Honorees

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Year Honored
2009
Honoree
Glenda F. Tessnear
Agency
Regional One Air Medical Service
Agency City
Spartanburg
Agency State
SC
Last Call
7/13/04
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
"If there is rank in heaven, I think they're the highest ranking people up there; they're angels of the highest caliber," Jim Mobley said. Glenda had been a flight nurse with Regional One Air Medical less than a year. She was excited that a faster way of getting help to the sick and injured had finally arrived in her area. She liked challenges.<br /> <br /> Glenda Frazier Tessnear, 42, was killed in the line of duty on July 13, 2004. She was the flight nurse of a medical team transporting an accident victim from Interstate 27. Upon takeoff, the helicopter abruptly crashed to the ground in the Sputter National Park, leaving no survivors.<br /> <br /> Glenda had been a nurse upon graduating from the University of South Carolina; a career that spanned almost 20 years. "She most recently had been a nurse in the medical center's intensive care unit for newborns; her upbeat demeanor and dogged dependability distinguished her as someone people not only liked, but they loved her," colleague Pauline Scott stated.<br /> <br /> "She always talked about the good news of her patients, but never brought home the bad," said a family friend. She was a true Christian and very dedicated to her job. She was outgoing, caring and she really liked people.<br /> <br /> Honored 2009