Dylan, Brittney and Mason Daugherty shortly before Brittney passed away in July 2018 (courtesy of the family)
HANCEVILLE – A memorial ride for Brittney Daugherty was held Saturday to help raise money for her family. Brittney was just 22 years old when she passed away in July from cardiac arrest. Married just a year, Dylan and Brittney Daugherty welcomed their son Mason just two months prior to her death.
Dylan is a volunteer fire fighter for Dallas-Selfville Fire and Rescue. Brittney was a first responder with the department. The young couple attended many training classes in Hanceville and built strong friendships with many at Hanceville Fire and Rescue.
Saturday’s memorial ride was organized by the Blount County Regulators Motorcycle Club. Maurice “Pops” Cooper is the president of the Regulators is a retired chief of Dallas-Selfville Fire and Rescue.
Pops shared, “I was chief when Brittney first joined the department. She and Dylan were both teens when they began volunteering. When I heard of Brittney passing away, we wanted to help.”
The ride began at the Hardee’s in Pinson. Close to 100 bikes were registered with approximately 150 riders. Guardians of Alabama joined the Regulators and other riders as they rode through Kimberly, Warrior, Hayden and Dodge City, ending in Hanceville. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office provided escorts.
During the ride, Brittney’s friends and family assembled at Hanceville Fire and Rescue. Members of Dallas-Selfville joined Hanceville in organizing a barbecue and spaghetti lunch, raffle prizes, auction items and a 50/50 raffle.
Brittney’s father and step-mom, Lee and Kristie Payne, arrived with several other family members.
Lee Payne said of his daughter, “Brittney had complained of not feeling well, but she had just had a baby. She and everyone just figured it was fatigue. I was asked that morning to come pick up Mason. While I was heading to their house first responders were being sent to the house. We administered CPR and got a heartbeat. She was taken to the local hospital and due to some weather issues they did not want to fly her to Birmingham. Finally medevac out of Cullman agreed to fly. She passed away a week later.”
Kristie Payne added, “Brittney had let it be known that she wanted to be an organ donor. Her organs were donated, saving the lives of six or seven people. That’s an amazing gift.”
Dylan’s father, Keith Daugherty, described Brittney: “She was like my own daughter. She was a wonderful young woman and a great mother. We are so appreciative of the outpouring of support for our families. She and Dylan were more than high school sweethearts, they were best friends. He loves and misses her so much. They hadn’t had time to save or plan for something like this.”
Dylan and Brittney graduated from Locust Fork High School in 2014. Classmates since kindergarten, they began dating their junior year. Dylan became a junior firefighter and Brittney started as a secretary at the fire department.
Dallas-Selfville Chief Sean Miller said, “Brittney will be forever missed. She was a loving, caring mother that had such a glow about her everywhere she went. We are one big family at the department. We will be here for Dylan and little Mason.”
Miller continued, “I want to thank everyone who contributed to this event. The Hanceville Fire Department for allowing us the use of the station and the Blount County Regulators for organizing the ride. So many businesses and individuals donated, and it’s been a great show of support for Dylan and Mason.”
Keith Daugherty sent an update saying, “The event raised $3,000 for Dylan and Mason."
Donations can be sent to the Locust Fork branch of Peoples Bank of Alabama for Dylan Daugherty.
The money raised will help pay for final expenses and to help Dylan and Mason.
Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
