RSS Feed
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Remembering Harold Lance
Since Harold Lance, 65, of Hayesville, passed away on April 19, 2007, many people have told his wife, Anita, about Harold's good deeds. "What surprises me," says Anita, "is all the good things he did for people that I didn't even know." Rev. Guinnell Hunter agrees with Anita. "Harold Lance was that quiet servant of God named in the scripture as the one whose right hand does not know what the left is doing," she says. "Harold needed no fanfare for his multiple kindnesses. People who needed medication received it whether or not they could pay. "Harold responded to calls for medication at all hours of the night and weekends. Medical equipment was often delivered and assembled in people's homes after the store was closed. "Harold remembered every prescription that each of his patrons was taking. Over the 30 odd years that Harold owned Town and Country Drug Center, his patrons changed doctors multiple times, but they never changed pharmacists. When a customer added a new prescription, it was Harold, not the doctor, who knew which other medication would devastatingly interact with the new prescription. It was Harold who would say, 'You better leave off that other drug while taking this one. You come back and see us, now'
"The people of Clay County have lost a consummate professional and advocate, but most of all, we have lost a friend." According to Anita, Harold had a lot of empathy for other people. He treated everyone equally and with respect. He remembered the names of folks and their parents. Four generations traded at the drug store and he could tell people about their ancestry. "He thought he was related biologically to everyone in Clay County," Anita says with a smile. "If you went back two or three generations, he was related to the Lance family here. His father's mother was a Ledford." A native of Blairsville, Georgia, Harold grew up in a single parent home. He had it really rough and knew how it felt to not have any money. His mother raised the children and wouldn't go on welfare. All the children worked. Harold held various jobs. He picked pepper, made sorghum syrup, laid brick and even dug ditches with a shovel during high school. He attended high school with his sister, brother and mother who went back to complete her education. But Harold never graduated from high school. When he walked across the stage, he held a blank diploma. He didn't have enough hours to graduate. Then Harold attended Berry College. All the students worked to help pay their tuitions. As a freshman, he was assigned to woodworking. That's where he accidentally cut off the tip of his thumb. He returned home and attended Young Harris College. True to his nature, Harold wanted to serve his country and to help preserve freedom. Harold joined the US Army and was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg. He was discharged just as the Vietnam War began. Anita recalls a story about Harold. He won the raffle for a shotgun while in the Army. Harold hitchhiked from Ft. Bragg to Blairsville. "Can you imagine people picking you up now with a gun?" she asks with a laugh. After his stint with the Army, Harold came back to Young Harris College. Then he went to the University of Georgia and received dual degrees in agriculture and pharmacy. Anita also attended the University of Georgia. They got married in 1964 and decided to open a drug store in Hayesville. Harold remodeled Town and Country Drug Center by himself and put up the paneling. One faithful employee of their pharmacy was Dorothy Lee. She recalls when the drug store opened around 1970. "Harold started out in his drug store as a young man," says Dorothy. "He worked very hard six days a week. If people needed medicine, he would come on Sunday and help them any way he could. He was a very caring man, a good man to talk to and help people with their drugs. "I worked for him ten years, never missed many days. All these years, we got along, never had a short word. He was a good man to work for. He and his wife, Anita, adopted six kids: four boys and two girls. That showed love for children. "He gave donations to so many things. He supported Shriner Hospital for Children, VFW and many other organizations. He helped girls during the summer breaks, letting them work in the store. "And how he loved coconut cake and fried apple pies! Mrs. Loving, one of his dear friends, brought him fried pies. He would hide them so we couldn't eat them. We had a good time. "Harold died behind the counter falling to the floor. We believe that was the way he wanted to go. Everyone misses him and he was a good friend to all who knew him." Hub Cheeks says Harold was a good man and a good friend. Their friendship extended 25 years and they served on the board of commissioners in Clay County from 1982 to 1986. "I knew him to be a man of his word, trustworthy in everything he did, would back you up in any situation," recalls Cheeks. "Professionally, he was more than just a druggist. He was more of a doctor. You could ask him about your medical conditions and medicines and he would try his best to relate to you about each situation. I've called him many times at home when my children were sick and especially my mother. "When she would be at the doctor and come home late with a prescription, maybe at 9 p.m., I'd call Harold. He would say, 'Meet me at the store in about 15 minutes.'" "I don't think you'll find many chain drug stores interested in doing that service. He was probably one of the last old-time country druggists that would have an interest in people more than money that would profit him. "The last time I had medicine filled before he passed away, he asked how the county was doing. I spent many times behind the counter talking about different things in life with him. "He was a fine man and it will be hard to replace him. Last week I had to get my medicines filled. It wasn't the same, it was a different time. I do miss him." Sister Jogues recalls that Harold was always available when the Mountain Home Nursing Service needed medicine. He would come any hour. She says Harold was always gentle, kind and patient with customers. It was a very personal service. He would say, "You be good or take care of yourself." "He would choose to die with his boots on," affirms Sister Jogues. "I hope his tradition will continue for years."
Harold Lance has left a legacy. He served his country and county with honor and compassion. He lived the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." We will never forget him.
|
for larger version       |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
)
)
