‘It’s inspirational’: Edwardsburg community rallies to organize wedding for employee battling cancer
Published 2:45 pm Monday, April 21, 2025
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the Edwardsburg Public Schools administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly. (Maxwell Harden | Leader Publications)
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EDWARDSBURG – The Edwardsburg Public Schools community rallied to make sure two employees had a wedding to remember following the bride’s cancer diagnosis.
Family, friends and community members gathered around the arch in front of the district administration building Friday to celebrate the marriage of employees Brant and Samantha Byerly.
“Everything is wonderful,” Brant said. “We’re just grateful for the great community at Edwardsburg and everybody coming out and showing love.”
“It was all so beautiful,” Samantha added. “We couldn’t ask for anything more. They took the time to put all of this together for us and help us out. It’s all so amazing and wonderful. We’re forever grateful for everything that they have done for us.”
Samantha recently underwent emergency brain surgery and received a diagnosis of glioblastoma. One of the most aggressive and lethal brain cancers, glioblastoma has a five-year survival rate of only 6.9 percent, according to the National Brain Tumor Society.
In light of everything, Brant decided to propose. Sam accepted and Brant reached out to Edwardsburg Superintendent Dr. Courtney Szucs for help planning the wedding.
“He said, ‘I think I’m gonna ask her to marry me, can you guys help us with the wedding,” Szucs said. “We went to [Primary School Principal] Tracy Spalding, and Tracy said well, we’re both ordained and then we can do it here [on campus], and we started to put it together.”
In less than two weeks, Szucs and Spaulding moved quickly to pull together and plan a ceremony, reaching out to teachers, staff members, parents and business owners in the community. The Morris Inn, 1399 N. Notre Dame Ave., gave the couple a suite for their wedding night, Divine Dough Co. provided donuts for the reception, Alexis Nichole Photography provided photography and Country Florist provided the bouquet and boutonniere. Staff, families and community members donated items and funds which have paid for the dress, rings, photo album and more.
“I think that this is something the community would want to get involved with,” Szucs said. “It was amazing to see everybody come together and yeah just really care about each other. … They all had stories about their kids and how Brant and Sam impacted their kids’ lives,” Szucs said. “We had community members who were like, ‘I’ve never met them, but I want to help.’ Being an Eddie is awesome.”
Samantha and Brant met in January 2016 at Maplecrest Country Club, where Samantha was head chef and Brant her sous chef. Working side by side, they quickly became friends, building not just a minute, but a connection. They’ve traveled together to Florida, Chicago, the Smoky Mountains, and beyond. From hikes to musical festivals, flea markets to Netflix nights, they built a life full of adventure, laughter and genuine companionship. Approximately three years ago, the couple began working in the EPS custodial department where they made a positive impact on students and staff alike.
Brant was recognized by the district as the January recipient and Support Staff Team Member of the Month, chosen for his positive impact on students beyond his custodial duties.
“He’s working with kids with all sorts of different social skills,” Szucs said. “He takes them under his wing. He just is a true part of the whole Primary community.”
Samantha and Brant were overwhelmed by the support they have received from their community.
“It’s pretty eye-opening and inspirational,” Brant said.
“We haven’t been working here that long, so the amount of support that is rolled in from our work family is absolutely wonderful,” Samantha added. “It’s something that we never saw coming throughout this entire situation. Even with all my medical problems and everything, they’ve just been so helpful.”
For Szucs and the greater Edwardsburg community, coming together to support Sam and Brant on their journey is what being an Eddie is all about.
“It’s an example of the extraordinary things people will do for one another, even in the face of a tough situation,” she said. “In a time where we don’t always get to hear the uplifting stories it has been so awesome to see our community come together for these two awesome people.”
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