Photo: Mary Majcunich-Beasley
In April 2005, seven months pregnant and just finishing her shift as an air traffic controller, Mary Majcunich-Beasley got into an elevator on the 12th floor of a Georgia airport. But the elevator jolted to a stop before the first floor, and she smelled something burning. The building was evacuated, planes were suspended from landing, and she was rescued by firefighters who climbed to the top of the tower and put out an electrical fire in the shaft. Mary believed that rescue might have saved the life of her daughter, Malia, who was born that June. This month, Malia, 17, finished high school, and over penne pasta, peanut butter blossom cookies and cake, the family thanked and hugged that firefighter - Raymond Sikes, now deputy chief. In the fall, Malia will begin studying criminal justice in Montreat, N.C. “I guess I’ll see you at college graduation next,” Sikes said. “Expect that invite,” Mary replied.
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