My name is Terry Ruthelford, We have had two tragedies in our family in the past 3 weeks. On July 16, I lost my father to Alzheimers. He was 81 yeas old. His name was Luther “Bud” Rutherford and he lived most of his life in this area.

I was his primary care taker and I was by his side when he left this world. I was comforting him when he took his last breathe. I feel like I lost my best friend and I still get up every morning thinking I have to take care of him, because I had done it for so long. I am responsible for his final expenses. I am on disabilty and not in good health, relying on 22 medications a day. I use home oxygen and use a hospital bed to sleep. I need three surgeries but I am unable to go through the anesthesia.

On August 5 I recieved a call that tore my life apart. My 26-year-old nephew was killed in an automobile accident. He left four children, no insurance and his two daughters who suffer from cystic fibrosis.

At this time I need to call on any organizations or individuals to help me pay for my father’s final expenses, as well as my nephew’s final expenses. I live on a fixed income of $877 a month. Neither of them had any insurance. I am in debt to the funeral home for both services.

My father was a well-respected man in Panola County. He also worked for Mr. Carlton in Pope at his logging business. He also worked as a share cropper in the Crowder and Marks areas.

My nephew David Wayne “Pee Wee” Ruthelford was a truck driver for Backwoods Express here in Batesville.

I desperately need help from the great people in Panola county. Any donations are greatly appreciated can be sent to me:

Terry Ruthelford

238 Pearson St.

Batesville, MS 38606

 We are also trying to get donations of garage sale items and setting up a bake sale. My phone number is 662-563-1895.

/s/Terry G Ruthelford

(Editor’s note: Ruthelford said that the different spellings of his name from that of his father’s is due to a clerical error on his birth certificate. “They wanted so much money to fix it, I said I could live with ‘Ruthelford,’” he said.)