Toraze and Johnnie Mae Davis / Facebook
A Nebraska wedding turned into a day of mourning when groom Toraze Terrel Davis, a man who collapsed after exchanging vows with now-widow Johnnie Mae Davis, died of an apparent heart attack on his special day.
On Juneteenth, Toraze and Johnnie Mae were married for 10 minutes, and when his heart stopped at 4:35 p.m. due to a blockage in his coronary artery that supplies blood, she became a widow within the first hour of their marriage, ABC Omaha reported.
Toraze, a heavyset man, was 48 when he passed away. He is survived by Johnnie Mae and their children.
“She’s been widowed and married in a 10-minute span,” her friend Jewel Roberson.
“Yesterday was suppose to be one of the best days of her life— marrying her bestfriend, her love, her children’s father, her everything,” DaVannis J. Donaldson said on Facebook. “We’ve talked about this wedding, this beautiful wedding for SO long— and yesterday after LOTS of preparation and planning it finally happened … Then POOF.. before her eyes.. and everyone else, hours later— her husband unexpectedly passed away.”
“They never made it to the reception,” Tricia Pugsley, who was booked as the wedding’s DJ, according to The State. “They went to the hospital instead. That’s where the bride, Johnnie Mae, had to say goodbye to her new husband. It’s seriously the saddest thing ever.”
To support the Davis family, friend Monica Miller organized a GoFundMe page to help with burial expenses and funds for the family.
“Those of you that know Johnnie Mae know how beautiful she is inside & out. Sadly, Johnnie Mae unexpectedly lost her husband yesterday on their wedding day. Both Johnnie Mae & Toraze planned on living the rest of their lives together. Unfortunately, Toraze gave his last breath shortly after saying ‘I Do,’” Miller wrote on the GoFundMe page. “We are asking that you donate towards the burial expenses for Toraze and money to help the new bride with their children. As you know, Johnnie Mae always helps others; this is our time to help her. Please Pray for her and The Davis Family!”