By David Crow
Conversations
David Crow
I’ve met a lot of people in my life. It’s a function of what I do and who I am. I enjoy meeting new people and I count myself lucky to have made their acquaintance.
Every so often I am fortunate to meet a truly mighty person, which is to say someone who uses their talents and time to make a huge impact on the lives of those around them. One of those mighty people I was privileged to meet was Lynda Hammond. She unfortunately passed away recently.
Allow me to be among the first of many who will say that she will be missed.
There isn’t room for me to list all of Hammond’s many achievements and accomplishments here. I’ll leave it to others who can do it justice to read her resume into the record. Instead, I’ll focus on what her example meant in my life. That is the best tribute I can give her.
To me, Hammond was a healer in the truest sense of the word. Along with a natural and easy empathy, she was also possessed of an iron will and determination that simply would not be denied in her quest to bring help to those who needed it most. For so many around the world, Hammond was literally the calvary riding to the rescue in their hour of greatest need. And when she set her mind to help someone, nothing and no one could stand in her way until that help was delivered in full, with her trademark smile and chuckle. Hammond brought aid and healing to the people, mostly children, who were in the direst of need of it.
Lynda Hammond spread life, love and seeds of hope wherever she went.
As I got to know more of Hammond, I came to regard her as a kind of superhero. There was a sense of incredible force of will and inevitability about her. I never once doubted that what she put her mind to in the course of helping people would come to pass. Her soft but direct gaze could move whatever mountain stood in the way. I personally found it very comforting to know that such a magnanimous force for helping others walked the same Earth as me.
Whenever I spoke to Hammond, I always referred to her as “Angel.” She was a shining example of the kind of person I always hoped to be. My life changed for the better because I met Hammond. The only regret I have is that I did not convey my admiration in strong and clear terms while she was here to receive it.
There are others who knew Hammond better than I did and are, therefore, much more qualified to eulogize her. This will be only one of the many pages of tribute written about her. That is entirely as it should be; Hammond is worth every word of praise and admiration she will receive. For the great gift she gave of light in dark places and the great example she was to me and others, all I will say is this:
Thank you, Angel, and God speed.