Toraze Davis’ heart unexpectedly stopped right outside the church, just minutes after he exchanged wedding vows with his beloved Johnnie Mae.
An Omaha woman is honoring her late husband on the anniversary of his passing, which also marks their wedding anniversary.
On June 19, 2023, Toraze and Johnnie Mae Davis had just said “I do” when they stepped out of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Omaha, planning to capture the moment with family photos.
At 4:35 pm, the 48-year-old groom’s heart stopped, as reported by local news on KCCI-TV. The cause of death was later revealed to be a blood clot, according to 3 News Now.
The American Heart Association explains that blood clots are often dangerous. They can travel to arteries or veins in vital organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and limbs, potentially causing severe complications such as heart attacks, strokes, organ damage, or even death.
Symptoms of a blood clot in the heart or lungs could include chest pain, shortness of breath, and upper body discomfort affecting the arms, back, neck, or jaw, indicating a possible heart attack or pulmonary embolism.
The CDC estimates that 60,000 to 100,000 Americans die every year due to blood clots.
Johnnie Mae recalled to 3 News Now, “Everything was going fine until we went outside. He was there, he went through the whole ceremony. His last words were, ‘Johnnie Mae, I love you, I’m sorry.’”
“And I told him, ‘It’s okay. I love you too.’”
A year later, Johnnie Mae gathered with family, including her daughter with Toraze, and friends to celebrate his life.
“I feel good. I mean, it’s a celebration of life and love. It’s our anniversary, so it’s not a sad day,” Johnnie Mae said while holding a poster that displayed photos of Toraze and read “Happy Anniversary.”
“It was a dream wedding. It was something. He told me, ‘Pick whatever you wanna do,’” Johnnie Mae shared with 3 News Now. “I dressed him. I dressed us.”
Despite the tragedy, Johnnie Mae remains resilient. “It’s a happy day to continue to keep going,” she said, mentioning that her family set up a GoFundMe after Toraze’s passing. She has since started a business, a dream she and Toraze often discussed.
Her cousin, Tiffani McCowin, expressed that “we’re still in disbelief” over Toraze’s sudden death. “This is not an ordinary situation, and so it’s a shocker,” Tiffani told 3 News Now. “Family is all you got. Treasure and cherish the memories and moments you get to spend with them.”
