05/15/2026
My heart is broken 💔 as my stepDAD has gone to Heaven. He passed away peacefully on May 13th but I couldn’t think about sharing a post with the world 🌎 because I couldn’t even make the right words come out. My mind has been in survival mode. My heart has been too.
Jeff Tallent was a GREAT MAN. He stepped 🚶🏽♂️into my life when I was just 16 years old. He instantly treated me as his own. He has NEVER treated me or any of my siblings like we was “STEP“ Anything… 🫶💯
Jeff Loved My Momma Fiercely and with his whole heart. 🧡 Even after they divorced they stayed together and became the BESTEST of FRIENDS. 👫They was a true team & My momma Loved him just as much.
There was never a dull moment with Jeff around either. He lived in a household of almost ALL WOMEN! 🤣He enjoyed being the listening 👂 ear for all our problems. You could ALWAYS depend on JEFF.…
If you ever needed a ride, 🚗 no matter the time or the reason, he was there... If you got into some trouble and needed bail money 🫣 he was there… If you needed somebody to just agree with you and take your side on something, he was there…. If you needed somebody to go to the skating rink, the movies, ride rides with at Lake Winnie, go to the pool with or to just take you to get some good grub …. Guess what?….
“HE WAS THERE“…. 💯💯💯
I am so selfish y‘all! I know this because I wanted him to be here with us longer. 29 years in my life just wasn’t enough. (See how selfish I sound) But when I got the message to hurry and come if I wanted to see Papaw on his last day, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I knew I had to get there. I have anxiety extremely bad and Death is the trigger. That alone literally shakes me to my core.🌀 Jeff and my momma helped me get thru a dark place before when another very close family member passed away. He was right by my side thru it all. I know he won’t be here to do that for me again. I knew that… So I prayed on my way up to see him and I went in and I stayed. I pulled up my chair 🪑 right there beside his head. I rubbed his arm and said all the things to make sure he knew, it’s ok. I told him how proud I was of him, how great of a Dad he was, how Amazing a Papaw he was and how strong 💪 of a person he was throughout this journey.
Pancreatic Cancer is evil. It stays silent slowly killing you until it hurts so bad you go to the Hospital. That’s when it’s almost always, To Late….
It’s Not fair, but life never said it played fair.
My Momma is so lost right now. I have never seen her like this. Her house was once filled with parties and loud laughter is now still and quiet.
Ava (My Little Neice) was Papaw‘s world 🌎 and she sure knew it. He was her BFF & Ride or Die partner in crime. Lol 👫
Kayleigh Angel McGraw was his dependable 1! He knew she’d pull up anytime he needed her to and always had his back! 💯 Papaw could do no wrong in her eyes 👀… They was absolutely 2 peas in a pod. 👫
Then there is my brother, Brandon. The only boy for a longgggg time. 😬 Jeff helped guide him from the time he was 8 years old til now. He was there to show him how to do All the manly things us women can’t teach. And he would always be there for him through thick and thin, good times and bad. They was real close. The Men was outnumbered so sticking together was a must! 👊 They had a Dad & Son bond that’s for sure. 💯
He had a special bond with all of us in different ways. He never walked by without saying hi to everyone. He wanted to make sure everyone felt loved and seen. ❤️
He told me …. “IT DOESN‘T TAKE BEING BLOOD TO MAKE YOU FAMILY“…. And he proved that over and over for 29 years. 💯🙌 👏👏👏
We discussed my temper and I made a Promise to bite tongue a little more and hear people out, but I know (and he knows😬) I may Lose My S**t 🤦♀️ from time to time. What can I say besides I AM A WORK IN PROGRESS…. 🤝
Papaw Check on us from heaven too, if you can…. And I promise to help Momma and Ava get thru these hard times. 😞 Please still come down on the holidays as we will save your seat for you. 🪑Just know we‘re going to be talking about YOU (and probably crying 😭 ugly tears) in all our conversations. Why you ask???? Because…. You wasn’t just somebody to us YOU was a VERY SPECIAL, ONE OF A KIND MAN to ALL OF US. ❤️
And lastly Jeff….. I appreciate you helping me to stay calm as I was rubbing your arm to comfort you while you transitioned into eternal life. You knew my trigger & we got through it together….. 🙏🫂🪽
I can’t wait to see you when it’s my turn to go to Heaven 😇🪽✨ so I can once again wrap my arms around your neck 🫂 and say…..
I LOVE YOU “DAD“….. 🥹🫂❤️🩹
You fought one hell of a fight 💪 & YOU WILL FOREVER BE MISSED! 😭
I LOVE YOU PAPAW, FOREVER ♾️ AND 2 DAYS….. 💔🪽🪽
