New Family Member

On May 9th, 2015, Stephen's brother, Jon, brought a new member into our little family.  We couldn't be more proud or happy.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  The only thing that seemed missing was Stephen.  However, Stephen had put his stamp of approval on the marriage.  Rick found a turkey feather on the morning that we were preparing to leave for the venue.

We tried to have Stephen's presence felt
with the symbol of his turkey feathers.  When Jon and Mariah were saying their vows, the wind kicked up and became quite heavy.  There were several people that commented that Stephen was making his appearance.

As part of their ceremony, they signed their marriage license.  It was only appropriate that they used a turkey feather to inscribe their signatures.

On the tables, there were books for guests to sign.  In each book was also a turkey feather pen to write their message.

Jon's groom cakes were in the shape of his two favorite states--Kentucky and Georgia.  On each cake were writings of special places to him.  One of the most special places to him on the Kentucky cake was the Stephen D. Elrod Memorial Plaza at Georgetown.

Stephen's best friends, Mark and Carra Surgalski
Mark was his roommate for four years and Carra became
like a sister to Stephen.

We had a table set aside as a memorial to those who had touched our lives.  Stephen and Nicholas were watching from the heavens as their baby brother got married.

Of course the wedding would not have been complete without three of Stephen's favorite people present.

Sable Bowman
Stephen's girlfriend

We came as a family of three....

And left as a family of four.

The happy couple

2015 Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarships

This year, we were glad that Rick was able to arrange his schedule in order to attend the ELCA Athletic Ceremony and present the scholarship to a lovely young lady, Alayna Carrandi.  She is a very strong girl that suffered the hardship of losing her mother during her senior year.

Alayna with her brother, grandparents,
Scott Reeves, Rick and Judy

Alayna was a two-sport student in soccer and volleyball.  She was very involved in academic and school organizations such as National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), Beta Club, ELCA Student Leadership Institute, Student Council, and FCA.  In addition to maintaining a 4.21 grade-point average and holding a part-time job, she found time to be the chaplin of her senior class, the campus representative for a non-profit organization, and participated in the ELCA reading buddies program.

Alyana was also the recipient of the Zell Miller Scholarship.  Her plans are to attend University of Georgia in the fall and pursue a career in pediatric medicine.  Stephen would be very proud knowing Alayna was the recipient of a scholarship in his memory.

Jan 2006, Will was supporting
Jon and the Wildcats on the basketball court.

On May 28th, we were very pleased to attend the PCHS Awards banquet and honor a long time friend and neighbor, Will Redden.  Will was always an avid supporter of the Pendleton County Wildcats, even at a very young age.  The picture to the left shows Will with his sign cheering on one of his favorite players.  Little did he know that nine years later, Jon would be awarding Will with the Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarship.

 Will graduated from Pendleton County High School with a 3.875 GPA and ranked 8th out of a class size of 162.  In addition to Will excelling in the classroom, he was also an active member in his church with the praise band and the mission team.  

Will was a very active student in different organizations at school.  He was the Pep Band Assistant Director and held the first chair in the percussion section.  Will was a four-year member of the Student Council holding various offices, Future Farmers of America, National Honor Society, and Senior Council. As busy of a schedule that Will had, he found time to also excel on the baseball field.

Rick presenting Will with his scholarship

Will and Jon after the ceremony

He was honored as being a KHSAA Academic All-State member.  Although he had various scholarship opportunities to further his baseball career at the college level, he decided to focus solely on his academics at Northern Kentucky University, where his mother is a professor, and pursue a career in construction management.

Will's father, Mike Redden is the circuit
clerk in Pendleton County.  Mike relayed
a conversation he had with Stephen
shortly before his untimely death.
Stephen had previously renewed his license, but had noticed he had not signed the back of the license to be an organ donor.  On his lunch hour one day, Stephen drove to Falmouth to specifically sign up as an organ donor.  When Mike questioned him and commented he was too young to be concerned with such things, Stephen told him he had a personal relationship with Jesus and if anything ever happened to him, he didn't want there to be any question as to his wishes.

2014 Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarship

Stephen and Chelsea
at her wedding

We were very privileged to have one of Stephen's best friends, Chelsea Yarbrough McDonald,  and Scott Reeves present the 2014 Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarship at ELCA.  Stephen met Chelsea in the first couple of weeks after moving to Georgia in his Sunday school class.  When it was time to enter middle school, Stephen wanted to attend ELCA with Chelsea and another friend from the church.  It was one of the best decisions he ever made.  They remained close throughout school and afterwards.

The scholarship at ELCA was presented to a very special young man, Gib Pounds.  Gib was born legally blind, but he never thought of himself as having a disability.  He is an outstanding young man with a work ethic to match.

Judy, Gib, and Chelsea after the ceremony

Gib began his career at ELCA in 2001 and attended for 13 years.  He played football at a young age in elementary school and won a starting position as the center for the first time as a senior.  Gib graduated ELCA with a 4.26 GPA.  He is currently attending University of Georgia and majoring in education.  The following is an article that appeared in the Henry County Herald after Gib's acceptance of the scholarship.

In spite of being legally blind, Eagle's Landing Christian senior Gib Pounds has never let that take away from his focus.

"Having 2200 vision means I cannot drive but that's my only limitation," Pounds said.  "My vision could be worse.  I could have tunnel vision but I'm just extremely nearsighted and totally colorblind."  

A week ago, Pounds was awarded the Stephen Dale Elrod Memorial Scholarship at ELCA Athletic Awards Ceremony.

"I was completely shocked," said Pounds, who started at center for the football team this past season.  "I walked up there speechless.  I think I whispered thank you.  I didn't see it coming."

Pounds was well deserving of the honor, thanks to his 4.26 grade-point average.

"It doesn't matter if you have a disability or not," Pounds said.  "Hard work is going to get you where you want to go.  I could've come out of here with a lower GPA if I had not taken the time to spend my time studying."

During his time on the gridiron last season, Pounds helped the Chargers earn an 11-1 record.

"Football has been something I've been glad to play with all of my friends here," Pounds said.  "I found the perfect position as a center.  Let's face it: I wasn't going to be catching the ball."

This fall, Pounds will pursue a degree in education at Georgia.

Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarships 2013

In 2013, we were pleased to award Garrett Appleton at the awards ceremony at PCHS on May 8.  Garrett was a member and leader of the basketball squad.  He was very involved in other leadership roles in the National Honor Society and the Senior Council.  During his senior year, Garrett demonstrated a strength and faith unlike other normal high school seniors.  He was forced to sit the sidelines on the basketball court due to some heart issues.  While others might have dropped off the team, Garrett continued to be part of the team with his daily support and uplifting attitude.

After Garrett had received the honor of Stephen's scholarship, he sent us a thank you note saying that out of all the scholarships he had applied for, this was the one scholarship he wanted the most.  Garrett continued his education at Morehead State University.  He is currently in his second year and is majoring in Sports Medicine.


The scholarship at ELCA was awarded to Miss Ellie Jagus.  Due to my niece's wedding in Houston, Texas, we were unable to personally present Ellie with the scholarship.  However, at the awards ceremony the following year, Ellie sought me out and introduced herself to me.  She is a true example of what Christ wants from all his children.

Ellie exemplifies Christian character in all she does.  She is loved and respected by her fellow students, teachers and coaches.  Ellie came to ELCA as a freshman from public school and quickly adapted to her new environment and emerged as a leader at ELCA.  She participated in Cross Country all three years where her coaches recognized her Christian character and positive influence on the lives of others.  Ellie also traveled to Jamaica all three years of her high school career at ELCA.  She humbly served the people of Martha Brae, Jamaica as well as her team members on the mission trip.

Other activities that she was involved in at ELCA included Mock Trial and Model United Nations team.  She also served as a volunteer at the Georgia Aquarium and was a recipient of the James Michael Everett Scholarship for Fine Arts.  

Ellie is compassionate, hardworking, friendly, funny, and always leaving a positive impact on those she meets.  When Coach Queen sent out the criteria for the Elrod Scholarship to over 30 faculty, staff, and coaches – Ellie Jagus was the nomination that surpassed all the other students.

Ellie is attending the University of North Georgia with a double major in Early Childhood and Special Education.  Her life dream is to return to the mission field and work with special needs children.   

About our Heart Design

The Heart Design and its components have been adopted by our family.  Stephen's initials are strategically placed inside the heart as to always carry his memory with us.

The turkey tail feather has become symbolic to us as a message sent from Stephen.  The day following his funeral when the back porch was being cleaned after all his family and friends had been gathered the previous day, a turkey tail feather was found lodged between a heavy pot of flowers and the brick of the house.  Stephen loved turkey hunting, and we felt it was his way of letting us know he was experiencing the love of God and the beauty of His creations.  Since then, we have found turkey tail feathers at the memorial sculpture at Georgetown College while mulching and cleaning, on random walk and hikes around the farm, and other unlikely places.  It always seems to bring a smile to our faces no matter what the circumstances are at the time.

The dragonfly is a reminder that "what is unseen is eternal."  Although we cannot fix our eyes on Stephen today, he is experiencing the beauty and glory of Heaven.  While plans were being made for "Stephen's Dinner for Life", the symbolism of the dragonfly was revealed to all attendees from the story of the double organ recipient speaker.  It is as follows.

Once, in a little pond in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little nymph in a community of dragonfly nymphs.  She lived a challenging yet gratifying life in the beautiful pond.  Once in a while great sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow nymphs would climb the stem of a lily pad and never be seen again.  They knew when this happened their loved one was gone forever.  Then one day, the little water nymph felt the irresistible urge to climb up that stem.  Yet, she was determined that she would not leave forever.  She would come back and tell her fellow nymphs what she had found at the top.   When she reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, she was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that she decided she must take a nap.  As she slept, her body changed and when she woke up, she had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.  So, fly she did!  And as she soared, she saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life than what she had only hoped existed down in the pond.  Suddenly she remembered her nymph community and how they must be thinking by now she was dead.  She wanted to go back to explain to them that she was now more alive than she had ever been before.  Her life had been fulfilled rather than ended.  But, alas her new body would not go down into the water.  She could not get back to tell her family and friends the good news.  Then she understood that their time would come soon when they too would know what she now knew.  So, she raised her wings and flew off into her joyous new life!

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." --2  Corinthians 4:16-18

3rd Annual Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarships (2012)

On the evening of May 3rd, the annual Senior Scholarship and Award Ceremony was held at the Pendleton County auditorium. This year proved to be one of the most difficult in selecting a recipient for the Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarship. However, Ethan Stahl impressed the committee with his work ethic and thoughtfulness towards others. In reading his essay and recommendation letters, we believed he exhibited the qualities most like Stephen. Stephen was an individual that could spend hours talking to older adults. As one of the recommendation letters states, "Ethan is well liked not only by his peers but by adults of all ages. He welcomes them and constantly reaches out to them."

Jon presenting Ethan with his scholarship

Ethan maintained a 3.71 GPA while participating in football, track and field, and band. He is a member of Grassy Creek Christian Church.  Much like Stephen, he loves the outdoors and hunting.  His future plans include attending Morehead State University and majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarship was presented at the annual Eagles Landing Christian Academy Athletic Banquet to Mr. Tyler McCammon by Clay and Scott Reeves.  They began the scholarship after Stephen's untimely death.  Matt Harless, a friend of Stephen's, read a passage of scripture and told the audience how he remembered Stephen.

Judy Elrod, Matt Harless, Tyler McCammon, Clay and Scott Reeves

Tyler is an individual that attended ELCA since the 1st grade.  He played varsity football all four years of high school and as a senior decided to add tennis to his schedule.  Academically, he was tops in his class holding a 4.01 GPA.  Tyler holds strong Christian values and exhibited them being active in FCA and the Student Leadership Institute at ELCA.  He will be attending Mercer University to major in Biology.

After the committee recommended Tyler for the scholarship, I pulled his profile up on Facebook and discovered he shared the same birthday (February 7th) as Stephen.  In addition, he loves his dog and hunting just as Stephen.

Congratulations Tyler and Ethan on receiving the Stephen Elrod Memorial Scholarship.

Stephen's Dinner for Life

Stephen's Dinner for Life was held at Stonewood Gardens on June 18th and was a huge success. Over 275 people attended the event and it raised $4000 for the Kentucky Circuit Clerk's Trust for Life organization.  It is the objective of the Trust

Dick Veale, double organ recipient and author

to raise public awareness and encourage organ and tissue donation throughout the Commonwealth.   Following a delicious meal, Dick Veale, double-organ recipient and author, spoke about the miraculous gift that saved his life. The night concluded with live music with Borderline, a local band that donated their time and talents to the worthy cause.

Rick and Judy Elrod with Shelley Heaverin and
Mike Redden, Pendleton County Circuit Clerk.

Stephen's father, Rick, spoke of how Stephen valued the organ donation program and registering as a donor. He recalled the day of Stephen's accident. "It doesn't bring him back, but it brings awareness," said Rick. "With all of the other horrible things going on that day, we didn't have to make the decision for him to donate. He did that for us, and tonight is a way to continue his work and spread his name."



He concluded by giving a check for $3500 to Shelly Heavrin, Executive Director for Ky. Circuit Clerk Trust for Life. After all the bills were paid, an additional check for $500 was sent to the organization. For our first benefit, our hopes were to break even and possibly make a couple hundred dollars to donate to such a worthy cause. Little did we believe we would receive the support that we did.

Mark and Carra Surgalski
Stephen's best friends and roommate.

The event received monetary support from several businesses and individuals such as Ale-8 Marketing Company, Sunrise Corporation, Can-Dew Recycling, Bob and Carol Griffin, Brian and Beth Griffin, Happy and Bobbi Osborne, State Representative and Mrs. Tom McKee, Dr. John Reid, Sean Roseman, Chad and Melody Simms, James and Allison Biggs, Robert and Joyce Carmack, Jim and Jill Conway, Barth and Pam Johnson, Carol Klaber, JoEllen Mitchell and family, Doug and Judith Spritzky, Dan and Pam Moreno, Dale and Peggy Prebble, Marvin and Sandy Sullivan, Steve and Patti Thomas, Gary and Marsha Thompson, and Xanadu Salon.

Jackson Stephen Reed and proud dad

We received other support from the attendance of good friends and acquaintances.  One of the guests that attended  the evening was Jackson Stephen Reed. He is the newborn son of Chris and Lauren Reed, a couple that went to Georgetown College with Stephen. They wanted to name their son after one of their best friends, Stephen.


We have learned these past couple years that in the hardest of times, it is with the support and shoulders of your friends, family, and the church that give you the strength to overcome adversity.

Molly Faust and Emily Kiniyalocts, co-workers of Stephen