A sad anniversary took place last Wednesday, January 9, as my community of Barnesville looked back on the tragedy of losing BHS graduate, teacher and coach Jaynie Herbranson Halvorson in a car accident. She was someone who was my student when I used to substitute teach, I watched her play sports, especially basketball for not only Barnesville but Concordia as well.
Jaynie was one of the sweetest people I have ever met and she was a great coach and mentor to my future step-daughter Natalie. I new her and her high school sweetheart Justin Halvorson really well, and was so happy for them when they got married and had their baby boy Hoyt. Tragically Hoyt will never really get to know his mother in person, only in spirit, which is sad because she would have been the best mommy ever. Everytime I think about it I tear up, but the family has been leaders to not let us all live in sorrow, more celebrate a great person’s life in her time with us. She is looking down on us as a guardian angel, so last Wednesday night the residents of Barnesville and people who knew Jaynie around the world sent her messages with memory lanterns, and the sight of it gave me goosebumps, and the video via this link might do the same for you:
