A DAUGHTER'S BITTER-SWEET MEMORIES

  • Published
  • By Dania Britt
  • Louisville, Ky.
Via e-mail --  Below are excerpts from a letter sent by Dania Britt, 19-year-old daughter of Tech. Maurice Britt, who was killed, along with his wife, Tech. Sgt. Audra Britt, when a drunk driver struck them nearly two years ago. The letter is in response to an article we printed as the cover story of our March/April 2011 issue of Torch titled "Orphaned." To see the full letter, visit our Web site at www.torch.aetc.af.mil and click on the Torch Talk section.

I live in Kentucky where my grandparents, Dantine and Joyce Britt, and the rest of my family reside. I attend Jefferson Community and Technical College in downtown Louisville, studying to be a phlebotomist. None of my teachers or classmates would ever guess that I've had a ball of disaster roll through my life.

My daddy's name is Tech. Sgt. Maurice Britt, though most people knew him simply as "Reese" or "Cheeks." He was killed by a drunk driver April 5, 2009, in Austin, Texas.

My relationship with my daddy was weird as he was always in another country or another state because of his occupation in the Air Force. I didn't get to see him more than a couple times a year. However, when he was around we had a lot of fun. We would make sure we went to an amusement park, go swimming or do some kind of daddy-daughter time while he was home, which was very special to me. He would make me learn how to work things on my computer while I made him new CDs to blast in his car.

I remember when my daddy and I were riding in his car singing a song together and we sounded so good -- in perfect harmony. Also, we would run around the house hiding behind things to pop out and scare each other. His hands were so big, he could dry my face after coming out of the pool with one hand. The last time he came home, which was in January 2009, Audra (my stepmother) and Nathaniel (my half brother) came with him.

When I heard about my daddy's passing, it was around 9 a.m. while I was getting ready for my second day at work. My grandfather told my grandmother and me that Audra and my daddy were in a bad accident. He then went on to tell us that Audra was in critical condition, and my daddy didn't make it. As soon as I heard that, I told my granddaddy to "stop playing" because I didn't think that was funny. But when I saw him cry, I knew it was real.

I ran down the steps screaming, "Bring my daddy home!"

I didn't know what to do; I was so lost. I had just talked to him the day before and then he was gone that fast. Then I had to tell my daddy's sister (Sheila Webster) and niece (Akeisha Belcher), and that was the hardest news to bear. I heard Aunt Sheila screaming while I stood outside of her house as her daughter quietly cried.

I asked Audra's father (Ronald Lee) what happened, and he said a drunk driver hit them. By the time he said that, I felt as if I couldn't cry anymore because I didn't have any tears left. I told my family what happened, and everyone was so shocked because that was the last thing to come to our minds.

My grandparents were so hurt when my daddy was killed because he was their only son. My grandmamma was so sad, and she always cries when she thinks about him. On his birthday this year, April 12, she told me she just looked at his picture and sobbed. When it comes to my granddaddy, I've never ever in my whole life saw any man that hurt. He and my daddy were best friends. When my daddy was killed, my granddaddy couldn't hold a complete conversation with anyone. That hurt me so bad to see that because Granddaddy is my "superman" and to see him cry was like the world coming to an end.

At the funeral, when the family was walking in, I put my black and yellow graduation tassel in my daddy's hand so he would have his official invitation. As the choir sang "God Is," my granddaddy stood up with my little brother, Nathaniel, in his arms. Nate asked granddaddy if he was sad. When he said, "Yes," Nate responded, "Me too." I think that really touched my grandfather's heart because Nate is so young (now 6, but 4 at the time).

My daddy has missed and will miss some of the most important events in my life because of his death, such as my senior prom, my graduation, my marriage and the birth of my children. ...

One thing I want people to learn from this sad event is that tomorrow is not promised, and you should never take life for granted. Make peace with whoever it may be in your life that you need to, and please don't drink and drive because you never know who you will affect. Nathaniel and I no longer have a daddy, and we no longer have a mother/stepmother because of this tragedy. In the end we only have each other and God.