In The Loving Memory of Jimmy and Tracy Lambert

Jimmy Lambert and Tracy Lambert were loving parents to two boys, Thomas (14) and Jacob (9).  Tracy Lambert was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. While being treated with her disease Jimmy Lambert was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, plemorphic liposarcoma.  Tracy Lambert passed away 9/26/2019 at the age of 44.  Less than a year later, on 7/13/2020 we grieve the loss of Jimmy Lambert at the age of 43.  The proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the family.

Jimmy has been fighting fires for 25 years.  He has been a member of a multitude of departments.  I know that he served on Chapel Hill Fire Department, Cedar Grove Fire Department and Graham Fire Department.  He was a firefighter’s firefighter.  He helped many and played a significant role in helping the lives of many.  As firefighter’s we frequently underestimate the impact that we have on the lives of others.  Every time that he got on the truck, he impacted the lives of others in a positive way.  He was a symbol of hope and that someone had arrived that would fix what was wrong.  Firefighter’s have that instinct throughout the rest of their lives because of this.  They treat life as if it is something that they can fix.  This urge to act, to fix things, to correct wrongs is even more devastating when you find that there is nothing you can do.  Sometimes things happen that we cannot explain, we cannot fix.     

This is a tragedy beyond words or measure.  There is not anything that anyone can say or do to make it better or to truly know the measure of grief and hardship of the boys as they continue throughout their life.   There is no understanding that can be found, nor comfort that could be had.  Our only hope is to celebrate the lives of both Jimmy and Tracy as best we can.  We can remember the time that we spent together.  We can remember the meals, laughs, tears and joy that we shared.  We can share these with family and friends as we try to process what happened, as we try to move forward in our lives while others stay behind in all but our hearts and minds.

With this sentiment in mind, I ask that you give a gift.  Give a gift of whatever you can.  Also please leave a story.  If you were fortunate to know Jimmy or Tracy, please share a story.  These stories can be read by their children in years to come.  Then they can read these stories and laugh, cry, and remember.  They can build upon their own memories of their parents and see them through the eyes of others.  They can see them not only as the pillars of their family, but also as the pillars of the community.    These collections of stories can preserve the memory of Tracy and Jimmy.  I have seen posts on Facebook of the calls that people ran with Jimmy. I have heard stories told of Jimmy joking around and teasing others.  These are the stories that others should hear.  By sharing these stories, we can know them as they were in life, full of laughter and love.

I attached the obituary for Tracy. Jimmy’s has not yet been written.  You can help by sharing the stories and memories you have.

 

Obituary of Tracy Lynn Lambert

Tracy Terry Lambert, 44, of Cedar Grove gained her angel wings September 26th after a hard fought battle with cancer.

Tracy was born March 16,1975 and was a lifelong resident of Orange County. Tracy was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece and friend. Her smile lit up a room and her laughter was infectious. Tracy’s huge heart and kind spirit spread love to everyone that knew her. Tracy was an honors graduate of Orange High School and went on to graduate from Campbell University on the Dean’s list. After graduation, Tracy worked for Coca Cola Bottlers for a few years and then went to work at the Amerian Board of Pediatrics as a project manager and programmer analyst for 20 years.

Tracy was a member of the Cedar Grove Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and loved to cook for fundraisers to support the firemen and helping organize the paid firefighters. Most of the firemen in Cedar Grove, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough knew how much Tracy loved and respected their profession and she supported them in any way she could. Tracy enjoyed watching her boys play ball and show cows for Parker Farms. She took as many trips to the beach with her family as she could and loved sitting and watching her boys play in the ocean.

Tracy is survived by her husband, Jimmy and her two sons Thomas and Jacob. Also, she is survived by her parents Steve and Nancy Terry of Hillsborough, and brother Steven Terry (Nephews: Anderson and Lawson) of Youngsville. Tracy is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins that loved her. She is preceded in death by her grandparents.