Officials deserve big thank you

With the manslaughter trial of my ex-husband, Michael Batchelor, completed, I would like to give thanks to the Aiken County Solicitors Office and the Office Of Victims Services. These people have been a part of my life for the past 2 years. They are family to me.

County Solicitor Barbara Morgan has been so great to me and my family. She and her staff have gone above the call of duty. They deal with so many cases every day, but never did I feel like I was just another file on a desk of many. Barbara, her staff and Angela Key from Victims Services never met my boys, but you would think they had watched them grow up.

Before the trial in Barnwell, S.C., over the Sonic drive-in shootings, Barbara called me about 7:30 p.m. the Sunday before that trial was to begin, just to let me know that she was thinking about me, and promised me that we would have our day in court, too. How this woman could even remember me when she was facing a murder trial the next morning is just amazing.

Barbara's assistant, Stephanie Powers, would listen to me scream, cry - you name it, she caught it. She was just great, though, and always told me that it was OK, and to call her any time. On my boys' birthdays or on holidays, I would call crying, and she would listen to me.

Angela Key of Victims Services never left my side throughout the trial. I know she had a hard time trying to hold back tears. Over the past 2 years, she has been there whenever and however she was needed.

Also, Lewis from Victims Services - who was there for my sons' friends Jared, Justin, Stuart, Ben and John - has really made a difference in those boys' lives. As I write this, he was taking them all for pizza. Recently, a couple of the boys came by my house and talked about how "cool" Lewis is. I would like to thank him for being there for them.

Also, thanks to Cpl. Tony Bell of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. After the wreck, he came by and checked on my daddy and me often. He didn't have to do that, but he did. After Judge Jack Early passed sentence, I hugged Tony and thanked him for everything that he had done, and he looked at me and said, "It wasn't just the gray and blue." I didn't realize at first what he meant, but I know what he was saying now: Being a police officer isn't just wearing a uniform.

Judge Early will forever be in my heart. He reminded me of my daddy: strong and stern, but the gentlest soul.

All of these people need to be recognized for the difficult jobs they have to face every day. But I thank God for each and every one of them. They will all forever be a part of me.

Thank you.

(Editor's note: The writer is a North Augusta, S.C., resident. Michael Batchelor was sentenced April 20 to at least 30 years in prison on 10 charges stemming from the 2002 automobile accident that killed his three sons and injured three of their friends.)