A man who underwent a heart transplant twelve years back and later on wedded the benefactor’s widow passed on in the same manner the donor did, authorities held: of a self imposed gunshot injury.
No criminal action was assumed in the 69-year-old Sonny Graham’s demise at his Vidalia, Ga., residence, investigators held. He was discovered in a utility structure in his garden with one shotgun injury to the gullet, held Greg Harvey, a special agent carrying out investigations.
Graham, who was manager of the Heritage golf competition at Sea Pines from 1979 to 1983, was bordering on congestive heart collapse in 1995 after he received a call to inform him a heart was accessible in Charleston.
That heart belonged to Terry Cottle, 33, who had killed himself, Coroner Glenn Rhoad held.
Appreciative for his novel heart, Graham started writing notes to the donor’s kin to express thanks. In January 1997, he met his benefactor’s widow, Cheryl Cottle, at that time 28, in Charleston. He believed it was love at first sight.
In 2001, Graham purchased a house for Cottle and her 4 kids in Vidalia. Three years soon after, they were wedded after Graham retired.
From their earlier marriages, the pair had 6 kids and 6 grandchildren spread out across Georgia and South Carolina.
Cheryl Graham, currently 39, has labored at numerous hospitals in Vidalia.
Sonny Graham’s associates held he would be kept in mind for his enthusiasm to assist people.
“Any time somebody had an issue, the first response was, ‘Call Sonny Graham,” held Bill Carson, Graham’s pal for over 40 years.”To him, whether you had a puncture on the highway or your washing machine did not function, he did not even need to be on familiar terms with you to lend you a hand.”
