New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc./Southern Airways 242 Memorial Page

Please be in prayer for two of our Southern 242 Family Members, Cathy Cooper and Lee Collier 1. Catherine (Cathy) Cooper, a brave flight attendant and a heroine of Southern Airways Flight 242 on April 4, 1977, is under Hospice care and gravely ill. She has been suffering from a fast moving form of Parkinsons Disease (MSA) Multiple System Atrophy the last few years. Please say a prayer for Cathy and all of us who know and love her. She was instrumental in saving lives and comf...orting those families who lost loved ones in this horrific crash. Even though it must have been difficult for her, she always took time to answer questions and tell her story of that awful day with such admirable poise. Please pray for her, her family, her friends in this most difficult time. Cathy, you touched us all. 2. Lee Collier, a passenger and survivor of Southern Flight 242 defied the odds and endured the task of recovery after the crash of Southern 242. His wife, Brenda, has informed that Lee has been battling prostate cancer the last seven years. After his last scan three weeks ago his doctors said there is nothing more they can do for Lee and they recommended hospice care. The cancer has spread to his bones, lungs, and lymph nodes. Lee is very weak, and as you can imagine, Brenda is heartbroken. They have been married since she was 17, shortly after the crash. She, her sons, and hospice are caring for Lee at home. She has asked for our prayers. Please cover Lee, Brenda, their family and friends in this difficult time. Be in prayer for comfort, peace, and ‘safe journey’ for both Cathy and Lee, as well as their families and loved ones. Lift up these two members of our Southern 242 family, along with the entire Southern 242 family, as we once again prepare for farewells. Our hearts are heavy. We had no picture of Lee to attach to this post, but Brenda was kind enough to include a couple in the comments. Take a moment to look at those. Cathy’s picture with her husband, Steve, is attached to this post. Stay safe and in prayer for these two very special people who met aboard an airplane fated for a devastating crash and a place in history. They both wore the title of 242 Survivor with great grace and dignity. (Credits to Frederick Clemens, a Southern 242 survivor, for keeping us informed. He has done an incredible job of keeping in contact with all of the people touched by, or involved in, the crash of Southern 242. Thank you, Frederick, for ALL of your efforts!) Bonita Erwin Secretary New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc.

Due to circumstances and timing, we will not be having an official memorial service this year. We are nearing our goal and continue working toward building the Memorial for Southern 242 and the New Hope community. We are still accepting donations toward our goal; you may send donations to our address listed on this page. We anticipate a groundbreaking announcement soon. Thank you for your efforts, your patience, and your donations. We could not do this honorable thing without you!

The Board of Directors of New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc. extend our sympathy, thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the passengers and crew of the Saratov flight which crashed on Sunday. The Antonov An-148 plane was carrying 71 passengers and crew when it went down shortly after takeoff from Domodedovo Airport, outside Moscow, en route to Orsk, on Sunday. The disaster ended a 440-day streak without a commercial passenger jet fatality, which was the longest such stretch in modern aviation history.

The Southern Flight 242 community was deeply saddened by the loss of one of its precious members. The family of Sadie Marie Foster (Burkhalter) is holding a Celebration of Life gathering at Rodney's BBQ in Dallas, Georgia on Feb. 10th at 11 a.m. (Eastern). There will be an opportunity to share stories prior to the meal. (Attendees are responsible for their own meals.) If you'd like to share a few words at the celebration, please message Stanley Burkhalter.... In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted for The Summit, the faith-based residential addiction treatment facility for women, where Sadie completed her internship prior to earning her master's degree in counseling. For many Southern Flight 242 families, Sadie was our first contact for comfort and information after the crash on April 4, 1977. Grieving family members and grateful survivors flocked to Sadie’s home searching for comfort and peace following the crash which left large airplane pieces, burned debris, and both injured and deceased passengers and crew in her yard. Many survivors were taken into her home. Sadie turned no one away and helped in every way she could. Even 40 years later Sadie was still helping comfort families. Sadie Marie Foster (Burkhalter) was born on February 10, 1939, and passed away on December 22, 2017. We will all miss her in the days to come. New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc. sends our love and prayers to her family. If she comforted you, a family member, or a friend, please consider a donation to The Summit or to New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc. in Memory and Honor of Sadie Foster (Burkhalter). Donations to New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc. will result in her family being sent a letter informing them of your kind donation, and you will be sent a tax deduction letter of receipt. You can contribute through PayPal, here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/ Checks can be made to: New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc. Georgia Heritage Bank Attn: Sheila Pickett P.O. Box 1430 Dallas, GA 30132 Please keep Sadie’s children, family members, and friends in your prayers. Bonita Rogers Erwin Secretary, Board of Directors New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc.

With the 40th Anniversary Memorial in the books as a total success, it is time to get back to fundraising. We have plans to send donation request packets to employers and organizations who lost an employee in the Southern 242 crash. We would like to do some fund-raisers in other communities and states. HAVE A GOOD IDEA FOR A FUNDRAISER IN YOUR AREA? Please pass your idea on to us...we'd love your help!! Get involved and help us reach our mission goal! Contact us thru PM, or call Bonita Erwin (Secretary) at 205-529-2341, or email us at [email protected]. Visit our website at southern242.com. Jump aboard and join our team as we reach our goal!!! All ideas and thoughts of fundraising are considered and appreciate. Use our PayPal link to send in your donations today!!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Memorial Service last Saturday. As April 4 approaches, please keep the survivors and victims' families in your prayers as another milestone is reached. And please remember to donate to our Memorial Monument mission. So many people find closure, peace, comfort, acceptance from the efforts of New Hope Memorial Flight 242 Inc. Please join us in bringing peace to those touched by the fateful flight of Southern Airways Flight 242. Your donation is tax deductible!

On behalf of New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc. I invite each of you to join us for the annual Memorial Service for Southern Flight 242. The service will be hel...d at New Hope First Baptist Church, 31 Bobo Road, Dallas, GA 30132 at 11:30AM on Saturday, March 25, 2017. Survivors' Reunion and lunch reception for all attendees will follow in the Fellowship Hall. The Memorial service is dedicated to the memory of the 72 lives lost and the lunch reception is dedicated to the honor if the 21 survivors and the families and friends of the victims. You will be able to see our plans for the monument planned for construction in New Hope and learn about our progress in fundraising and ways you can help. We look forward to seeing each of you there! See more