A Brother's Words; A Sister's Thoughts by Cindy Campbell

Although I can talk with almost anyone, I spend a lot of time in solace to recharge. Over the years, I have grown accustomed to this oddity in my personality and have learned to push myself; however, there are certain "eventful" days when I know it's better to keep firm boundaries in place and hunker down. Memorial Day is one of those. Hearing from people who knew and love Chris has been really helpful through the years, especially because their memories with Chris bolster me on difficult days. Each relationship Chris had was dear to his heart, and each person who knew Chris holds a piece of his beautiful life's puzzle. My brother's life is truly celebrated when individuals are willing to kindly offer their piece. Chris' best friend, Joe, recently shared several stories and has given me permission to pass them along on this National Day of Remembrance - Memorial Day.  --------------------------------- "The year we graduated [from high school] my nephew, Z...

Not too long ago, I had the great joy of hearing some remarkable stories from Chris' best friend, Joe. He referenced my mom in his recollections and since it's Mother's Day, I thought it would be perfect to share one of his special memories from when he first met Chris, with his permission. Thank you, Joe! "I met Chris in August, 1991, on the practice field for White Oak High School football prior to the start of our junior year. I had a 1969 MG and Chris, being the opportunist that he always was, asked me to give him a ride home after practice. And Mrs. Campbell, being the kind-hearted, second mother that she ultimately became for me , let us eat all the corn dogs she had in the freezer. It was the first day of a friendship that grew into something so much more. Chris and I were inseparable. I grew up in the area and had friends that I had known since kindergarten, but my bond with Chris was different. Even after that first day, I felt like I knew him all of my life. ...