The memory of Linda Gail Hendrick was relived today with the rededication of a garden in her honor just two days shy of the 10-year anniversary of her attack by a student.
Teachers who once worked with Ms. Hendrick, members of a scholarship committee in her name, her former principal and even the physician who cared for her after her attack attended the ceremony at Murphey Middle Charter School, in Augusta. They held a moment of silence, recalled Ms. Hendrick’s “beautiful spirit” and then opened a restored memory garden in her honor that was moved to the front of the school so all can see.
“Her memory does live on,” said Pauline Andrews, who worked with Ms. Hendrick at Murphey Middle and was an original member of the Linda Gail Hendrick Scholarship Committee.
On Nov. 22, 1999, Ms. Hendrick, a Murphey Middle teacher, was attacked by then 14-year-old special education student David Drayton. She was stabbed 70 times with scissors and suffered severe head wounds. She remained in a semicomatose state until May 31, 2007, when she died at age 59.
Her case led to a 2000 change in law allowing someone as young as 13 to be tried as an adult on a charge of aggravated battery. Mr. Drayton’s case was initially handled in juvenile court. After Ms. Hendrick died, he was sentenced in superior court to 20 years in prison on a plea negotiation to a voluntary manslaughter charge.
The garden named for Ms. Hendrick today was originally dedicated in 2000 to the side of the school but later fell into disrepair as those who had been teachers with Ms. Hendrick moved to other schools. The garden now has a marker, benches, new shrubs and flowers and will be maintained by the school’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America.
“It’s a lovely garden,” said Dr. Eleanor Hopson, who was Murphey Middle’s principal at the time of the attack, noting how Ms. Hendrick’s attack “was a sad day.”
Michael Felz, the doctor who cared for Ms. Hendrick for seven years after that, told the group he came to know his patient as “my teacher Gail Hendrick.”
“I have received far more than I ever invested in this case,” he said, noting that despite her condition Ms. Hendrick held on strong for many years, making little steps that to many seemed impossible.
He noted how his son would play a guitar for Ms. Hendrick on occasion “and she seemed to tap her foot to his serenade.” He also mentioned how she enjoyed eating ice cream and pudding even though she wasn’t expected to have the capability to swallow.
“There were miracles – small ones, but real ones along the way,” he said, adding that Ms. Hendrick’s legacy is to love one another. He said Ms. Hendrick had moved to Augusta from Florida to take care of her parents, but ultimately they did so for her.
He said that a dented set of tiles in the school conformed to the shape of Ms. Hendrick’s head remains. But today, he said, the renewed garden was a reminder of how tragedy can be overcome.
“Now look at what stands in honor of Gail Hendrick,” he said, motioning to the garden. “...I’m delighted to celebrate victory in seeming defeat.”
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I recall that horrible case and am glad that her attacker got a prison sentence(its a pity that he couldn't get more time for what he did to that lady). I hope that he does every single day of the time he was given. I also hope that the school maintains her memorial garden and doesn't allow it to fall into neglect once again.
I worked with Gail at the time of her attack. Everyone working at Murphey Middle will never forget the afternoon of November 22, 1999 just days before our Thanksgiving break was to begin. Gail was a wonderful, caring person who dearly loved her students and her work. May she rest in peace and may justice be served.
Everything isn't always what it seems.