IN GOD WE TRUST
WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Our 32nd Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 34 • August 22, 2024 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
Honoring the legacy of their precious ‘Liv’ - the Hallmans are giving back By Jean Gordon.
our actions, and speak their name highly Five years ago on June 25, 2019, Josh and often,” said Abrams, who never met and Deana Hallman of Ellenboro received Olivia, but said she feels like her personality the most horrific news of their lives. Their and spirit are now familiar and undeniably 16-year-old daughter, Olivia Jordan Hallman, present everyday Donna Hallman volunteers was killed in a car crash on Bostic-Sunshine at Washburn. Highway. Deana said their daughter was such a “It was the most horrible day of my life,” special person for her age and was one who Deana said. It was the telephone call no never met anyone she couldn’t talk with. parent ever wants to receive. Their lives “Nana would take her to Walmart, and she were forever changed. always spoke to people making Nana slow Olivia (Liv) was a senior at East Rutherford down and enjoy her trip even with Nana High School and had plans to go to Wake bribing her with Doritos to eat,” Deana said. Forest University. She had a passion for “I cannot express the love and thanks animals, the arts and was an advocate for I have for my family with the support they mental health. She wanted to become a give me and Josh on this journey. We don’t psychologist and help veterans. Her dreams always chose where life takes us but we were big. chose how we respond. Choose kindness Some of Liv’s friends and those who knew and humility; love strong and hug more, you her best, spoke at her funeral and told how never know when it might be the last one.” their sweet friend was always there for the The Hallman family volunteer at Washburn Outreach Community Center on Olivia’s birthday, August 1. The day Deana’s telephone rang at work person who needed it the most on any given and the caller told her no one knew where High School’s arts program. The second year, the Hallmans Liv was, changed the family’s life forever. day. She was sensitive to their needs, yet did not realize the impact she had on their lives. Friends and made gift bags for residents at Fair Haven in Bostic, on the Liv’s life was short, but she will forever be etched in the teachers spoke of her giving and loving spirit. She always third anniversary the family donated Toys for Tots during a hearts of her parents, grandparents, siblings and others. Christmas in July event and the fourth year the family held They are carrying on the best way they can as they honor thought of the other person. She was loved by her parents, her sister Nikki, her a yard sale for the Heart of the Foothills. her legacy by helping others. Last year Deana made the conscientious decision to paternal grandparents, Harry and Donna Hallman; her WCOC volunteer Dot Abrams added, “And this is how aunt and uncle, Cassy and Jordan Hallman; cousins, move the day of “giving back” to August 1 to honor Liv on you keep their light shining… even years after the loss. Darren, Logan, and Finn Hallman; her uncle and aunt, her birthday instead of the day of the tragedy. This is how you fill that hole in your heart with light. Donna “I don’t want her to be remembered when she died, Hallman, Olivia’s grandmother, “walks”with me every week, Chip & Michelle Hoppes; her cousins Zech and Bash; and I want her to be remembered for how she lived and on this journey of having to ‘live on’ without the physical her aunt Lorie Givens. Carrying on the legacy of their precious loved one, Liv’s celebrated life. How she loved the people closest to her so presence” family made the decision to honor her life by helping others fiercely and those that knew how she touched their life in Forever, the Hallmans will remember their Olivia aka and making a difference in the world. In doing this they whatever small way that was,” said Deana. “Liv, Livy Lou, Sweet Pea” as she was fondly nicknamed. So just recently on August 1, the family honored Liv by Her light will continue to shine in and around those she could continue to see the light of Liv in the world. The first year of her passing, the family planted apple giving back to the community at the Washburn Community continues to touch as she is remembered for her giving, trees on their farm and donated money to East Rutherford Outreach Center (WCOC) where her grandmother Donna loving and fun spirit, her acts of kindness and service. Hallman is a regular volunteer. Liv herself was a volunteer in the WCOC’s thrift store. “The entire Hallman clan decided to volunteer, all donning t-shirts with her name and a quote from Gandhi - ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world, ’ said WCOC Executive Director Lindy Abrams. “They not only collectively brought a pallet of pet food that was distributed to pantry clients in a matter of hours, but served the entire distribution, covering all the heavy lifting, packing, and bagging, clearing out our food storage.” Deana said, “Giving back is so therapeutic and healing because to know that you can help someone else is a great blessing, because I know in my darkest period there were so many...They didn’t always know it, but some days I didn’t think I could make it that day and I would receive a random text from one of those people and that was what I needed to get me to the next step.” People don’t always get to choose the paths they are on, “but we do choose how we respond,” she said. “This is how we carry those we’ve loved and lost through our lives - be the legacy, be the change, carry their greatest attributes forward with Family members packing food boxes. The family donated a pallet of pet food for any clients with pets.
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