Dana was a wonderful man, son, brother, husband and father. He was always a perfectionist. When he was little, he would line all his toys up around the wall at night before going to bed, along with his clothes he would fold. Dana’s little sister, Donya, was always the one he tried to protect: "Don’t mess with my sister."
Dana graduated from Erwin High school in Center Point, Alabama, in May 1991. He had already married his childhood sweetheart, Patty. They had a son, David Thomas, in November 1992. Dana went to work for the Center Point Fire Department and went on to become a firefighter and paramedic. He also worked for the Birmingham Fire Department and North Shelby Fire Department. On Feb. 22, 2003, he married his second wife, Amy. They lost a son April 20, 2004, Daniel Blake.
Dana loved riding motorcycles. On May 1, 2004, he was involved in a accident in Panama City, Florida, and almost died then. After a lengthy stay in the hospital, he was flown back to Spain Hospital in Birmingham; and four months to the day later, he went back to work at the fire department. There is no helmet law in Florida [for riders 21 and older with $10,000 in medical insurance], and he had severe head trauma. WEAR YOUR HELMETS, PLEASE.
On March 3, 2005, we were once again awakened by that dreadful phone call. This time there was no hope. Our son was killed instantly on Interstate 65 north in Birmingham heading home. We are not sure what happened, but he just left the road, hit a guard rail and his truck rolled. He was not wearing a seat belt, and it threw him out of the truck and the truck landed on him. It has been almost three years, and the days are still just as hard to get through. That chain that linked us together is broken, and one day we know it will all link together again. God only lends them to us, but it is so hard when time comes for Him to call them home. Dana was a deacon in our church, Centercrest Baptist, where he was raised, and a member of the Bond Slaves Christian Motorcycle Club.
Taken too soon ... I will never forget that wonderful smile and those big blue eyes.
We will always love and miss you.
Love,
Mom, Dad, Donya, Jason, David, Amy, Patty, Harleigh, and Maisie
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