Note from CEO Melanie Lawrence:
This is the part of the magazine where you would typically see “A message from the CEO.” As you may have noticed over the past few months, we’ve been sharing our Every Step Matters safety campaign — each month focused on a reason why safety is our top priority: for the ones we serve, the ones we love, and the one we lost. December is a solemn month for us at the cooperative, as we take time to reflect on the loss of one of our own.
I had the privilege of meeting Brandie and Brandon Hale, parents of our fallen lineman, Blake Rodgers, for the first time recently. Brandie shared that she was ready to tell her story — one filled with heartbreak, love, and an important message that reminds us all why every safety step truly matters. In dedicating this month to Blake, we felt it was only fitting that this space carry “A message from a mother” instead.
A message from a mother
Blake Douglas Rodgers was my firstborn — the one who made me a mom. He gave me purpose, taught me patience, and fueled my drive to work hard and be better. In life, he taught me; in passing, he still does — every single day.
Christmas was Blake’s favorite. He loved the lights, the decorations, and the joy in the air. That joy feels different now. Two days before Christmas 2022, a tragic work accident took a piece of our hearts. Since then, December has been a month we brace for: His stocking hangs empty, his gifts stay wrapped, and the memories of that day flood back. What was once a season of excitement is now filled with reminders of planning a funeral instead of a holiday and listening to his last call echo through our minds.
Blake was one of a kind — never fake, always unapologetically himself. He made friends everywhere and could talk to anyone. Warm, funny, and full of life, he had a huge heart and wasn’t afraid to say “I love you,” even to someone he’d just met. Becoming a lineman fit him perfectly. When he started lineman school, he was afraid of heights, but he faced it head-on. That was Blake: fearless, determined, strong-willed. He loved the work, the brotherhood, and the pride of keeping the lights on. His dream was to one day become a helicopter lineman. He had such a bright future ahead. On December 23, 2022, at 10:20 a.m., Blake’s life ended, and ours changed forever.
I love all my children with every piece of my heart, but I never understood how deep that love ran until I lost one. Losing a child feels like a part of your heart has been torn away — a million pieces that never quite fit back together. You don’t realize how much someone fills your life until they’re not there: the empty chair at dinner, the sound of his truck in the driveway, the Friday night calls, the laughter. Those small, ordinary things are where grief — and love — live.
Our world will never be the same. There will always be an empty seat and a missing piece of our hearts — a wound that never fully heals, and a love that never dies.
As a mother, my plea is simple: Let’s choose safety every time — together. When you see crews, please slow down and give them space. Treat every downed line as if it’s energized and call it in. Keep children and pets away from work zones, and report hazards when you spot them. During storms and outages, your patience helps our teams do the job the right way. Every action we take matters and can change a family forever. Safety rules exist for a reason; they’re written in the names we love, including Blake’s. Thank you for standing with us so every employee — and every member — makes it home.
Do it for Blake. Do it for the ones who love you.