Baldwin Principal Dies From Flu Complications

[JimO]

Source: http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/...-2009_8-16-pm/

Baldwin Principal Dies From Flu Complications

Pat Peterson

BAY MINETTE, Alabama - A somber Wednesday on the campus of Delta Elementary...students and faculty lost their beloved leader. Principal Leah Ann Overstreet died Tuesday from flu complications. Sources tell News 5 Overstreet was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus before her death.

"She loved that community, she loved those children and did a supurb job in that school and it's a devastating loss to us," says school supt. Dr. Faron Hollinger. "She will certainly be missed."

"She had a bubbly personality and she was always positive," says Delta Elementary teacher Sandy Johnson. "Always greeting every child that came off the bus, she was always wishing everyone a very good day."

The campus is filled with signs of the loss....black ribbons, a flag flying at half-staff and flowers surrounding the flagpole. In the parking lot, Overstreet's favorite spot is roped off and marked with an assortment of colorful roses.

Overstreet is survived by her husband, son and mother. A wake will be held Friday night at First Baptist Church in Bay Minette. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday.

[Pathfinder]

Re: Baldwin Principal Dies From Flu Complications

(BAY MINETTE, Ala.) Oct. 29 - Expressions of grief for Leah Ann Overstreet, the beloved principal of Delta Elementary School are coming in many forms. A black ribbon on the school's sign is one example, but for one woman who grew up with Leah Ann, her mourning comes with a melody.

Carol Taylor found the words and music in just a couple of hours.

"I guess it was just a gift from God, it just came," says Taylor of the song she wrote for her friend Wednesday night. "And I was just hoping that it would be something that the family, you know, could listen to and maybe get comfort from. "

Taylor is seeking comfort too. Leah Ann was her life-long friend. "We grew up here in Bay Minette together, we taught school together, we car pooled together."

Taylor describes Leah Ann as a natural leader with a passion for her family, education and her school kids.

The principal had been sick and hospitalized for several weeks. Her family says she was diagnosed with a sinus infection first, pneumonia and eventually swine flu. Still her death was a shock to Taylor.

"We had heard that she had made some small improvements and then Monday we got the call that they had done and MRI and had not detected brain activity," says Taylor, a former music teacher in the Baldwin County School System.

Leah Ann Overstreet passed away Tuesday.

"Right now she's not having to worry about budget cuts, she's not worrying about having to lay off teachers, or classrooms being crowded, you know, so that's the upside of it. And you know, we'll see her again some day," says Taylor.

A visitation for Overstreet will be held Friday at the First Baptist Church of Bay Minette. She will be buried Saturday.


Leah Ann Overstreet

http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/Family-Holding-Strong-After-Principals-Death/9oR-hClVx0qgOjCKo-KzDA.cspx