Thursday, January 13, 2011

Tragedy Strikes Dedicated DB Congress Rep in Kentucky

Dedicated Dierks Bentley fan, Larissa Faye Branham, 33, of Glasgow, Kentucky died Jan. 12, 2011, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville after an accident at her home. 

Larissa's mom, Cheryl, posted the following on Facebook.  (David is one of our dedicated DB Congress reps in Larissa's home state of Kentucky):
David, My name is Cheryl Branham. Our daughter Larissa spoke of you often about you attending Dierks concerts. I remember you taking the time to come over and speak to her at the re-opening of the Opry. Larissa has passed away from a tragic accident here at home on January 12. We are going to play a song by Dierks at her funeral. Would you please let others know about this? Dierks has lost a HUGE,HUGE fan. Her father and I are struggling, but some of our best memories are taking her to his concerts. Please pray for us, she was our only child. This is all so unreal. I know she is in heaven singing all those Dierks songs and able to dance around without her wheelchair. Much love to all.
We are deeply saddened by this tragic news.  Many DB Congress reps had the pleasure of meeting Larissa in person and many knew her through chatting on Facebook.  I first had the pleasure of meeting Larissa in 2006 at my first Dierks Bentley Fan Club party in Nashville and met her several times after and once when Dierks performed the Opry.  She loved Dierks and supported him tirelessly.  I will never forget her smile and sweet personality.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the Branham family. Larissa will be greatly missed.  She was an important member of our DB Congress family.

The visitation is Saturday after 2:00 p.m. and funeral Sunday, the 16th, at A.F. Crow And Son Funeral Home in Glasgow, KY. Aternate expressions can be made to Spina Bifida Association or BRAWA, Barren River Animal Welfare Association, the animal shelter for Glasgow, KY.

On behalf of the DB Congress, we are sending flowers and donations to the Spina Bifida Association and BRAWA.  If you would like to contribute toward flowers, please email me at Ronna@dbcongress.com.  For donations toward either of the charities in Larissa's name, please email Molly at mvasey@rochester.rr.com.  She will split the donations between the two charities.

I hear people talk of heaven
And how it's only for the precious few
But in the book that I've been readin'
Sounds to me like there's a lot of room
So I bet some folks are gonna be surprised
About who makes it to the other side 'cause in the


Heaven I'm headed to
There's a place for preachers, thieves and prostitutes
Saints and soldiers, beggars, kings and renegades
For any soul that ever found amazing grace
Ain't no tellin' who on earth He might include


In the heaven I'm headed to
It's not my place to say
Just who does or doesn't get to go
I'm only one among the many
Stumblin' down that narrow road
There's so many things in this life to love
And I believe there's hope for each of us 'cause


And the only thing I know
We all get the chance to go


Saints and soldiers, beggers, kings and renegades
Any soul that ever found amazing grace
Ain't no tellin' who on earth He might include
In the heave I'm headed to
The heaven I'm headed to
The heaven I'm headed to
~Dierks Bentley, Brett Beavers, and Paul Nelson

22 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness. What sad news. Four of us had the the joy of hanging with Larissa at LCB in 2009. What a fun time we had. My heart goes out to her family. ~ SweetCaroline

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  2. Prayers to her family and friends during this rough time. Too much sadness in 2011 already. :(

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  3. So sad to hear this. Definitely sending prayers to her family. :(

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  4. So sad to hear this. Not sure what God's plan is but I hope it includes some happiness for someone.

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  5. Very sad to hear of this, I never met her, but wish I had. Sending lots of love and prayers to her family and friends!

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  6. How sad. My heart and prayers go out to Larissa's family, friends, and loved ones. :(

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  7. I am so so sorry for her family...we really are a family here at the DB Congress and it hurts to lose a member. My heart is broken and I am sure Dierks will be too. God Bless You all of Larissa'a family and friends...I will think of her at the next Dierks concert I go to.

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  8. So sad. I never met Larissa but reading about her passing brought tears. God Bless Her Soul and prayers for her family. Also, very nice Tribute. Thank You for posting.

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  9. Prayers and healing thoughts going out to Larissa's family. Reading of her passing brought tears to my eyes, also. While I never met Larissa, she's very familiar to me from the DB Congress.

    In sympathy,
    Jill aka Dearpie

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  10. I never met her but talked with her on Dierks website and facebook and it saddens me to hear that she passed away. My thoughts and prayers go out to her, her family and her friends. She will be missed by everyone at Dierks.com

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  11. Prayers for Larissa's family, so a sad lost of a fellow DB Kentucky congress member she will forever be in my heart, thoughts, and prayers♥ May you Rest in Peace and dance to the sweet sounds of Dierks music up in heaven!!

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  12. May you Rest In Piece Larissa, Prayers to her family. Dierks may have lost a fan but has gain a beautiful ♥Angel♥ who is dancing to his music in heaven. The KY congress will miss seeing your shining smile and gentle heart!!

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  13. My heart is breaking from this news. I meet Larissa at her first fan club party and hung out with her that night. We meet up at other fan club parties after that. The last time I saw her was at the Opry in Oct. at Dierks' last concert for "Up on the Ridge". She loved Dierks and his music so much. I was with her when she got her wheel chair signed by Dierks. I know she will be dancing in heaven now to Dierks' music since she wasn't able to on this earth. Like Ronna said, she was always smiling when I saw her. I will miss her clicking me on when I'm on facebook and asking me what is up with me. I'm so sad...... My prayers go out to her mother and father.

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  14. So saddened by this news. Never got to meet her but had the opportunity to chat with her through FB and DB fan club. My prayers are with her family.

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  15. So very sad. I, also had the pleasure of meeting Larissa through the DB fan club parties. My heart goes out to her family during this very hard time.

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  16. This is so sad to me. I will miss her. Ann Tate and I chaperoned Larissa on her very first LCB about 5 years ago. She was a genuine, sweet girl that was just thrilled to get to meet Dierks. She so enjoyed being out that night "on her own" and was beaming. I have kept in touch with her over the years and met up with her at more LCB trips. My thoughts and prayers are with her loving parents and family. She will be greatly missed.

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  17. Such sad news. I never had the pleasure of meeting her in person. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.

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  18. I am sorry to hear about this. I remember seeing her pic while surfing through the DBC site... I will pray for her and her family. I am sure she will have a stage front seat from now on. God Bless! gigi6598-NJ Rep

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  19. Thanks Ronna for posting this. It is so very sad. I remember seeing her at LCB 5. I remember thinking how happy she looked just being there. I feel like we have lost a member of our family. My thoughts and prayers to her parents. I cant imagine what they muct be feeling. Kimmiejo

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  20. Thanks everyone for your heartfelt sentiments and thanks to those of you who are sending contributions. Here is the flower arrangement I ordered:

    http://www.ftd.com/5360/catalog/product.epl?product_id=S28-3178&rv=1
    ~Ronna

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  21. http://www.ftd.com/5360/catalog/product.epl?product_id=S28-3178&index_id=occasion_sympathy_forservice_flowers&parent_index=occasion_sympathy

    Try this link.

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  22. Larissa will be so missed at the concerts, LCBs, and online, chatting about Dierks and lots of other things. She had such a beautiful smile, too.
    Thanks to Ronna for ordering this beautiful arrangement!

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