabled you to find and keep friends for life. You have girlfriends from the first grade that you have dinner, vacation with and love to this day. Avery Mae loved you Big Mamma and is also hurting because she can’t find you at home. We are grieving so badly and pray God will wrap his arms around us and get us through this horrific time. Bryan and you had their sibling rivalry, but he loves you dearly and is pain to know he won’t have you in his life either. Don’t worry about Dad and me, Bryan and April will check on us as well as your Dwight, Dwightie, Shelby, and Dakota. You grew up so fast as a little girl. I didn’t know then your life was going to be short and you had to scram everything in . You loved family and your animals. Geez, did you love animals. Thank goodness you had a husband that loved you enough to put up with all this. I know you are busy catching up with all our loved ones that are taking care of you. Be waiting for Dad and I when God calls us home. Until then know that we love you and you will be in our hearts for eternity. Love you Punkin, Mom & Dad

MainStreet Fairview Editorial: Hard times can teach life lessons Last week, the world suddenly and tragically lost a beautiful soul when my son-in-law’s mother died at the age of 43. Her death has shocked and saddened her family and friends. With hard times comes opportunity for us to learn a life lesson or be reminded of what we already know. Brandi Johnson Terwilliger was a kind and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend – but I will forever remember her as the best mother-in-law to my daughter and an amazing Big Momma to our shared three-year-old granddaughter. We did not talk often, but we shared some beautiful life moments and we shared the love of our married children who have been together for ten years. We shared in the wedding proposal, wedding day and birthdays. We also shared Mother’s Day lunches – and even a love for Elvis and all dogs. Even more than all of those, our greatest shared love was for our grandchild. Perhaps, that is what has made her death so painful. Even with all those precious life moments to hold on to – there will be more to come and her absence will be felt. We were together on the day Avery Mae was born, and we both enjoyed early milestones like her first words, first steps, first song and first dance. I always took great comfort in knowing that if something happened to me Brandi would be there for Avery – the best Big Momma ever. Sadly, that feeling of comfort is gone. I am heart-broken that the world has lost a beautiful soul. Now, I must find some sense of it. What life lessons can it teach me? I believe, as grandmothers, Brandi and I had mutual respect for the love each of us bestowed upon our sweet Avery Mae. The problem is I cannot say that with certainty – because I never expressed how wonderful I thought she was to my child and grandchild. I never had that conversation. I never said it in a text, email or letter. I never voiced it during a birthday party or holiday gathering. For that, I am sad and regretful. It would have been so simple just to let her know how great I thought she was and how much I appreciated all she did for my child and grandchild – a few simple words. Now, I can only hope she knows and try to honor her by keeping her memory alive for Avery Mae in the days, weeks, months and years to come. So, my lesson is to voice love and appreciation to the special people in my life. There is also a reminder with this unimaginable loss. Brandi Johnson Terwilliger had a loving, serving and giving heart right – even right up to the end as she was an organ donor. Lives were saved thanks to her giving spirit. Lastly, on her Facebook Brandi wrote, “I have to say that I am a pretty lucky girl….and life is good.” We should all be so lucky and count our blessings daily as tomorrow is not promised and life can change in the blink of an eye.