Tina Michelle Lawson Hutchens, her smile lit up a room. Her laughter and happiness I lived for. Words can’t describe the love between her and her family and friends. When you’d see her come walking toward you, she’d fix her eyes upon your face with a smile so sweet and a look of happiness to see you. Every time we would hug each other and tell each other we loved each other. She was like that with her friends and family.

Our daughter Tina died in a manner that leaves those of us left behind with a cry of agony in our hearts as the fragile thread of our faith was dealt with so violently. Something with-in us died when we bore the unbearable. She was the best of us and the strongest of us. Our rational minds can never understand why this happened. Our lives will never be the same again .She was the most loving and caring person who would help anybody she could. She was working at her first job at age 15 and bought her 1st car at age 16. She was a 2001 high school graduate. February 14, 2002 she got a job where I work at. The job was a porter for the plant. She bought a brand-new 2002 Ford focus In April 2002.6 months later in October 2002 she got married. In January she became a knitting operator like me. I helped train her and we got to work and take our breaks together. February 2003 she turned 20 years old.

March 2003 she got laid off from work and I didn’t. We both cried like a baby. She had been there for one year. She would have been working that night she got killed if she hadn’t got laid off. Being kind hearted as she was she took her friends mother Lisa shopping that evening. On her way home she was hit head on by Mr. Sanchez and he was a drunk driver. She had groceries in her cars trunk. She loved helping people. Tina was the only daughter we had. We always did things together as a family. She had so many plans. We were going to have a yard sale. We were going camping at Myrtle Beach the 4th of July. We hoped she’d get called back to work from her lay off. 

I have no sisters and my mother died when I was 15.Tina was not only my daughter but she was my friend. We always talked on the phone, watched movies, went shopping, celebrated our birthdays, ate out together, spent holidays together and planned to do things with each other each week. My life since her death has been a nightmare. She was my reason for living. I miss her so much. We loved her with all our hearts. Before we would leave each other she would hug me and tell me she loved me.

This time we didn’t get to hug before she left us and no more hugs and no more I love yous and no more kisses. Tina was a good girl. What happened to her should not have happened. She didn’t drink or do drugs. There was no other girl in the world like Tina. She was my strength and my courage. When I walked beside of her I felt proud. She was my life. I helped to look after her finances When I suggested something to her she would she would listen. She’d buy groceries for the hungry, buy toys at Christmas for children. Gave money to friends who were poor. Drive people to places they needed to go using her car. She had excellent credit. This world truly lost a special someone the day she died.