Our third son, Jordan, is a very remarkable young man.  At the age of eleven, he was forced to face the unimaginable, the deaths of his two older brothers, Drew and Jeremiah.  From that tragic day forward, Jordan was the glue that held our family together.  He not only lost his two brothers, but he lost both of his parents to some degree that fateful day in July of 1992.  The parents he knew were now just a shell of their former selves.

     As the days, months and years have gone by since the deaths of Drew and Jeremiah, our family of three has had to rebuild.  Gone were the days of loud, boisterous “fights” between the brothers.  Silence and tears filled our lonely house.  Gradually, we were able to start functioning again.  Jordan was the first to verbally express his feelings.  He knew where the boys were, and he knew he would be with them again.  His confidence and faith spilled over to Luther and myself.  His presence gave us a reason to go on.

     Being an only child was not what Jordan had envisioned for his life growing up in our family of five.  As I look back, I see it must have seemed an awesome responsibility to an eleven year old.  Who would Jordan have to fill the void left by the loss of his brothers?  Friends rallied around him and smoothed those first few months and years.  With time, Jordan has matured into a young man with insights few adults possess.  Has our tragic loss affected him?  Of course it has.  It has altered the future he expected with two siblings to share all those special family times when their parents have passed on.

     Jordan is now sixteen and attends The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee where his brothers went to school.  He has been an inspiration to me and to my husband, Luther.

Jordan Smith (Age 6)
 

Jordan Smith - July, 1990 (Age 9)
 

Jordan Smith - July, 1996 (Age 15)
 

Jordan Smith (Age 15)
 

Jordan and our precious dog, Hootie - December 1997
 

Jordan's school picture - The McCallie School (Junior Year)
 

Jordan and his friends from Chattanooga – Pat Corrales, Beth Stanko, Catherine Cofer, Casey Coker, Mike Sarette, and Mandy Galbraith (Jordan is in the front)
 

Jordan at McCallie graduation with friends Mike Sarette and Sean Huver
 

Jordan at McCallie graduation with his parents, Luther and Rosemary Smith
 

Jordan at McCallie graduation with his Uncle Gary and Aunt Karen