When the universe takes away someone we love, the world shifts on its axis, leaving us to navigate the void left behind. In an intimate conversation with Dawn Ward, we explore the vibrant life and sudden loss of her brother, Darrell Collier. Dawn's poignant recollection of Darrell's passions for rock bands like AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, and his fervent sports fandom brings to life the essence of a man whose spirit danced to the rhythm of adventure and outspokenness. Her stories, filled with both laughter and tears, invite us into the sacred spaces of shared memories and demonstrate the enduring bond of siblings.
As we weave through the tapestry of Darrell's legacy, the episode also casts a gentle light on the shadows of grief that fall upon a family after tragedy strikes. Dawn opens up about the emotional landscapes of loss, the places that echo with absence, and the personal steps towards healing. We consider an alternate reality where sorrow didn't touch their lives, pondering how different the world might be with Darrell still in it. This episode isn't just a tribute; it's a heart-to-heart on living through loss and finding fragments of solace in a world forever changed. Join us for this moving testament to love, legacy, and the bittersweet symphony of life.
When the universe takes away someone we love, the world shifts on its axis, leaving us to navigate the void left behind. In an intimate conversation with Dawn Ward, we explore the vibrant life and sudden loss of her brother, Darrell Collier. Dawn's poignant recollection of Darrell's passions for rock bands like AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, and his fervent sports fandom brings to life the essence of a man whose spirit danced to the rhythm of adventure and outspokenness. Her stories, filled with both laughter and tears, invite us into the sacred spaces of shared memories and demonstrate the enduring bond of siblings.
As we weave through the tapestry of Darrell's legacy, the episode also casts a gentle light on the shadows of grief that fall upon a family after tragedy strikes. Dawn opens up about the emotional landscapes of loss, the places that echo with absence, and the personal steps towards healing. We consider an alternate reality where sorrow didn't touch their lives, pondering how different the world might be with Darrell still in it. This episode isn't just a tribute; it's a heart-to-heart on living through loss and finding fragments of solace in a world forever changed. Join us for this moving testament to love, legacy, and the bittersweet symphony of life.
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Joseph Cramer:
On the night of April 15, 1994, 23-year-old store manager Daryl Collier and his crew were working at Popeye's Chicken and Gas in Alabama, off Megan Boulevard. After the store had closed, he and his staff, Tamika Collins, Brant Archer and Nathaniel Baker, were closing up for the night. As Daryl opened the door, two assailants entered. Unfortunately, he, Tamika and Nathaniel, lost their lives during a brutal shooting. The family never spoke to any reporters from the time of the murder until now. This interview has been compiled by phone starting on the day of February 25th of 2023. The final question is being asked on May 22nd 2024. Some names may be silenced for nondisclosure, but these questions and answers are to tell the best known knowledge of the life of Darrell Collier. Listen in with my guest, Dawn Ward. Let's start from the very beginning. As a younger sibling, what was it like for you growing up with Daryl?
Dawn Ward:
Daryl was fun growing up. He liked to cut up. He loved to joke around, have fun. He loved to joke around, have fun. We would sit and watch TV Dukes of Hazzard when we were kids shows like that, that was one he really liked. We would play board games, listen to music, and then you got to remember I was a little girl too when he was a teenager. So there was a lot of times a lot of his friends would come over and he'd be trying to have fun and I was the annoying little sister trying to butt in and he would pick on me a little bit and he would come back and after his friends would leave he'd come back and he would sit down and talk with me and spend time with me and do things. He taught me how to read, he taught me how to write, he taught me how to ride a bike. He really was like a dad to me.
Joseph Cramer:
Before speaking about music, could you tell me his favorite band?
Dawn Ward:
That's easy ACDC and Guns N' Roses. He checked me out of school after the night it was on my birthday and I think, like the night before there was acdc concert, you know and he went to it. Uh, he said it was so cool. I can't remember the name of the concert, but you know he said they come down and like a bell and it went back and forth. That was when they were, you know, hell's bells was playing. He said it was awesome. So yeah, he was a huge acd and Guns N' Roses fan.
Joseph Cramer:
And, in your own opinion, would you have considered him to be more quiet or more outspoken?
Dawn Ward:
No, darryl's outspoken. I can definitely say that If Darryl's seen something that was wrong or if it wasn't right, he'd tell you about it. He wouldn't let his friends disrespect their mom. He would get all over them about it. If he'd seen anything wrong or something that was not right, he would tell you about it. And the reason is growing up, our parents taught us to always let your voice be heard. If you see something that is going on that is wrong, don't let it sit there and happen. There's too much hatred in the world for you to sit there and ignore something bad, and that is what mom and dad both used to teach us. You got to love everybody and make sure you're spoken and vocal about it. And by gosh, he was, like I said, especially with his friends. I know there was one time Mama was telling me that he was one of his friends, was picking on his mom, real bad and Daryl got on to him about it, told him he needed to quit. That was his mom.
Joseph Cramer:
Could you tell me if Daryl was more of an indoor guy or an outdoor guy? Explain to me why.
Dawn Ward:
Darrell was definitely an outdoor person. He was always outside. He would play football, he was playing basketball, he was playing baseball, he was just running around riding bikes with his friends, just always doing things like that. He never really was one to sit in the house and sit on his butt. He, you know, he said there's a world out there, go outside and enjoy it. That's what God put it here for. So that's what he did.
Joseph Cramer:
What is your fondest memory of Daryl?
Dawn Ward:
That would have to be. After I started my period. I was 11 years old. Mom had told him and I think he had just come in from work when he worked at Popeyes on Rainbow Drive. He was standing in the kitchen and fixing him something to eat and I had come in there to get something to drink. He started talking to me about my period and we talked about everything under the sun, you know, and I remember at that time when he was talking to me, I wish he would hush.
Dawn Ward:
I wanted to go to sleep because it was like 2 o'clock in the morning, but he kept talking and we talked until I think it was 4 in the morning, just standing there in that kitchen. And you know, like I said at the time, that drove me nuts. But now that is one of the best memories I've got, because that was Darryl. If he seen you, he would take the time out to sit down and talk with you about what was going on with you. And I took that time with him and I didn't even get to go to school the next day. Mom, let me stay out of school because Darryl was keeping me up talking. So that's one of the best memories that I have.
Joseph Cramer:
I see from his photos that he was in the sports. Could you tell me who his favorite sports team was?
Dawn Ward:
Okay, yeah, Darryl had a favorite sport. He loved football and he was an Alabama fan and he liked the Raiders, and as for baseball, it was the Atlanta Braves and, honestly, I can't remember who his favorite players were, but those were his favorite teams.
Joseph Cramer:
You remember when he started working for Popeye's Chicken?
Dawn Ward:
I couldn't tell you the year, but he was 16 years old. It was his first job and he started working at Popeye on. It was Rainbow Drive and yeah, we stopped by there all the time. We'd go in there and Darryl would give me some chicken and biscuits. Mom would sit there, mom would come by there all the time.
Dawn Ward:
And I know one Easter mother's after he done become manager I think it was shift manager at the time, I can't remember, but mom had made easter baskets and she he wasn't living at home by this time and mom had went up there to give him his easter basket and they started ragging him about it there in popeyes and he jumped their butts to leave him alone. But that was his mama, so he was really protective of mama. But yeah, we stopped by there all the time. I mean all the time dan did, I did dad, mom, me and my boyfriend. We would go in there and sit down and see him. You need to get busy and of course, you have to run off and take care of customers and would you say he excelled at his work?
Dawn Ward:
Yeah, he did. He did very well at his job. He put 100% in whatever he did and he excelled. He put 100% in whatever he did in life and he did very well at it.
Joseph Cramer:
As a family. Did you guys ever go out to Popeye's to eat together?
Dawn Ward:
No, as a whole family we didn't, because mom and dad divorced when I was 12 years old and so me and mother would go up there and have dinner, sometimes regularly, with Daryl. When we lived in Rainbow City we lived over at Columbia Square, so we would go over there a few times and we'd sit down and eat with him. And now my mother at this time did not like chicken, but she would go in there and she would sit down and Daryl would fix her a few things that he knew she liked, so his mama had something good to eat and we would sit down and talk to him.
Joseph Cramer:
Can you tell me about the purchase of his first vehicle?
Dawn Ward:
He was dating a girl named Meeza at the time and she's the one who found it and they went and got it together. And I remember the night before he went and got it he literally could not sleep. He was so anxious. He was ready to go buy that Jeep. That was his baby. After he bought it, that definitely was his baby. He was so proud of that Jeep.
Joseph Cramer:
Dale decided to get married at some point. Could you tell me about his proposal, his wedding and his emotions leading up to that?
Dawn Ward:
Oh yeah, I remember when he got married we had a little grill that mother would grill on and I remember he come and got the grill and I don't remember the exact way he proposed, but I remember he cooked some steak dinner for me and then he proposed to her. They got married at the courthouse. They didn't want to do anything real big. This was in 92. Let's see, I was there, mom was there. I think I think I was there. I think I was there. I think I was, I was there. I can't remember if anyone else was. To be honest with you, but it was a short, quick, sweet ceremony at the courthouse. Oh, and as for his emotions, yeah, he was nervous about proposing. He sat down and talked to me about it. He was excited, but he was really nervous. He was afraid she was going to say no. I kept asking why. He couldn't ever give me a reason why. But he was very happy when him and I got married. He was really happy.
Joseph Cramer:
You remember when he and his wife found out that they were expecting a child?
Dawn Ward:
I was pregnant with Jason when they got married. He was very excited and nervous about becoming a father. He was very excited and nervous about becoming a father. He was always afraid he wasn't going to be a good dad. I don't know why, you know, and I don't know why he thought that. But now you know, after I become a mom myself, you know I get that nervousness when it's your child. But Daryl was great. He was like any typical man. He would pick on her and do things like that, but overall Daryl was great with her. He was really great and then he was a good dad. Daryl was such a good dad.
Joseph Cramer:
As a younger sibling, I know what it feels like when an older brother or sister moves out of the home. How did it feel to you when Darrell moved out?
Dawn Ward:
I was brokenhearted, to be honest with you. You know he was my go-to. He was the one that you know was always there for whatever I needed, no matter how silly it was the little talks and sneaking cookies from his room, where he'd keep cookies at, I'd go in there and I'd get some cookies. He would hide them so my brother wouldn't get into them because he'd have a snack every now and then I'd go in his room and get cookies. I was kind of brokenhearted. Mom explained it was time Daryl was growing up and it was time for him to venture out on his own. She said eventually you'll do it one day. I knew I would, but I just I missed my brother. I wanted him back home.
Joseph Cramer:
Do you remember his feelings or emotions when he reached the goal of store manager at Popeyes?
Dawn Ward:
Honestly, I think his emotions was when he took the store in East Gadsden. That's the one he became manager on. He was excited about the money that he would be able to provide and the things he would be able to do for his family because he would be making more money at that store, because it did more business than the one in Rainbow City, if I'm remembering that correctly.
Joseph Cramer:
Darryl was originally working at Rainbow City, but he transferred to Gadsden. Could you tell me if he was a store manager while he was at the Rainbow City store or if he was a manager in training before he swapped over?
Dawn Ward:
I don't remember how long he was a store manager over at the one in Rainbow City but the one in Gadsden. Sadly, he didn't even make it a week. He had just become store manager. I think he'd been there five days when everything happened at Popeye's.
Joseph Cramer:
On the day of the crime? Do you remember where you were and how you found out?
Dawn Ward:
That day is seared in my brain. I will never forget that day. It was raining and I went out on a date with my boyfriend and I was actually supposed to have been home at a certain time and I called Mom and I told her that I was going to be late. And we rode by and Matt asked me if I wanted to stop and see Daryl, and I said no. And Matt asked me if I wanted to stop and see Daryl, and I said no. Now, oddly, I've thought about this probably every day right after it happened and almost every day since. He asked me to stop by at the exact same time that the, the robbery was taking place. I'll never forget that. But, but you know, I said nope, I'm late, mom's going to be mad, I need to get home. So, and I got home, like at probably about 12, 20. No, I got home about yeah, about it was about 12, 20, 12, 30 when I got home that night. Yeah, I'll never forget that day.
Dawn Ward:
I remember getting up and going to school. They were giving a. We had to give essays. A friend of mine had given an essay on actually capital punishment of all things, and he thought that you know people of capital. You know that committed capital punishment that committed that crime. Families should be able to do what they wanted in return. And everybody's arguing there and I agreed with the guy and for some reason that just stuck out in my mind, I guess because of the irony of what happened. Come home and it was raining and me and Matt were supposed to go out, and we're supposed to go out and do something, but we didn't. We went and had Chinese and then went back to his house and watch movies and then come home.
Joseph Cramer:
Yeah, I'll never forget that day, ever and did you come to the scene of the crime or watch it on television?
Dawn Ward:
No, I was at home. Lauren called, that was my stepdad, and he told his dad who I called Pawpaw, he talked to him and then when they hung up, he was supposed Pop was supposed to tell me and he didn't. And he just said you know, there was a robbery, there was two guys. That was all he said. And I went back to bed and then Lauren come busted in my room. He never done that. I knew something was wrong. But he come busted in the room. He said Don, you got to get up. So I knew something was wrong. I didn't question him. I got up and I walked down the hall Bear with me and actually how my? We started to find out that something was wrong. After Matt dropped me off. He got back home and he called and he says Don, is Daryl okay? And I was like, what do you mean? Is Daryl okay? He said when I rode by Popeye's. He said the ambulance, the fire trucks, the paddy wagon, everything is over there. Something is wrong. I said, hang on, let me go tell Mom. So I go tell Mother.
Dawn Ward:
Mother was working for Guest and Telephone Answering Service at the time and they had security services there so they were always listening to CB. You know the CB radios and things like that. So she called and she talked to the lady there and she said, yeah, something happened. But they already knew something had happened to Daryl because they had heard it over the scanner, but they didn't tell mom. And mom and my stepdad and Dan all got up and went down there and mother standing there and the police chief comes up and he starts to tell mom. He said there's no either way to tell you this. And mama looks at him and says you mean to tell me my son's dead? And he just said yes, ma'am, I am. And there was a picture that was snapped in the gadsden times and you can see my uncle ron. He was a fireman at the time. He's standing there and my stepdad is standing there and then my mother is snuggled, got her head snuggled in between them and that was snapped right after she found out.
Joseph Cramer:
What were your feelings when Parada and Melson were captured?
Dawn Ward:
I was relieved. I was relieved and shocked that they got him so quick. We were lucky Me and mom's talked about this so many times. They got him really quick. You know, if it wasn't for Brian giving the details like he did, I don't know if they would have been able to catch him as fast as they did. But I was happy that they were off the street, that they wouldn't go down to do this to anyone else's families, because four families lost loved ones. And then you got Brian, who was hurt extremely bad. He got shot four times and he was left for dead and he has suffered because of it. So I was very happy that they were gone.
Joseph Cramer:
And two years later, what were your feelings when they were convicted?
Dawn Ward:
I was actually very happy with the conviction of Meltzen getting the death sentence and Perretta getting life without parole. I was very happy. It was relief. My brother and Tamika and Nathaniel and Brian all had their justice. We got to see our justice. We got to see the justice. It took forever. That's the only thing that sucks with the justice system it takes forever, but it finally happened and we were happy. I was happy with it. Yeah, I was very happy with it, very happy did you attend any of the trials?
Dawn Ward:
no, I didn't. I was married at the time and living in Birmingham when the trial started and I couldn't go. Mom went and she was there for a few days and they started showing, you know, the crime pictures and she seen a picture of Darryl. She couldn't go back after that, she was just devastated. She said that was something that she couldn't see no more. So she kept up with it. You know, through the news and through Everyone like that, and I didn't go. Like I said, I was married and I wasn't even living around here at the time. I was in Birmingham but I went to the arraignment. That's the only one I went to.
Joseph Cramer:
How did you feel about the death of Robert Bryant Nelson being carried out and did you attend?
Dawn Ward:
I was happy with it. It gave me closure with it. It gave me closure that day when June 2017, I'm trying to remember, I get dates messed up but when he finally got his death sentence, I sat there that night, you know, and I had the option to go, me and mom and Dan, Jesse and all of us. We decided not to go and then alabamacom reported that I was there and I had to go and get a hold of them and get that fix. Let them know that I was not there.
Dawn Ward:
After it was over and I got the word that Meltzen was gone, I was standing in the kitchen with my husband and two kids and I had a good relief cry and they sat there and held me. It was all years of sadness and frustration and being pissed off and everything just come out in that cry. I was relieved it was over. I was relieved that my mother was still alive to be able to see the man that killed her son come to justice. Fortunately, my dad didn't make it. He passed away before it happened. But, yeah, I was relieved. It was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders.
Joseph Cramer:
And do you feel like Tumoke Parada, not being the shooter but being the inside man with all the knowledge and intent, should have received a heavier sentence?
Dawn Ward:
I've thought about that over the years. I really have no-transcript see a light of day to be able to hurt another family member. No families deserve to go through what we went through, so I'm happy.
Joseph Cramer:
If you could say anything to Pareto right now, what would those words be?
Dawn Ward:
Because of your actions. You took Daryl away from his son and wife, his sister and his brother and his parents. You took Tamika away from her family. You took Nathaniel away from his and you gave Brian ungodly nightmares and destroyed part of his life that he'll never be able to regain.
Dawn Ward:
Honestly, I don't even know if I would say anything to him. You can scratch all that. I don't want to see him. I don't want to talk to him. Scratch all that. I don't want to see him. I don't want to talk to him. Don't want nothing to do about it. I just it's been so hard. You know, next year will be 30 years since this happened, and it's's just. It was so hard for so long. So, yeah, no, I don't want to say anything to him because I can't say exactly what I want to say. I can't get the words to come out of my mouth. Be honest with you. It's a lot of anger, a lot of sadness, a lot of distress. He caused ungodly trauma the only one way to put it to so many people's lives for absolutely nothing, because they were bored. So he don't deserve to hear any words from me or hear my mouth spoken on him. I hope he rots in hell.
Joseph Cramer:
Did you ever revisit Popeye's on Megan Boulevard, either to eat there or gain your own perspective of things?
Dawn Ward:
Actually, yeah, I did. I did several things. One thing I did is after it happened, it was maybe two or three days. Two days later I went up there and I seen Bryant. I talked to him and then about a month later I went to Popeye's because I felt just like I had to see it for my own eyes. You know there were several things I went through just to kind of close it out, you know, to get you know, help me heal several things I had went through just kind of close it out, you know, to get you know, help me heal. I've seen the cooler, I've seen the inside and then what you could see, because there was some boxes in the way. And then I went and seen the the backside and talked to the manager for a little bit and she knew Daryl and we talked about that and I can't even remember that, that conversation.
Dawn Ward:
But as for eating at Popeye's, I've not been able to go back. I tried one time and I had a bad experience with the staff and it was. It was a horrible experience and I didn't want to hold that against them for my reasons for not going back. But but I just I can't eat Popeye's chicken Now other people in my family, my brother, he can eat it and don't have a problem. You know, so can other, you know family members, but for me personally I just can't. It just brings back too many memories.
Joseph Cramer:
For persons and families who have endured the pain that you and yours have and will in the future. What words of advice could you give them to begin healing or making it through the days that are not easy to get through?
Dawn Ward:
Grief is hard, especially when you lose somebody the way we lost Daryl. The best advice I can give everybody is to take it one day at a time. It does get better, but it never really gets easier. And on those really really hard days, make sure you pray. Pray to God and ask him to help take it away, because that's what's worked for me.
Joseph Cramer:
And I have one last question. Paint a picture of how much different you think life would be if this event never unfolded. Imagine Darryl came home to his wife and son that night and none of this ever happened. What do you think Darryl would be doing right now? Do you think you and your mother and brother may be on a different path in life, or do you think you would be exactly where you are now?
Dawn Ward:
I think things would be a lot different because my family was a lot closer when Daryl was alive. We had family functions and did things like that and then, after Daryl died, we had the family functions and things, but it just wasn't the same. There was a big piece of our heart missing. Daryl really was the glue to our family and honestly I think if he was still alive Daryl would be thriving in his life. You know he would be so proud of his son. Jc has excelled in many, many ways.
Dawn Ward:
I don't think mom would have sunk into the deep depression that she did, nor Dan or me. It affected us all pretty, pretty bad. And my dad he actually was sober when Daryl died and dad went back to drinking after that. So yeah, I think my family dynamics would still be really close if Darryl was still alive. You know he never got. He didn't get to meet my kids. You know I become a mother, you know, two months before my 20th birthday with my daughter and then I had my son five years later. He missed out on all that. He missed out on Dan's kids being born later. He missed out on all that. He missed out on Dan's kids being born he's. And I think. I think if Daryl was alive I would probably be able to be happier in my life, because a part of me I got to be honest with you a part of me is missing. I've not really told people that, but part of me died that day that Daryl died.