By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

On a chilly morning in January 2012, Kyle and Don Gothard were sitting in church and heard the wail of ambulance sirens. Little did they realize the sound would forever change their lives.

Leslie Gothard Brechin was driving her husband Kent that same morning when a blinding, excruciating headache made her pull over their car. Emergency crews were called; the ambulance and first responders came. Brechin had suffered a fatal, massive brain aneurysm.

By the time the Gothards saw their daughter’s body in the hospital, her spirit had gone to be in Jesus. An organ donor, Leslie’s body lives on in the eyes and organs in others.

Brechin left behind husband Kent, daughter Lindsey and son-in law James Richardson, son Donnie, parents, mother-in-law Dot Brechin, siblings Tony (Denise), Donna Smelcer (Bobby), Samantha Carden (Paul), nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

“God lent me this child for 50 years,” said her mother, Kyle. “He knew her time of earth.”

Brechin’s roots go back five generations in Shelby County. She grew up in Columbiana and graduated in 1980 from Shelby County High School.

She loved Jeff Gordon and NASCAR. A devoted Wildcat, Brechin was president of the SCHS Alumni and was very involved in planning class reunions. Leslie was caring, happy and faithful and a true people person who never met anyone she did not like.

“Leslie had a heart of gold,” said friend and classmate Lydia House Austin. “She supported everyone else. She just had the biggest heart.”

Brechin also left behind massive medical and burial expenses, more than $60,000.

The SCHS Alumni are sponsoring a benefit to help with these expenses — a gospel music concert on July 15 from 4:30–9:30 p.m. at Cornerstone Christian Gymnasium. Silent auction from 4:30–6:30 p.m. Ron Foster, WZZK gospel DJ, will emcee. Son Austin Foster, Calera’s Tina Wakefield and Pastor Joe Stone’s gospel quartet will entertain. Tickets are $5, children $3 (6-12), available at door.

Donations payable to Leslie’s Angels, for info call Randy McDonald at 451-2067.

Please join Leslie’s Angels for a night of fellowship, food, music and fun in memory of Leslie Gothard Brechin.

 

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by email at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.