| Sources |
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 22 Apr 2007.
Troy Curtis Romines obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 29 May 2007.
Father's memory will be with SCHS graduate
By: J.J. KINDRED, Staff Writer
May 29, 2007
SEVIERVILLE - When Tiffany Romines receives her diploma Friday as a Sevier County High School graduate and salutatorian, it will be a bittersweet moment.
Her father Troy died of cancer approximately three months ago. Although her family didn't expect him to live much longer, it has understandably been a very difficult way to end her high school career.
"It's been rough, especially at night when I think about everything that's happened," Romines said. "I just realized that I need to get back in the swing of things, and that's what Dad would want me to do. My friends have been wonderful, and they're the ones that have been there. They're my rock throughout all this. I don't know what I would do without them or my teachers."
Her father was diagnosed with cancer in July 2006, battling the disease for nine months. It spread to every major organ except his heart, Romines said.
"He didn't say anything about not being at graduation," she said. "He kept telling me how much he loved me and how proud he was of me. He told me he couldn't have asked for a better daughter, and he just kept going on about that. It broke me down.
"Everyone has dealt with it a lot better than I thought they would," she said. "It's been really hard for my mom. She won't sleep in her bedroom at night - she stays in the living room. Other than that, she's gotten a lot better."
Romines will attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and major in elementary education.
"Ever since I was little, I was always intrigued by the thought that children could go into a classroom not knowing one thing and then leave knowing so much more, just from one class," Romines said. "I'd like to be the first one to put knowledge into a child's brain."
She said that it is slowly dawning on her she is about to be a high school graduate.
"Everyone else is like, 'Graduation, whoo!' But that's been the last thing on my mind these last few months," Romines said. "It's really sinking in, and I'm a little afraid because I don't want to leave home - I've been here all my life. But I think I'll be fine with it."
The favorite part of her high school experience has been the closeness of her friends and the relationships she has developed with teachers.
"Growing up in school I'm thinking, how could I actually be friends with teachers?" Romines said. "They're just there throughout the day and give us homework. But then I came here and all the classes were wonderful and the teachers try to be your friend, and that's what I've enjoyed the most.
"They have been a big influence on me, obviously because I'm the salutatorian," she said of her teachers. "Some of them have really pushed me."
Romines said her thoughts will be with her father during graduation.
"I know he'll say, 'That's my girl. She did it!'" she said.
jkindred@themountainpress.com
- [S84] E-Mail, Marie Annette Romines [marie.romines@gmail.com], 5 Jul 2011.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name Bride's First Name Bride's Maiden Name County Date of Marriage File #
ROMINES TROY C MARIE M [NOT GIVEN] SEVIER 09-15-1984 40138
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1988 - (35 years)