CANDOR — A GoFundMe page has recently been launched by Family members of a late Richmond Senior graduate and a Montgomery County deputy.
Last week, Sypraseuth “Bud” Phouangphrachanh, 43, of Candor, passed away at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst after battling the coronavirus, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Chris Watkins.
Following an outpouring of support from Phouangphrachanh’s home community of Richmond County and Montgomery County, where he was a sheriff’s deputy and school resource officer for the last 14 years, his cousin Millie Manivong McElduff began a fundraiser to support his family.
“In our Laotian-Asian culture, we don’t take pride in asking for money or donations,” McElduff wrote on the fundraiser page. “When the community that welcomed our family in those many years ago reached out asking how they could help, we decided to set up this GoFundMe page for Bud’s family.
“These funds will provide some assistance to his family as they process the loss of a beloved husband, father and soon-to-be grandfather.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had nearly $8000 raised. The web page was full of friends and family leaving comments and condolences remembering the late sheriff’s deputy.
Phouangphrachanh leaves behind his wife and five children. He was a 1994 graduate of Richmond and was a member of the football program.
Watkins noted Phouangphrachanh “was known for his big smile, sense of humor and laughter.” He also remembered his former deputy for his dedication to the community’s youth and working in local middle and high schools, as well as being a DARE instructor.
McElduff also wrote that “Deputy Bud,” which he was affectionately known as, was always “working with children, who fell in love with him because of his fun and caring nature. Bud was adored by so many people. He always had a way of making you laugh and never took life so seriously.”
There is another GoFundMe page set up by Tyler Johnson, a family member on Phouangphrachanh’s wife’s side. That page had nearly $8500 raised at the time of this writing.
