Fierce, loving, protective, vibrant, simplistic
She stood at only 5’4”, but Tiffany MacGregor wasn’t the type to be lost in a crowd. Don’t let her height fool you. She was larger-than-life–a bold personality with looks to match. She fiercely protected others, especially an underdog, and knew the side comments and silly faces to induce laughter. Her fiery strawberry blonde hair made her stand out more so and when the sun hit it, she seemed to glow.
Tiffany became even more vibrant in the outdoors. She loved hiking in the woods, jogging along the beach, or settling next to the campfire. She played in chilly waters, even when told not to, and embraced goof-ups while learning. When Tiffany learned to bike ride, her first trail started on an incline, which would’ve been no problem if she hadn’t forgotten about brakes. She howled the entire way down, cartoonishly sticking her legs out.
Friendship and family were synonymous for Tiffany. She and stepsister Kristen met at eighteen and were inseparable, earning them the nickname “the twins.” Tiffany constantly visited Kristen’s apartment, and Kristen stocked her freezer with pizza rolls because Tiffany loved them. She also loved spending time with her niece Nyomi and fell into giggles whenever they played. Then there was Alex. He was Tiffany’s best friend since age eight, but they were more like siblings. Because he had a troubled home life, he often came over for weeknight dinners. Tiffany was his safe haven, he trusted her completely, and they always defended each other. He even let her straighten his hair and do his makeup. Tiffany spent so much time with friend Jessica that they were like members of each other’s families. Ever since they were nine, they were each other’s biggest confidant and shared every moment possible together, whether at each other’s homes or out swimming and camping.
After she graduated high school, she earned a government security clearance and an internship at BAE Systems. She was primed to become a full-time employee, but unfortunately, two days before she completed her internship, she was arrested on a drug charge and removed from the program. The trajectory of her entire life changed.
She took a job serving and hoped to build a peaceful life outside New Hampshire. She understood that many triggers for her substance use disorder were there, so she moved to upstate New York and fell in love with it. Her recovery improved until her boyfriend’s father kicked them out. She went back to New Hampshire and lived on the streets until she entered a recovery center in Michigan. After she graduated, she returned to New Hampshire and soon became pregnant. This motivated her to find roommates and secure three serving jobs to provide for her baby. She went from unemployed to having three jobs in mere hours. She was giddy, smiling from ear-to-ear, hugging her mom, and repeating how much she loved her.
Despite Tiffany’s preparations, the baby didn’t survive long after the birth. Her baby, Roslyn Willow, was born too premature and passed away after only two days, and sadly, Tiffany lost her own life to an overdose about a month later.
Tiffany’s impact continued even after her death. Those who knew her acknowledged their own addictions and sought help, and her protective spirit lives on in her younger cousin who became certified in opioid reversal drugs should the need ever arise.
Tiffany’s mother, Brenda, provided the information for this narrative.
February 22, 1994–July 30, 2016-Age 22
Portrait Artist: Clayton Conner
Narrative Writer: Willow Kline
