I met Hershell when he arrived in the Sacramento Division and since his squad was located next to my squad, we would always say good morning to each other.  We usually got to work around the same time with me getting there a couple of minutes before him.  He would open the door and I would peek my head over my cubicle and yell at the top of my lungs "Hi Hershell" and wave.  He would go set his stuff down on his desk and then come and talk to me and Linda for a bit before starting his day.  We would talk about our families and he was always so proud of his children for their academic achievements and of Gloria for her professional achievements.  His interactions with us were hilarious and he tried desperately to make Linda use her filter when telling stories.  Those of you that know Linda will know that he was climbing an uphill battle but regardless, he placed a coffee filter between my desk and Linda's desk and advised her to use it.  Linda would often get the "Hershell look of disgust" which made me laugh...every single time.  Hershell would wear this one type of cologne and it smelled really good so I asked him what kind it was, he told me so I went out and got some, even though it is a guys cologne.  I didn't say anything to anyone but the first time I wore it apparently I put on a little too much and walked into the office and Linda kept looking around thinking Hershell was walking by.  Finally, she said where is Hershell, I can smell him but I don't see him...I giggled like a little kid when she realized it was me and not Hershell.  I'm not going to be able to wear it for a while but when I do, I will remember a great man.  Hershell also introduced me to Wing Stop chicken wings...lemon pepper to be exact and I went by a Wing Stop yesterday and my eyes filled up.  Hershell was always the first one to step up when someone was needed to represent our office and we accompanied him to Gloria's school for a career fair last year.  He represented our office well and was a fine FBI Agent and always very professional.  Hearing the door to our office click and looking up and not seeing Hershell is going to be difficult.  I hope we all can gain comfort from the happy memories we all have of Hershell so we can get through this difficult time and to pray for Gloria and the girls so they can have peace and strength now and always.  In closing I just want to thank Hershell for being in my life and know that he made a huge impact on everyone he met.  Rest in Peace my friend....

Hershell and I first met when we were both around 10 or 11 years old in Kayton Homes in Savannah.  My late brother, Terrill's best friend lived close to Hershell's family and while he visited Ronald, I would often go upstairs and play with Hershell on the porch because he wasn't permitted to go elsewhere most of the time.  That porch was only about 4 feet wide by about 6 feet long but, in those moments, it was the whole world for us two little kids.  

Hershell might have had to stay on the porch but he had great toys, more toys than I could've ever imagined, or so it seemed back then.  We imagined so much of what we might be, dreaming dreams a couple of project kids from Savannah had no right to consider.

We didn't go to the same high school but our little red brick crew still stayed in touch. We all headed in different directions for college  -- Hershell close to home and me far up north.  After my move to California, our times at home intersected less and less until what we heard of each other was only through the grape vine. I heard most of my Hershell news through Clinton or Raphael. 

Years passed and word finally made it to me that Hershell had been living here in California and not too far away.  We reconnected and had the occasional lunch or coffee -- but the demands of work, family and everything else in-between kept us on our each of our metaphorical porches -- friends at a distance.

When our friend Clinton came to visit Hershell, we all got together and I brought my son and we just hung out -- in the house, in the back yard -- and talked and reminisced. I remember asking him about the trampoline and other toys out back and remember him talking about how the kids no longer liked playing with them, preferring to go to the park up the street. It made me think back to that porch in Savannah were we played and saw how he had strived to make a safe, fun place for his kids and give them something more than we had back in our days in Kayton Homes.

That was the last time that we saw each other, and unfortunately now, he's gone, Clinton's gone and I'm somehow still here.  None of it makes sense and it really hasn't connected with me yet that he is gone.  

Unfortunately, our family has suffered its own losses so we have some sense of what you might be feeling so we send our love, support and prayers to the family.  

Love, Gary and family