Roxboro, NC – The Person County community is mourning the death of its emergency chaplain, who died Wednesday afternoon after a long battle with COVID-19
Merritt Buchanan spent about two weeks in Duke’s ICU battling the virus, while the community sent out prayers.
Unfortunately, the man remembered as a pillar of the community, lost that fight.
A long entourage of mourning first aid escorted Buchanan’s body from Duke Hospital back to Person County.
“It is just testimony that the first respondents in Person County would like to pick you up at midnight and bring you home,” said Ralph Thompson, Director of EMS Chaplains.
He considered Buchanan a good friend.
“In his retirement, he served you faithfully by serving the first respondents and people who were in crisis in Person County. And he did it with the zeal and energy of a young man, ”added Thompson.
The 72-year-old man served as chaplain to volunteer firefighters, hospitals and the police department.
He served as a ‘light’ for those with COVID
During the pandemic, he became a light for many COVID-19 patients, praying for them and their nurses.
“We were struggling daily to care for people who are sick with COVID. As I watch him die, I wonder who will share those words of encouragement now to help us, “said Pattie Hatcher, who worked with Buchanan at Person Memorial Hospital.
Hatcher said he never met a chaplain as concerned and caring as Buchanan in his 30 years as a nurse.
“He was one of the greats. He really was, ”she said.
High school teacher, hospital comforter, volunteer on disaster scene
Jermaine Wallace, one of his high school students, remembered him, saying, “He was there for everything, no matter what. Be it going to the hospital to visit people, appearing in a disaster scene or just greeting you when you walk into a restaurant. That’s what a lot of people in the community are really going to miss. “
According to many who knew him, he was a true servant who will never be forgotten.
“What we’re going to see in the next few days is exactly how many lives he touched,” said Thompson. “I believe in your life, your legacy will continue to touch many lives only through your memory and inspiration from others. “
The family is preparing a memorial for him, but there are no plans yet.