Originally posted on Ledger-Enquirer on 9/5/26 by Mark Rice
Original Post: www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article317142419.html
Cassie Myers Renfrow, a beloved science teacher at Northside High School in Columbus, died Friday, 10 days after being flown to an Atlanta hospital for emergency surgery to stop bleeding from a ruptured brain aneurysm, Muscogee County coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Funeral arrangements and her obituary weren’t available before publication.
Maggie Sutlive Stone and Lindsay Myers reported the details of Renfrow’s emergency on GoFundMe.com, where they established an account to raise money for Renfrow and her family to cover the expenses associated with her medical care.
As of Saturday at 2 p.m., $23,555 had been raised from 236 donations toward the $35,000 goal. “While at work, Cassie suddenly experienced the worst headache of her life,” says the GoFundMe account, created Aug. 31.
“She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered she had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. A drain was placed in her skull and she was then flown to Atlanta for emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. Cassie is now in the ICU in Atlanta, where her family has been told to prepare for a minimum 21-day ICU stay followed by what will likely be a long recovery.”
Muscogee County School District superintendent David Lewis texted the Ledger-Enquirer this statement Saturday:
“We are deeply saddened by the unexpected and tragic loss of Cassie Renfrow. She was a valued member of the Northside Patriot family who made a lasting impact on the lives of her students and colleagues. Her loss will be deeply felt throughout the Northside High School community.
“The MCSD extends our heartfelt thoughts, prayers, and support to her family, friends, colleagues, and students during this unimaginable time.”
Tributes to Renfrow on Facebook include:
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the unfortunate news about Mrs. Cassie Renfrow, my ninth-grade biology teacher,” Maliek Kartier wrote. “She was a kind and diligent educator who always pushed me to stay on track and complete my assignments. Whenever I was disruptive or unfocused in class, she would lovingly call my grandmother, Sheryl Jackson, to ensure I stayed accountable. I am deeply concerned about her well-being and wish her a fast and full recovery. Her family has set up a GoFundMe page to help support her during this challenging time.”
“Please, pray with everything you have,” Elizabeth Soukup wrote. “Pray hard. Pray fiercely. I don’t even know what words to use right now because I am completely lost and terrified.
“Cassie is not just one of my closest friends. She is my sister in this life. She is a safe place for my heart, someone who has walked beside me through so much, and I cannot wrap my mind around a world where she isn’t here. I can’t imagine my story continuing without her woven into it.
“So please, if you believe in the power of prayer, I am begging you to pray for her. Say her name. Ask God for healing, for strength, for a miracle. Please just pray.”
“She is such a great teacher and person,” Scott Stafford wrote.
