‘Clubhouse’ gave deputy help, comfort after ‘05 courthouse attack

Little by little, Cynthia Hall has made big strides in her recovery from a traumatic brain injury suffered in the line of duty during the Fulton County Courthouse shootings a decade ago.

Hall gives credit to Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, an organization committed to providing support to people with traumatic brain injuries.

The Clubhouse, a cozy building in Stone Mountain, became Hall’s home away from home — a place to not only relearn basic life skills such as cooking, counting money and using a computer, but also a spot to hang out and socialize and participate in group counseling to help cope with the emotional aftermath of the catastrophic injury.

On March 7, the Clubhouse will put the spotlight on Hall at its fourth annual “Jawbones vs. Sawbones” basketball game and benefit at the gym at Decatur High School. A team of lawyers will square off against a team of physicians at the organization’s annual fundraiser. At the game’s halftime, Hall will be honored with a five-minute video illustrating a day in the life of this remarkable woman, who is determined to help others even as she steadfastly works on improving her ability to communicate, live independently and ultimately grapple with the lifelong scars of a brain injury.

Hall was a sheriff’s deputy on March 11, 2005, when Brian Nichols, on trial for raping a former girlfriend, disarmed and beat Hall after she entered a courthouse holding cell to escort him to court. The beating left Hall with a fractured skull and traumatic brain injury. Nichols used Hall’s gun to murder Judge Rowland Barnes, court stenographer Julie Ann Brandau, Deputy Sgt. Hoyt Teasley and, later that day, off-duty federal agent David Wilhelm at his home. Nichols was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

As Hall worked on her recovery, the Clubhouse became an important part of her life.

Hall, now 61, has worked in the kitchen at the Clubhouse. She has also answered phones and developed lunch menus and grocery lists. More than anything, Hall enjoys the social aspect of the club. Now volunteering at an elementary school and at the Ronald McDonald House, she spends only Fridays at Side by Side.

“I love coming here on Fridays and ending my week this way,” said Hall, clad in a turquoise sweatsuit. “I see my friends, and socialize. Keeps you uplifted.”

Cindi Johnson, executive director of Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, said Hall has established herself as an encouraging presence.

“She doesn’t let anyone stay down,” Johnson said. “If she sees someone have an outburst, she doesn’t shy away, but she goes to the person and comforts them and she tells them: ‘It’s OK, everything is going to be OK.’ ”

Side by Side was created about 15 years ago with $100,000 each in seed money from Emory Healthcare and the Shepherd Center.

The organization serves 100 people annually, at least 60 active members every month. Members hail from across metro Atlanta. The cost of the program is about $135 per day. In some cases, Medicaid covers some of the cost. In Hall’s case, the program’s cost is covered by her workers’ compensation insurance.

Money raised from the annual basketball benefit helps people paying out of pocket cover the costs. The organization hopes to raise at least $60,000 this time.

A leading cause of brain injury is car accidents, but many clients have suffered strokes or have other health conditions. The Clubhouse is designed as a place where members feel like they belong, but can also contribute. Members spend the mornings working in various jobs such as food preparation, clerical work and ground cleanup. In the afternoon, they participate in a wide range of support programs including counseling, helping clients with transportation woes (such as navigating public transportation options, or looking into other resources) and yoga classes.

Hall remembers the morning roll call on March 11, 2005 — the day of the courthouse shootings — and then remembers waking up in the Shepherd Center five days later. She faced several months of medical rehabilitation at Shepherd before returning home.

On a recent Friday, Hall started her day in the business unit at the Clubhouse, answering phones. She then counted the money from breakfast (in which each item is 35 cents) and wrote up a bank deposit. One of the hardest parts of the brain injury, she said, is she can no longer drive. However, her short-term memory has improved, and she has learned to put together her weekly schedule on her own.

In a soft-spoken voice, Hall can carry on a conversation, occasionally pausing to find the right word. Living in Clayton County, she is active in her church and she lives with one of her two adult sons. She can take care of her basic needs, but she can lose focus and forget things like turning off the stove; a home care worker helps her stay on task.

When Hall was asked to pick a song of her choice to be performed at the halftime presentation, she didn’t hesitate to select John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” As members of Side by Side, including Hall, rehearsed the song, Hall felt a rush of happy memories from her past. She also felt a sense of peace about her life ahead.

“To move forward, I had to forgive the person who hurt me,” she said. “I know there is a God out there. If I go back to work, fine, but if not, fine, as long as I am out there helping people.”