OUr family story

In 1994 we were a normal family of four when my husband, Randy, and I received the unsettling news of his cancer.  Stage IV Adenocarcinoma of the stomach lining.  As I have learned to summarize it, life as we knew it changed in a sentence.  In just two weeks following the diagnosis Randy went from being a seemingly healthy 47 year old dentist that was a runner and competitive tennis player active in his church and community to being in a very medically compromised state.  It was pneumonia that actually ended his life just two weeks following his cancer diagnosis. His suffering was limited and he went to Heaven peacefully, which I have always viewed as a blessing for him and a gift to the boys and me.  Randy and I had dated and been married for a total of twelve years at this point and were new parents to three year old, Randall and nearly two year old, Walker (Walker would turn 2 just two weeks after his father’s death).  Fortunately for me and for Randy, we lived a life strong in faith that allowed us to say and do the things daily that we would have had we known our time together was short.  And so, we simply spent those last two weeks loving each other. Randy’s death was our first of two life lessons as a family on the value and fragility of life.  Randall’s death would be the second.

I had resigned from my full time position in the insurance industry on Mother’s Day weekend in 1993 just one year before our world changed. Walker was nine months old. It was a hard decision because I always viewed my work in insurance as helping others but I felt called to be a full time mom.  I had no idea what God was ultimately preparing our family for in the fact that I was home and life could remain stable in the midst of the very untimely event that was about to occur in our lives when Randy died.  I did eventually return to work on a part time basis working full time as life as a single parent allowed me to. Decisions were always based on what was ultimately the best for the boys.  My priority was bringing normalcy to their life and allowing them the opportunity to fulfill all the hopes and dreams Randy and I shared for them when they were born.  And, for the most part, I think I raised two healthy, happy guys. 

Life progressed with my work, their school, and sports keeping us all busy.  We always felt Randy with us thanks to a loving Charleston community that kept Randy’s memory alive for us.  Randy was an outstanding human being (read about Randy) and this was the one thing I had asked of our friends as part of the eulogy I gave at his funeral.   People asked what they could do for me and my response was simply “in the years to come when you see my boys spend some time telling them who their dad was and what he meant to you so that they will know him.” You see that was the tragedy for me. I knew Randy had gone on to Heaven and I could accept his death but it was the hurt I felt for our boys in the loss of such a great role model that conjured up the deepest pain in me.  They would miss the chance to know his sweet spirit. This was our life lesson on the importance of the legacy one leaves.  And, the lesson is that what we are remembered for will likely not be the list of accolades but rather the intangibles we bring to our relationships and the way we treat people in everyday life.  You see when someone has touched your life in that extraordinary way you do not want their memory to fade or their legacy to die with them.  Twenty years plus now following Randy’s death patients and Charlestonians still recall his acts of kindness and share them with us.  This lesson is paralleled in Randall’s death and legacy as we start this foundation to perpetuate his memory.

You already know how Randall’s life unfolded.  Walker’s life proceeded similarly. Walker entered Bishop England High School having received the Roy Barth Tennis Excellence Award at Mason Preparatory School as well. Walker’s USTA Ranking was consistently in the top ten in South Carolina.  He was a top eight Belton finisher every year of competition and a Southern Closed Qualifier in every age group with the exception of one summer when he elected to play AAU travel basketball. He was a three time South Carolina Hard Court Champion, a three time South Carolina Clay Court Finalist, a three time City of Charleston Singles Champion and won multiple City of Charleston doubles titles with his brother. His USTA ranking was as high as 16 in the South. Walker was a two-sport athlete at Mason Prep and Bishop England High School. At Bishop England he lettered in varsity basketball three years where he earned the Bishops Rebound Award as a shooting guard as well as All-Lowcountry and All-Region honors in 2010-2011. Walker was awarded the Tommy Reynolds Sportsmanship Award for two sports senior year as well as being the recipient of the Laura Hoke Skatell Community Service Award and Runey Family Scholarship recipient.  He followed his brother as the 2011 Lowcountry Player of the Year in tennis as an honor graduate in the Bishop England Class of 2011.  Walker has made history four times in his tennis career. Once as a National High School Tennis All American while at Bishop England. And, three times as a member of the Wofford tennis team by being the first tennis player to earn Southern Conference Honors as The Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award recipient, being part of the first doubles duo at Wofford to receive All Southern Conference First Team Doubles honors for an undefeated conference season in 2015, and post- season being the first Wofford Tennis Team Member to receive CoSIDA Academic All American selection.

He signed a National Letter of Intent to play Division I college tennis with Wofford College.  He returned to campus a few weeks following Randall’s death where he walked on the men’s tennis team and earned a starting position.  He realized his dream to play college athletics as a four- year starter for the Terriers earning both academic and athletic scholarships. He entered Wofford a 2011 SC High School League State Singles Champion and South All Star Team Champion having earned National High School Tennis All American designation.  As a Wofford Old Main Scholar he was a Dean’s List student each semester at Wofford including the year Randall died.  He was an ITA Scholar Athlete, Commissioners Medal recipient, recipient of the Wofford Most Pivotal Moment Award for his win over Mercer and a 2012 Wofford Rookie of the Year finalist the year Randall died.  He earned multiple Southern Conference All-Academic Team honors and was named to the All Southern Conference Team at the #1 doubles position his senior season. He served as team Captain.

Walker graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wofford College in May of 2015. He earned a BS degree in Biology with a minor in Computer Science and Emphasis in Computational Science. Through the NASA SC Space Grant Consortium, he completed undergraduate research with Clemson University Physics and Bioengineering Departments on the effects of spaceflight radiation on astronaut physiology. He served as Social Chairman and Alumni Chair for his fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha. He was inducted into the Wofford chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in 2016. Walker was accepted into the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine Class of 2020.  He currently serves as Co-Founder of The Randall Heffron Foundation.  In an excerpt from Randall’s eulogy written by our minister “Walker is one of those angels on earth called by God to the greater distance in this life.”  The depth of his soul is wise beyond his years.

As for me, if my only legacy is that I was an exceptional Mother. That I made a difference in the world wherever my time and resources allowed, that I stood up for my son and other children when it had to be done, and that I cared more about the success of others than I ever did about my own then I will have served my purpose on this earth.

The Walker/Heffron families wish to thank the Charleston Community, The Spartanburg and Wofford Communities, The Medical University of South Carolina family, The College of Charleston family, and The Citadel family for their kindness and support over the last twenty plus years since Randy’s death and in the last years since losing Randall. We are grateful for the support of attorneys who guided us through the establishing of this foundation helping us to find a voice for Randall. We also thank the SC USTA for their love and support in establishing the Randall Heffron Memorial Junior Tennis Tournament.   

We send a special thanks to the officials and coaches who have participated in Randall’s tournament and his life.  Our family by the Grace of God is for the most part thriving even as we ourselves continue to deal with the day-to-day challenges that life brings. Unfortunately, being party to tragedy does not make you immune to life as it moves on.  And so, we must persevere until that day when our work here is complete.  Randy’s legacy and Randall’s legacy which are rooted in Christ live on.  Thanks be to God. May there be a peace on earth that passes all understanding in all the tragedies of this life. May The Randall Heffron Foundation serve as a source of inspiration for that peace.

"May The Randall Heffron Foundation serve as a source of inspiration for that peace."

- Robin Heffron