Remembering Rick

This isn't how I planned on starting the month of December. Most of you know me as the lady that owns Healthy Exotic Gardening, and the lady who studied the "Great Algorithm". or the lady who wrote smile articles.

However, there is much more to Susan Payton that meets the eye. I had the above young man two months before my twenty first birthday. It was the greatest day of my life. I can say that because after thirty six hours of labor, when I held this young man in my arms, it was by far the greatest moment of my life.

He was murdered however, six weeks after his forty fourth birthday, and no matter how many times I go to visit his grave, and I write about his murder or his death, I cannot bring him back.

Above, was one of the more serious photo's I had of my son, and I used it on the fliers after his death to find justice for my son's murder.

Be Grateful For Your Children

So I ask each and everyone of you, be grateful for your children. Treat them with kindness and love and patience.

I Would Like To Remember My Son Rick And To Share It With You

Be prepared to have a slide show, and follow along with me as I remember the life of Richard L Jacobs Jr.

Yes, Rick was known for his incredible smile, and he was helpful even as a toddler.

This was Rick holding one of our dogs, we called Budpuppy Rick always loved dogs from the time that he was born, and all our dogs seemed to know it, and found a place on Ricky's bed to sleep.

This was Rick at 3 1/2 years old, after he had a long long day of play. He was even beautiful as he slept.

Rick was four years old here, posing with his Christmas gifts. He always had that incredible smile. He smiled that fateful day that he walked out my front door for the last time. He looked back at me and smiled and said, "I love you too Mom".

This was Rick's Army picture. I did not want hin to enlist, but he decided it was best for me, for I had just maried his step-father. I wish he would not have enlisted, for he ended up on the front line of Desert Storm in a heavy artillery unit, and came home with a severe case of PTSD.

This was Rick with his step-daughter, he loved her very much, and again that great big smile.

This is one of my most favorite pictures of Rick (his family called him Ricky), and it is again how I remember him, defined by that great big smile.

This was a photo of my son and myself, when he was managing the Waffle House and he took time out of his busy morning to have a photo taken with his Mom on Christmas morning. He was just one of those people in this world, that you just wanted to spend time with, even if it was eating and watching him cook breakfast for customers. I was lucky enough to be his mother for 44 years.

This is a photo of Rick, when he was home on leave after basic training and AIT and before he shipped out to Germany. From there he would be deployed to Saudi Arabia and then to fight on the front lines in a heavy artillery unit.

He recieived three bronze stars and the metal of valor for his service in the Gulf War. He was never proud of what he had to do in those battels and in fact he threw some of his metals away, saying they had blood on them. He was truly scarred by the experience. I believe they call that PTSD.

This was a photo after Desert Storm was finally over, they treated the soldiers to a well deserved R&R on a cruise ship, My son sent me this photo. and again even after all he had gone through he had that smile he was well known for on his face.

This was a photo of Rick in the seventh grade band, where he played the trumpet. He tried hard at everything he did. He was on the honor roll throughout school - grammer school through graduation of high school.

This picture of Rick and his wife Mandy and his step-daughter Riley.It would indicate that Rick would have finally found happiness of his own.

This picture was taken at the Baltimore Aquarium.

This little girl was the apple of my son's eye, which he died trying to see this little girl, he referred to as his little princess.

I would not normally post pictures of children except that this little girl was 3 at the time this photo was taken, she is 15 years old today and this photo looks nothing like her.

This was his Senior picture from high school, and again he had that great big smile. He was handsome, if I do say so myself.

This was Rick's graduation picture with his cap and gown, and of course that incredible smile. He graduated with a 4.0 average, and the Presidential Academic Achievement awared upon his graduation from High School. He also participated in dual enrollment courses in his senior year of high school where he erned college credits for English and History.

This was a photo of my son and I when he was home on leave from the Army after he came home from basic training and AIT. He ran his final test on broken ankles because he wanted to give it his best and graduate. They had to take him to the hospital, because he collapsed after he went over the finish line, but he finished what he started and graduated. It was a testament to the spirit he always had.

All We Have Left Now Is Pictures

I know love can hurt sometimes, but it shouldn't have cost him his life. Perhaps he was truly his mother's son, for I would trade my life for him to have just one more day on this earth.

Perhaps, his step-father put it in words, "All we have left is pictures now, and they are cold and flat, and you can't feel his heart beat when you hug them".

I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL.

"We would like everyone to know that everyone that has lost a child to horrific circumstances ----

"YOU ARE NOT ALONE"

"YOU ARE NEVER ALONE"

This article was published by my wife, Susan Payton on Medium on November 30,2024.

.