A lot of awards shows and other programs generally do an "in memoriam" segment honoring those of the trade who passed during the year.

In 2019, we've lost our fair share of loved ones, friends and co-workers in Bedford County.

This week Bedford County Emergency Medical Services and this entire county lost one of its own dedicated emergency medical services workers, Capt. Chris Wrenn. Our hearts go out to his family.

An EMS worker told me once that their field gets very little thanks from the community. May Capt. Wrenn's passing be a message to us to appreciate those who put their lives on the line for us every day. The community will miss you, Chris.

We also lost this year former Bedford County Mayor Eugene Ray. I will always remember him as a man who wanted to help others. His kindness shown to me will never be forgotten. He has let an indelible footprint on this community. Thanks, Mayor Eugene. You are missed.

We have had some die tragically in this town in vehicle accidents. Some cases are still open, pending arrest and or conviction, of the accused. May closure come to these families.

This year, we even lost three of our T-G family: Wilene Sanders Bomar, retired associate publisher; Nina Gay Segroves, retired owner; and Richard Hargrove, a vital member of our press department.

We've also lost many local businessmen and faithful office workers -- those who answered our every question behind a communication system.

We even said goodbye to a few residents who had lives extended past 100.

During this year, we've also saluted several veterans who've passed.

There were even those who spent years educating our children. They are now gone to their just rewards.

Not all of our in memoriam class of 2019 were senior age. We lost some vital members of our community in their 40s and 50s. God bless Jonathan Koonce for a life of joy he's given to his family.

While we love and cherish the time we had with all those we've lost this year, I can't help but think that this class of devoted community leaders and friends would want us to continue to flourish.

The city and county have several projects on the horizon to help our community grow and leave more enduring legacies to those future generations. So it is up to the community, and government entities, to work together in this coming year, so that we can all be the best we can be.

I can still hear in my mind many of our loved ones saying just that, still to this day: let's do a good job and do it right.

Perhaps there are those we should have mentioned in this column, just know that each day we print the obituaries in the Times-Gazette that we think of each and other person in their time of loss.

Writer Cindy Cheney penned these special words: "Time -- like a petal in the wind flows softly by. As old lives are taken, new ones begin. A continual chain which lasts throughout eternity. Every life a minute in time, but each of equal importance."

--Dawn Hankins is a staff writer for the Times-Gazette.