5 months ago
Share
"I took her out there Friday night so she would be ready to go with them Saturday morning, "Carol Edwards last saw her mother, 83-year-old Maxine Cullum Friday night.
Maxine, her brother 78-year-old Bill Johnson and his 76-year-old wife Eva planned to drive to Virginia for a surprise visit to see a new grandbaby.
Edwards says, "She knew she needed some time away and was looking forward to it."
Relatives say the three left the Johnson home in north Van Buren County early Saturday morning, before dawn. They planned to travel several hours before even stopping for lunch. But when the couple and their guest did not arrive by Saturday night relatives became worried. And by noon Sunday relatives here in Arkansas were also concerned.
Bill and Eva's daughter Karen Howard says, "You know, I was up to midnight Sunday night and nothing yet. And I knew something was wrong then because that's just not them."
By Tuesday morning the sheriff's office was busy sending pictures and descriptions to agencies along the route the three took to Virginia.
Sheriff Scott Bradley says, "None of them carry cell phones. None of these people carry, they don't use credit cards, bank cards, gas cards or anything like that, so it's hard for us to trace them and find where the last place they stopped was."
But by late Tuesday afternoon the three showed up at Maxine's home.
She says her brother Bill and wife Eva were not themselves. Bill may have suffered a stroke.
Relatives took the couple to the doctor for a check.
Maxine's daughter Carol says, "Before we had thought so much about what could have happened to them that we're just relieved that they're home and they're safe."
Authorities advise everyone to consider purchasing a temporary or pre-paid cell phone before you travel just for emergencies like this.
