White Hall’s Tammy Chapman doesn’t believe in the existence of heroes, but rather that everyone – if they allow themselves to – can be “an instrument of God” whenever, wherever and however needed.
Nevertheless, Chapman and one of her University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Business and Management co-workers – Lakiesha Long of Pine Bluff – were officially saluted as heroes at a Feb. 1 Pine Bluff City Council meeting. Chapman and Long – who agrees with Chapman’s assessment of the subject – received Pine Bluff Fire Department Heroic Rescue certificates for their roles in enabling 96-year-old, wheelchair-bound Tolbert Woods to escape a Thursday, Jan. 25, fire in his Collegiate Drive residence.
Chapman was driving and Long was as passenger as the two were motoring across campus on a work assignment. Chapman drives through the area almost every day she works, so she’s familiar with the neighborhood.
But on that fateful day, she somehow missed a turn to her destination – the administration building. Then, because of what she believes was “divine intervention,” she missed a couple of opportunities to turn around.
Finally, she drove past Woods’ house twice while changing directions. The women suddenly noticed Woods attempting in vain to roll his wheelchair out a side door and they realized his house was ablaze. They stopped and carried Woods and his wheelchair to safety while also notifying emergency authorities.
Fire fighters soon arrived and extinguished the flames. Woods, who was in shock and had suffered smoke inhalation, required some medical attention.
“God was completely in charge,” said Chapman. “I had never been involved in anything like this and Lakiesha and I were simply reacting. But I know now that God was in control of every move we made.
“When I got home from work, I felt drained. I was so tired, and then I read that fatigue is common after someone experiences an adrenaline rush, and I figured that was what was wrong with me.
“But when things were happening at Mr. Woods’ house, God gave Lakiesha and me all the energy we needed.”
Chapman said she has “no doubt” that the matter was much more than simply being “in the right place at the right time.”
“With God, there’s a reason for everything,” she said, “and I don’t know how anyone could look at what happened and not believe God’s hand was on each one of us. There were just too many coincidences for that not to be.
“I’ve always believed in miracles, and I’m glad God saw fit to let me be a part of this one.”
White Hall, Ar —
