What started as a holiday present more than 40 years ago was returned home.
Ellen Turman’s father gave her a Polaroid camera for Christmas the year before she went to college.
“This was always a really special time for dad at Christmas. He always loved taking pictures,” says Turman.
That morning, she took photos of her parents --Almeda and Elijah Turman -- in front of their tree in Norfolk.
“They really were very much in love,” says Turman.
Ellen stuck the pictures underneath the owner’s manual in the camera case. Over the years she forgot they were there.
Virginia Beach man takes action to find family who lost precious memories
“My parents had been married for 35 years when daddy passed away, and then of course mother passed away in 2000,” says Turman.
A few months ago, Ellen donated the camera and unknowingly the precious pictures of her late parents, too.
“It’s been in there since before 1972 when I went to college. It’s been sitting in there the whole time.”
That’s where David Coleman comes in.
He bought the old Polaroid camera for about six bucks at a Virginia Beach Goodwill.
He came to NewsChannel 3 and we took action to help. There was something about the mystery couple that struck a chord with David.
“They just have that look at each other with connection,” said David.
It was a connection Ellen recognized.
“They always did that. My dad always seemed to, when he was taking pictures, would look at my mother. They really did have a special relationship.”
But when she saw our story, Ellen says it wasn’t how her parents looked at each other that initially caught her eye.
She said the first thing that caught her eye was the paint on her father’s pants.
There were dark green splotches on her dad’s khaki pants stained from painting the house and hours of yard work.
“In fact, I told a friend. I said, ‘Look at the paint stains on the pants.’ I noticed the couple and the Christmas tree. That was it.”
Four decades later, it was a re-gift of sorts, just in time for a holiday that meant so much.
David is glad he could play a small role in this special gift.
“It gives me a warm feeling. It’s kind of indescribable,” David says.
