Tami Martin

From:    jmoore1@nc.rr.com

Subject:  your HHS 1976 website

Date:  June 30, 2008 9:27:25 PM CDT

To:    s.hamm@earthlink.net


Hi.  I was poking around on the internet and found your website:


http://www.hhs1976.net/the_class.html


Just wanted  you to know I found it neat.  My sister graduated that year, but unfortunately passed away in July of that year.  Her name was Tami Martin.  Her boyfriend, David Hightower, also died.  Did you know them?  I still think about her almost every day.


It is crazy to think of how the years have flown.  I have no idea why I was even poking around on the web...maybe I was nostalgic because I heard a song from 1976.  Also my son is now 18 and he just graduated - so much ahead of him!


I recognized many of the names of your classmates.  Some went to our church; others were neighbors.  I remember many of the siblings (I am 4 years younger than your class). My brother, Russell, graduated in '78 and I would have graduated from HHS in '80 but my family moved to NC in '79.  I think the move was good, although it was VERY hard for me to leave my Sr. year.   It was good for my parents though.  Tami's death was so devastating, and it gave my mother new things to think about (picking out new things for a house that they built here, making new friends, going to a new church, etc.)    

ANYHOOO, life does go on and we are all doing great.  Russell married his high school sweetheart (another HHS graduate) and they have 2 beautiful children who are now adults, and I married a wonderful man and we have our own 2!  It is just that sometimes when I hear a song from '76 or hear someone talk about their wonderful relationship with their sister, I do miss mine. 

Tami was friends with Peggy Thompson...red-haired girl...did you know her?  She called her Peg Leg for short....she still sends my mom a Christmas card every year.  She is doing great and lives in Illinois I think and has 3 kids or so.


Well, hopefully you don't think I'm crazy writing you all of this (I am a writer by trade....it pays the bills...what can I say!)


Take care,

Sonja Martin Moore   


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Here are portions of a second e-mail:



I am trying to remember what year Tami would have come to HHS.  After I read your note, I started thinking.   I know I was going into the 6th grade, so she must have been going into the 10th grade.  We moved to Glenbrook Circle off of Owens Drive that summer.  She must have gone to Butler her 9th grade year.  She dated a guy from Butler (Tommy Berry - any idea what ever happened to him?) that sophomore year and she met David sometime later.  It sounds like you remember that actual meeting better than me. What a sweet story!   I just know she REALLY liked him and he was a year younger.  They were both very strong Christians and they studied the Bible together and were active at FCA.  They attended each other's churches and I do think she went to Camp Maranatha with him.   I know he played football (was he a captain?)   He was such a wonderful guy.  Yes, the wreck was horrible.  She died that night and David died the next day.  He never gained consciousness.  


My mother and Mrs. Hightower became closer after we lost Tami and David.  David's older sister was very kind to me.  I remember his 2 brothers, too.  I know my parents and the Hightowers still maintain contact through periodic emails and notes.