by Audra Hurston Anders for The Aha! Connection
As I type these words, I’m sitting in a beach chair under an umbrella listening to the Sea Grove beach waves. To my left is an enormous red waving flag. I will forever think of Kim McGrady whenever I see red beach flags. I’ve known Kim’s wife since high school and attended Auburn University with both Kim and Leigh Anne. Long after college, I reunited with her unexpectedly on the front lawn of Vanderlyn Elementary. What a fun surprise to learn she was living in Dunwoody and we were sending our children to the same elementary school. There were many many days I would run into Kim walking his children to Vanderlyn while I was doing the same. He was always so kind and fun to chat with and he seemed to genuinely love his career at Chick-fil-A.
Our kids aren’t the same ages and the McGrady kids chose a homeschool/private school/swimming career path so we haven’t run into each other often in the past several years but we have tons of mutual friends. Last Thursday evening I received simultaneous texts from two friends telling me of Kim’s final heroic acts. Tears fell from my face and chill bumps covered me as I tried to tell my husband that Kim McGrady died saving three people from the rip tide. Apparently his son and a friend also saved one life each. But Kim’s final swim to save yet another is the one that ended his amazing life on this earth. Even after death, he continues to save lives with his organs.
It’s taken me days to form the words to say to Leigh Anne but there really aren’t any good ones. I told her yesterday that when I return to Dunwoody the least I can do is offer her a hug, a meal and really whatever else she needs. Meanwhile I’m praying for her strength and for her family.
I learned yesterday from two other mutual friends that a group of dozens of Dunwoody teens and adults organized a work day at the McGrady house. Another friend has started a meal train that I’m guessing is already full. Someone from the network news contacted me yesterday wanting contact information for a story on Dunwoody’s local hero, Kim McGrady. My Facebook feed is full of tributes to this amazing son, husband, father, friend, co-worker, neighbor, mentor, coach…..
I’m still out here looking at the red flag on my left and watching a muscular older man swimming in the surf. Would I have the guts to try and save him if he gets in trouble? Kim McGrady did. I’m blessed to have known him even if just a little…..
I’m told our community is honoring him with white mailbox ribbons. Let’s honor Kim and his family by placing a white ribbon on our mailboxes this week. His parents are in town. Her parents are in town. His daughter is home from college for the memorial. Adorn your mailboxes with white ribbons so when they ride around town they can visibly see our community’s respect and love for Kim. Oh, and since I’m out of town, if you have an extra one feel free to put one on my mailbox 🙂
Audra, Thank you for putting your heart into this post, helping a big community like Dunwoody better connect, especially in what matters most, the lives and deaths of our neighbors. Similarly, I overlapped with Kim at Auburn and reconnected here in Dunwoody when he participated in our Friday morning men’s Bible study when I first moved back here a few years ago. If anyone needs a listening ear because of this tragedy or any of the other many difficulties this year, I’m happy to help.
Grace and peace to all of Kim’s friends and family.