SUMMERDALE, Ala. — As an athlete and a business man, Siran Stacy has seen his share of success.

On the football field, Stacy gained fame as a running back for the University of Alabama from 1989 to 1991 under legendary coach Gene Stallings. He was a two-time all-SEC player for the Tide before a knee injury cut his senior season short.

He was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1992 and played in NFL Europe from 1995-1997 and in 2000.

Following his playing days, he had success in the business world, working with Hometown Lenders, Countrywide Home Mortgage, Wellsfargo and Costal Community Bank.

But on Nov. 19, 2007 Stacy’s world was turned upside down when his wife, Ellen, and four of his children, ranging in age from 2 to 18, were killed in an auto accident involving a drunk driver.

“I don’t recall that moment,” Stacy told a standing-room-only crowd at the Central Baldwin Chamber Prayer Breakfast Wednesday, May 5 at Baldwin EMC in Summerdale. “All I remember is waking up and being left to deal with this tragedy.”

In fact, Stacy said, because of the nature of his injuries, he had to be told over and over again of the loss of his family. Over the next few weeks he attended the funerals of his wife and the two children they shared, then later the two children from a previous marriage, all the while having to be reminded of where he was and why he was there.

“You deal with a lot of bitterness,” he said. “If you don’t deal with the bitterness, there is no way to heal.”

But prayer, he says, brought him back from the brink of death himself. Prayer helped him overcome his injuries, both physical and mental.

The journey thusfar has not been an easy one, Stacy said, recalling a speaking engagement he attended about a year ago.

“I had finished with my talk and I was watching a ventriloquist perform on stage when I received a text message,” he said.

Despite being chastized by the unknowing performer on stage, Stacy said, he excused himself and found a quiet place where he could deal with the pain that text had caused him.

Later, while others were standing up giving their testimony, Stacy said, he felt compelled to stand up and talk about the message.

The message, he said, involved his daughter, Shelly, now 7, who, along with Stacy, survived the accident.

“You see, Mother’s Day was coming up,” he said, “and the text message was from Shelly’s teacher. The other students were doing crafts for their mothers and the teacher wanted to know what she should do with Shelly.”

Stacy said the room in which he was speaking became silent, much like the crowd in Summerdale as he was recalling the story.

“I told them and I’m telling you that you better be glad you’re not me,” he said, “dealing with what I have to deal with.”

Stacy’s message also included hard words for those in attendance, espcially those in law enforcement and political leaders.

“The Bible teaches that we should love everyone and not hate anyone,” he said. “But what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong and we have to start upholding what is right and not what is wrong.

“We are seeing things now in our country that 40 years ago, they never thought would happen. When the number one cause of death in this country is not cancer, not heart disease, but abortion; and when the number one criminal offense in the country is not murder or robbery, but DUI, we have to examine ourselves and start to step it up.”

Prayer, now more than ever, is what is needed in our country, Stacy said.

“We may not agree with where our politicians stand, but they still need our prayers,” he said. “We need to fear God and hate evil. There is no in between.”

Opening prayer for the event, which was held in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer Thursday, May 6, was given by Baldwin County Sheriff Hoss Mack, followed the National Anthem by St. Patrick School student Logan Anthony.

The event was concluded by prayers for our nation offered by pastors from local churches, including the Rev. George Sedberry, Robertsdale United Methodist Church, the Rev. Jim Batchelor, Loxley United Methodist Church; the Rev. John Schell, Harvest Church; the Rev. Mitch Nelson, Bethel Baptist Church; the Rev. Jeff Hunter, Grace Fellowship Baptist Church; and the Rev. Jeff Copeland, First Baptist Church of Robertsdale.

The closing prayer was offered by the Rev. Alan House, First Baptist Church of Silverhill.

Sponsors for the event included:

Diamond sponsors: Baldwin EMC, Power Productions and Regions Bank.

Gold sponsors: Sheriff Mack, Bryant Bank, Campbell Hardware & Supply, Mack Funeral Home and Riviera Utilities.

Silver sponsors: Bay Wood Products, Citizens’ Bank, Golden Living Center, Robertsdale Healthcare Center and Vision Bank.

Bronze sponsors: CARE House, Franklin Primary Health Center Inc. and the Town of Silverhill.

Speaker sponsors: Mack Funeral Home, Billy’s Seafood, Furniture City, Johnson, Slaughter, Elder & Northcutt CPA, Robertsdale Feed, Seed & Supply, Gruenloh & Associates, business Information Solutions Inc., Robertsdale Air Conditioning & Heating, Ace Home Center, Regions Bank, Sweat Tire Company, Baldwin Tractor/Robertsdale Rent All, Racine’s Feed, Garden & Supply, Loxley Auto Parts, and Vision Bank.

Ministry related volunteers represented at the event were The Baldwin County CARE House, Saving Grace of Baldwin County, Women’s Care Medical Center, Alabama Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, Youth Ranch of Baldwin County and The Lighthouse.