Elderly Couple Dies Minutes Apart From COVID-19 While Holding Hands

By Madelaine D. Sep 12 2020, 11:32 AM EDT

A married couple for 48 years died within four minutes of each other, holding hands from COVID-19.

Johnny Lee Peoples, and wife, Cathy Darlene Peoples, passed away 30 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19 at a hospital in Salisbury, North Carolina.

The Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center staff moved the couple to the same room to spend their final moments together, as per The Sun.

Cathy, 65, was first diagnosed with coronavirus a few days before her retirement, their son, Shane Peoples, told WBTV. Shane noted that his mom experienced fever and loss of taste. Then, his 67-year-old dad started showing symptoms two days later.

The heartbroken son said that the couple was placed in the intensive care unit (ICU) after about two weeks, but their condition rapidly deteriorated. Shane noted that before the couple died on September 2, the hospital staff did everything to bring them together.

"The next day, the staff put them in the same room, same ICU room, they put their hands together, nurses gathered around, and passed within four minutes of each other," Shane said.

A socially distanced funeral for Johnny and Cathy was held outside on Wednesday morning, as per Metro. Their son said people should understand that COVID-19 is not a joke and could kill.

"It's not a hoax. I don't want anyone else to be hurt. I don't want anyone feel the grief that we're feeling," Shane noted.

Shane paid tribute to his "loving, affectionate, most caring, devoted, and awesome" parents through an emotional Facebook post. He said that his parents were a "blessing to every person that met them."

"Mom had the most beautiful soul of anyone you could met," he said. Shane described his mom as very generous with the love that her mother had for everyone.

"I'm not sure if my dad ever met a stranger, he could strike a conversation with anyone and make them smile. He went years training youth sports and loved helping these children become better people," Shane said as he reminisced about his father.

According to Shane, the couple loved their family very much, and they did anything and everything they could do for them. He said the couple wants the best for their grandchildren, and they would go out of their way to make their grandchildren feel special.

Expressing his sadness, Shane said he is not sure how he will deal with not talking to his parents every night or not able to send them videos and pictures of his family now that they are gone.

"I'll never be able to hug my parents again. I'll never hear Mom sing happy birthday to anyone. I'll never see them smile when they see Ava and Liam come in the room," Shane added.