Our daughter Kelly would love to know that she was able to help someone see better. She was the most selfless, caring person who made all the rest of us better for being loved by her. We miss her every minute but there is some comfort in knowing how many people she touched in her short life and how much good is still happening in her memory. Thank you for accepting our (her) gift. We are forever grateful to have had such a daughter. 

Our best wishes, 

– Pam and Jim Bulak, parents of donor Kelly Bulak

This sketch by Kelly Bulak, MSHP class of 2022, depicts three buildings in the Wilson Farm area of the North Central neighborhood in Charleston, SC. Bulak sketched this drawing as part of an Area Character Appraisal for Preservation Studio in the spring of 2021.

The family of donor Geraldine “Gerry” Madden provided the story of her amazing life.

“In talking about writing her obituary, our family found that there were clear main themes in my mother’s life; her love for her family (extended, immediate, grandkids; everyone, she was the glue that held everyone together); her love of her friends; her fierce initiative and love of her career and getting things done; her strong faith; her life of service to others and compassion; and her creativity and love of creating things. That may sound like too much for one person to accomplish in their life but I assure you, we are not embellishing or exaggerating the full life she lived.  As the obituary says, Gerry Madden was a relentless force for love and light. All of us feel her loss deeply, and will forever.Read More

I want to tell you that my husband, George Wilson, was a wonderful photographer. He had an “eye for it”. I hope his eyes can help in some way for others to see the beauty of the world as he did.

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David wanted to help others. He exemplified the life of servant leadership and devotion to Jesus. His favorite Bible verse was Isaiah 6:8. His legacy was based on his love for The Lord. A Coast Guard Academy graduate and a deck officer in the Merchant Marine for 21 years, David helped others with his service through disaster relief with Samaritan’s Purse and as chaplain with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. He also served as a chaplain with the Emergency chaplains of Durham, NC. David spent the last 5 months of his life working with the Spartanburg Opportunity Center, a homeless shelter in SC as well as helping with his church.

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Richard “Rick” Robinson Richardson, Jr.

03-31-1949  to  04-15-2022

Rick would be so very pleased that his corneas gave the gift of sight to someone in need.  He was a loving husband, very proud father of two sons, both of whom served in the military. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge and served several years as a Shriner clown.  He was truly a people person who never met a stranger.

– Darlene “Dolly” Richardson, Widow of Rick Richardson

The loss of my son has been difficult for us. Lance had cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, cortical blindness and supersonic hearing from birth. With a lifetime of support from others, Lance led a full life – he was an accomplished flirt, a person of faith and filled with joy. Lance received recognition for his work at the Art Center, worked as a greeter at the Bistro and the Ballroom Dancing Class. Although he never walked, Lance did decide to verbalize at around age 35, in appropriate and complete sentences! After several hospitalizations last year, Lance’s body continued to shut down. Indicating his choice that it was time to let go, he passed away very peacefully with his family present.

June 8th is Lance’s birthday; he would have been 43 years old. Although Lance was a resident in a living center after aging out of the public education system, I spoke with him by phone daily, visited weekly and he came home monthly and all holidays. Our home had a hospital bed and a patient lift; we also had a ‘good times van’ with a wheelchair lift. We made a lifelong effort to provide a balance of how to live, work and play in his world.

Remembering those “perfect days” and finding joy

Lance enjoyed “home visits’ with breakfast in bed (custom scrambled eggs, a biscuit with gravy, serious chocolate milk). He enjoyed relaxing listening to his simple FM radio for hours. His older brother Scott, who he adored, would drop by the house (mom was kicked out of Lance’s room and they would have a nice visit), and perhaps go out for a ride in the ‘good times van’ – jokingly announcing they were going “crusin’ for chicks.”

At the living center, I would come and pick up Lance for the day and we would go out to lunch. Mexican food at Los Cucos and a piece of cheesecake to go for an after-dinner snack, or grilled fish and a ‘loaded’ baked sweet potato at KBob’s and a piece of cheesecake or chocolate pie to go for an after-dinner snack.

Then, we would go to the movies nearby! They knew our order by heart: pack of plain M&Ms and a small Sprite, easy on the ice. After we were seated, ‘created our nest’ (with his favorite lap quilt, soft travel pillow, and a festive bendable straw for the Sprite), mom’s job was to feed Lance one M&M at a time as he requested “more.” Sometimes, we would switch to Junior Mints to add a little variety. Lance’s eyes would sparkle with delight at the surprisingly new flavor and texture!

Following the movie, we would go for a drive in his ‘good times van,’ listening to favorite Johnny Cash or Elvis tunes. Lance would spontaneously start to sing so loudly, passionately, and then break into laughter at himself.

When Lance’s brother, Scott, would join our leisurely drives, from time to time I would want to go into a place to pick up items. These two guys would wait for me, the mom, in the van. However, when I came out of a store or restaurant, I could not find them!  Scott would drive around the side of a building or pick a distant spot in the parking lot and wait for me to exit the store or restaurant, standing there bewildered… and then drive up to get me. Lance would be laughing like crazy for what seemed like forever at their silly pranks. They were indeed ‘partners in crime’ for life, so to speak.

Please know that Lance’s brother, Scott, and I formally toasted both Lance and his recipient of the successful corneas transplanted at our Thanksgiving meal – giving thanks for the miracle of the new gift of sight. This honor, this toast is now our first new annual Thanksgiving tradition. 💘 Lance’s corneal transplant would not have been possible without the initiative of the remarkable medical team at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Brenham.

“Lance’s Mom” was my identity/job for 42 years; reinvented now simply as “Momma McKinney.” I remain a volunteer and a weekly reader to Lance’s roommates and friends at his living center.

Peace be with you –

Wish you a smile,

Nancy Beth McKinney