Family and friends gathered Monday, December 16, to honor the memory of Robert Atkinson, Renea Greiner and Michelle Seay, who died in a December 19, 2018, plane crash near the Blairsville Municipal Airport.
Riverstone Medical Campus in Blue Ridge has placed a bench with a plaque on the second floor in memory of the three.
The victims worked within the campus, along with Brittany Whitener, the sole survivor of the crash.
The plaque reads, “In memory of the Riverstone community members we lost on December 19, 2018, and all those deeply affected by this tragedy. Forever in our hearts and minds!”
Dr. Raymond Tidman said, “This time last year those four people were doing what we do here: owning our job, caring for others with real love and concern that we are meeting their needs, helping them solve their problems, and the icing on the cake, bringing them smiles.
“May this bench remind us of this spirit in them. May we occasionally sit on it and reflect on such.”
The four Riverstone family members were on a scheduled flight to look at Christmas lights, but when approaching the airport to land, things went awry. A witness had reported the airplane hitting trees before crashing to the ground.
Whitener said, “I want to thank each and every one of y’all for supporting me. I know Michelle’s daughters lost a mother, Rich lost a wife, and I don’t know if Lisa is here, but she lost a husband.
“I can’t feel y’all’s pain, but like I tell them, ‘This is the new Brittany, and the old Brittany does not like the new Brittany. She hates her. She wants her to leave, but I’m here to stay.’”
She went on to thank everyone at the Riverstone campus and those who have helped her during her recovery.
“A year ago seems like forever,” Tidman said. “We lost four people. I say four people because three went on to life in heaven, one lost her old life and has had to relearn a whole new one. I acknowledge her struggle and grit and her family’s support.”