If You Haven't Been Moved To Tears Yet Today, You Need To Read What This Dying Teacher Asked Of Her Students

Jul 02, 2018

Tammy Waddell was a devoted and beloved teacher in Alpharetta, Georgia, even winning "Teacher of the Year." For over three decades she inspired the minds and hearts of students. On June 9th, Waddell passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. In lieu of the typical flowers, she made a special request for her students to remember her by.

Instead of flowers, Tammy asked for her students to bring backpacks containing school supplies to her funeral. This served as a powerful reminder of how much she valued education and how she knew it could make a difference in the lives of her students, particularly ones from less-advantaged economic backgrounds.

Those who knew Tammy could speak to how dedicated she was to her students and their success. Even if she wasn't going to be around, she was still invested in their future. Her cousin, Dr. Brad Johnson, put it in simple terms: "She thought they needed backpacks more than she needed flowers."

On the day of Tammy's funeral, her fellow teachers, acting as special pallbearers, lined the path to her hearse with the provided backpacks. To see pictures of this is to see a rainbow of backpacks that speak to how much profound influence she had. It's enough to get you choked up even without knowing Tammy or attending her funeral.

Tammy's influence will continue to be felt. The backpacks at her funeral will be donated through Project Connect, which works to provide students with needed school supplies. We can only hope that her positivity continues to spread to other teachers and students.

The dedication of Tammy Waddell is absolutely inspiring. If you want to keep her memory alive and bring a little positivity into the world, be sure to spread this story around.