1-31-2004 Barrow official pronounced dead, revived, News comes as Commandments lawsuit is argued in federal court
Minutes before a federal judge heard arguments to delay a lawsuit seeking to remove a display of the Ten Commandments from the courthouse in Winder, several Barrow County commissioners were praying for a miracle.
They got one a few minutes later when they learned that Barrow Commission Chairman Walter Eddie Elder was alive.
The 66-year-old Elder, who was hospitalized Thursday night, had been pronounced dead earlier Friday at Athens Regional Medical Center, said Lane Downs.
Then she got a call on her cell phone: Elder, who went 13 minutes without a heartbeat, was alive.
She said that Elder is on life support in the hospital's intensive care unit. "His heart started on its own," she said.
Downs said Elder, who is named in the lawsuit, told his staff and county employees Thursday morning that he would not seek a third term as commission chairman.
Downs said Elder, who was taken to the hospital for tests Thursday night, "had trouble sleeping and anguished over his decision."
Elder was to meet Thursday night with Ten Commandments Georgia, which has raised more than $85,000 to defend the commission's position.
Group member Charley Wysong of Tennessee said the meeting was cancelled when members learned of Elder's situation.
"It has increased our resolve to see this through," Wysong said.
Minutes before a federal judge heard arguments to delay a lawsuit seeking to remove a display of the Ten Commandments from the courthouse in Winder, several Barrow County commissioners were praying for a miracle.
They got one a few minutes later when they learned that Barrow Commission Chairman Walter Eddie Elder was alive.
The 66-year-old Elder, who was hospitalized Thursday night, had been pronounced dead earlier Friday at Athens Regional Medical Center, said Lane Downs.
Then she got a call on her cell phone: Elder, who went 13 minutes without a heartbeat, was alive.
She said that Elder is on life support in the hospital's intensive care unit. "His heart started on its own," she said.
Downs said Elder, who is named in the lawsuit, told his staff and county employees Thursday morning that he would not seek a third term as commission chairman.
Downs said Elder, who was taken to the hospital for tests Thursday night, "had trouble sleeping and anguished over his decision."
Elder was to meet Thursday night with Ten Commandments Georgia, which has raised more than $85,000 to defend the commission's position.
Group member Charley Wysong of Tennessee said the meeting was cancelled when members learned of Elder's situation.
"It has increased our resolve to see this through," Wysong said.
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