After Terry Cottle’s tragic suicide at the age of 33, he left behind his grieving wife and young children. Despite the sorrow of his passing, Terry’s heart was able to save another man’s life through a successful transplant. However, 13 years later, the recipient of Terry’s heart tragically died in the same manner. Terry, who was already married, met Cheryl, his second wife, and left his previous marriage to be with her. Their relationship began happily as Terry adopted Cheryl’s children and they had a child together.
Despite not completing his high school education, Terry pursued an equivalent qualification and entered the real estate industry. However, conflicts arose as Terry maintained contact with his ex-wife in secret from Cheryl. Eventually, Terry and Cheryl separated briefly due to disagreements but reconciled soon after.
A significant argument in March 1995 led to Terry and Cheryl agreeing to a permanent separation. As Terry was leaving, a gunshot was heard, and Cheryl discovered him holding a gun in the bathroom. Terry was taken to a hospital in Georgia where he passed away four days later. Meanwhile, Sonny Graham, who was suffering from heart failure, received the news that he was a match for Terry’s heart, leading to a successful transplant in South Carolina.
Expressing gratitude for the transplant, Graham started corresponding with Cheryl, Terry’s widow. Their letters evolved into a deep connection, leading Graham to leave his wife of 38 years to be with Cheryl. Despite initial reluctance from Cheryl, she eventually married Graham after her third divorce. The couple combined their families, totaling six children and six grandchildren from previous relationships spread across two states.
Graham, retired from his job, and Cheryl found solace in their blended family. Cheryl reflected on their journey, attributing their happiness to following God’s will and giving generously. Unfortunately, Graham’s financial situation deteriorated, leading to debts and eventual financial strain in their relationship.
Tragically, in April 2008, Graham was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Cheryl, left without any inheritance, revealed Graham’s financial struggles and his efforts to maintain their lifestyle. Despite the challenges, their story reflected a complex blend of love, loss, and unexpected turns.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.