I am writing in response to an article that was published in The Pilot on July 16, about the “Carthage Preacher.” I truly thought the writer did a good job trying to portray a day in the life of my friend Mark Garner. I just wanted to let the public know that he was not the freaky or scary person that customers of the Carthage Food Lion complained about.

Maybe if they would have took five minutes to listen to what he was preaching, they would have spent less time complaining about him. I wonder what they will find to complain about now? Mark had everyday obstacles to overcome in his life, and I guess he chose to deal with them in a matter that some people don’t understand. In the times that I got to spend with him he was one of the most caring people that ever crossed my life. My friends and I always thought of him as a big teddy bear.

He is no longer with us and I hope and pray that he will rest in peace.

Stephanie Riddle

Aberdeen