Timothy Samuel ETHRIDGE

1961 - 2017

ETHRIDGE, Timothy Samuel Sept. 4, 1961-July 5, 2017 Tim was found in his Doraville home on Wednesday morning on July 5th by his father after not answering the phone for two days. He lie face down near his bed after having suffered head trauma from an apparent seizure. He suffered from many alcoholic induced seizures in the past, but he did not survive this one. Tim started taking drugs and alcohol when he was in high school, and this had a profound influence on his ability to control himself as an adult. We tried countless times to help by admitting him to treatment centers and having him detained at the Dekalb Addiction Center, but to no avail. Eventually, we all realized there was no way to help him and he could not help himself. We watched in horror as his health declined to the point at which he could barely walk, but somehow was still witty, funny, and full of life. He was exceptionally bright, outgoing, easy to talk to, and had many friends until his addiction destroyed everything he had, including his wife Deborah who was an addict as well. Just as in Alice McDermott's story Charming Billy which was about a man who had struggled with alcoholism and ultimately died due to the disease, our whole family got involved in trying to help him, but nothing worked. If there is a young person in your life that exemplifies these characteristics, try to help them while they are young, because in these cases, it is the only hope you have in rescuing them from this hereditary disease. The Ethridge family is eternally grateful to everyone who helped him in many ways. He was preceded in death by his wife Deborah and leaves behind his parents, John and Edna Ethridge, 3 brothers James, Steven and Michael as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Crusselle-Freeman's Church for the Deaf at 2pm on 16 July 2017 at 1304 Allene Avenue SW, Atlanta, Georgia. If you wish, bring flowers from your garden to lie at the altar table, and consider making a charitable donation to an organization that helps those stricken with drug and alcohol addiction. We could not save Tim, but together we can save other lives.