A legendary baseball coach in Macon, Ga. A longtime administrative assistant in South Carolina. They never met, but had a connection: Helping raise me.

Bubber Adams was a Hall of Fame baseball coach whose family stepped in when one of his players, IndyStar sports columnist Gregg Doyel, was living alone as a high school senior.

Gregg's mom briefly lost touch with him after divorcing his father. She'd later learn Bubber's role in Gregg's high school senior year – and his future. "Thank GOD," she said.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Two funerals in the South, 24 hours apart. One in Georgia, the other in South Carolina. Two people who helped raise me. Two people who never met.

Their names: Martha Boynton and Elton Adams .

Only two people in the world had the privilege of calling Martha Boynton what

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