Melody Story and a William Bowman died after a single car accident on Oct. 31.

Both were employees at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center, with Story working in the dining hall for 18 months, and Bowman working on the grounds since 2007.

“Both of these employees are a very big part of our family,” said Georgia FFA-FCCLA Director of Leadership and Development Todd Teasley. “They enjoyed coming to work, enjoyed being a part of the center, and we enjoyed having them.

“The staff is pretty hurt right now.”

Teasley described Story, an employee in the center’s dining hall, as a hard worker who’s smile always lit up the kitchen.

“She was pleasant and loved to serve food and loved to cook,” Teasley said. “She cared about what she was doing.”
Teasley said Bowman could fix and operate anything in the center’s yard.

“He was very talented,” Teasley said. “He was a very hard worker. He loved what he did.”

The 54-year-old Story, a Covington resident, and the 53-year-old Bowman were traveling from Hwy. 36 and Hwy. 212 headed into Butts County in a black 1998 Honda Civic when the two right wheels went off the roadway.

According to Newton County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Cortney Morrison, the car jerked to the left and the driver overcorrected, sending the vehicle off to the left side of the roadway, down an embankment and into some trees.

Both Story and the passenger were wearing their seatbelts, according to Morrison. Morrison also said alcohol was listed as a contributing factor.