Students grieving from tragedy

By David Lazenby
The Cullman Times

April 07, 2008 10:18 pm

— ADDISON — Addison High School was in recovery mode Monday following a weekend of tragedies that included the death of a senior student’s mother who perished along with two children in a fire Saturday.
Addison High School Principal Bo Bolzle said the school recruited additional “grief counselors” who were on campus Monday to help students and faculty members deal with the deaths and other shocking events that transpired over the weekend.
Glida Greene, 46, her niece, Jonna Karyn Hocutt, 7, of Arley, and family friend, Ashlynn Bree Graves Howell, 7, of Adison, were pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze — Greene’s home — by Winston County Coroner Larry Gilliland at approximately 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Gilliland said the victims’ bodies were all found in the same location on the second floor of the home. Heat and smoke inhalation were ruled by Gilliland as the causes of death in the fire still being investigated.
Several AHS students personally knew Greene from her time as a junior varsity volleyball coach, junior high softball coach and school bus driver. She was also the mother of senior Kayla Carden.
“It has been extremely hard on them,” Bolzle said about the seniors for whom a special meeting was held Monday morning.
However, AHS Counselor Jeff Sudduth said progress was made. “It was a very helpful grieving process for everyone,” Sudduth said.
Sudduth praised Carden, who was at the fire, but not injured. “She actually spoke with the softball team,” Sudduth said.
“She showed a lot of courage,” Bolzle added.
Pam Willingham, Greene’s cousin, said Carden — and her mother — also showed courage at the scene of the blaze on Sudduth Road.
“Glida went back in to get the little girls and that’s how she died,” Willingham said. “Kayla then went back in to get the little girls and her mom but the staircase was on fire.”
Greene’s husband Phillip Greene, her son Kyle Carden and her two step-children were not at the house at the time of the fire, according to Willingham.
Greene’s demise was not the only death with which the class had to cope Monday. Bolzle said another senior parent was lost when Eddie Grant Jackson was killed in a car wreck Friday on Ala. Hwy. 278.
Bolzle said another vehicular accident that affected the school was a 4-wheeler wreck in which a senior broke his arm and received several lacerations.
Another senior suffered two alleged “mini-strokes” this weekend according to Bolzle.
“It has been a terrible weekend for us — for our school and community and particularly our senior class,” Bolzle said. “We’ve all been pretty busy trying to meet the needs of our students.”
In addition to the grief counselors from the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home at the school Monday, Sudduth said several area ministers were also on hand.
“They were very helpful,” Sudduth said about the community assistants.
Bolzle said despite the weekend’s tragedies, the community will recover.
“Time will help us out.”