Dynamite’s legacy shines brighter every day as his adopted families and friends reminisce stories of his life and unconditional love reciprocally shared. Lauri Ashmore recalls that Dynamite called her “Mom”.
Brandon “Dynamite” Talley died March 14 from complications of sickle cell anemia at the age of 26, two days short of his 27th birthday. He was buried Tuesday at the Fairview Baptist Church cemetery.
The Ashmore’s 2010 family Christmas card was a photo of “all” her children with Dynamite sitting in the middle wearing a Greer baseball sweatshirt. The photo published on GreerToday.com on Tuesday of him in a red sweatshirt was taken at the Ashmore’s house on his 26th birthday.
“I had the privilege of getting to know (Dynamite) about 10 years ago when he was at Greer High School with my daughter,” Lauri said. “Then, when my youngest was there, Dynamite became part of our family. He lived right down the road from us and spent the last two Christmases and birthdays with us.”
Lauri said Dynamite would go with the family to watch her son, Austin, play baseball while at Greer High School and the University of South Carolina. “I loved him just like he was mine.”
The day Dynamite had hip replacement surgery Lauri took him to the hospital and stayed throughout the day. Upon his release Lauri took Dynamite breakfast and lunch daily and drove him to SSI for physical therapy. “I treated him just like he was mine and fussed at him for eating too many French fries and not doing his therapy at home when he was supposed to,” Lauri said.
Lauri said there were no regrets although she wanted to take Dynamite to Walt Disney World. “He never asked, but that was just something I wanted to do.”
There were many other people in the community who looked after Dynamite and “made his life better and longer,” Lauri said. “But, he was ultimately the one that gave me the best gift I could have ever asked for ... just knowing him, and loving him unconditionally.”