Community steps up after sudden death of owner

By PAIGE CARR

Staff writer

While Mike Crow’s world has been turned upside down by the sudden illness and death Sunday of his wife Jadina, volunteers have stepped up in a big way to care for Peabody Market, the couple’s investment in Peabody’s future.

Jadina was rushed to Via Christi – St. Francis Hospital in Wichita after she suffered an unexpected brain aneurism Feb. 28, and her husband stayed with her during her final days.

The response to requests for volunteers to help at the store has turned Peabody Market into a scene of true compassion.

Sarah Sears, an employee of the market since January, said her previous knowledge, coupled with everything Jadina had shown her, has been the foundation to keep the store running as smoothly as possible.

“The volunteers have been coming in facing items on shelves, cleaning, stocking, and keeping the salad bar going,” she said. “It’s been a huge team effort, especially on truck day. The support has been awesome.”

Carol Brewer, a Peabody Market employee of 40 years, is also appreciative of the help the store has received.

“Everybody has done a great job of filling in and doing what they need to do,” said Brewer. “That’s one of the good things about living in a small community. You probably wouldn’t see something like this in bigger cities. We’ve had really good volunteers.”

Leroy Wetta, who at one time worked with produce at Dillons, has dedicated time to keeping the produce section up and running efficiently.

“I’m just here to make sure everything looks good,” he said. “I’ve always followed the rule that if you wouldn’t eat it yourself, throw it away.”

Sharon Pickens, a longtime community member and market volunteer, says that she, along with Christina Philpott, spent the better part of Saturday cleaning and doing what they saw was necessary.

“We cleaned the bathroom and all of the glass fronts in the store, including the windows, and stocked and forwarded shelves,” she said.

Pickens also spent time volunteering Sunday and Monday and said that she and Philpott have made it a priority to keep the new salad bar cleaned and stocked, and will continue to do so until no longer needed.

“It’s kind of our little responsibility now,” she said. “It’s something where we now know where everything is at and what is needed.”

After her time spent volunteering, Pickens said she now has the utmost respect for Jadina.

“With everything that just us two women have done, I don’t know how she did it all,” she said. “That was definitely one heck of a working woman to do everything she did.”

Pickens said that volunteers from all age groups have come out to lend helping hands.

“That’s just what you do, you shouldn’t even have to give it a thought,” she said. “That’s what makes it all work and what brings everyone closer together. This speaks well of our youth, middle aged, and older people. It takes a village.”