An Alabama family’s request to fulfill one man’s final wish brought together a fishing captain, volunteers, and a community determined to help make one last memory.

Adrian “Brian” Smith, a 49-year-old Tuscaloosa husband, father and avid fisherman, died July 8 after battling pancreatic cancer. According to Smith’s obituary, he passed away peacefully at Hospice of West Alabama just days after spending what he called the “best time of my life” on a deep-sea fishing trip.

The story began when Smith’s family shared on social media that his final wish was to go deep-sea fishing one last time and catch just one fish. James Spann, founder of the Alabama Weather Network and chief meteorologist at ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, later shared the family’s request on Facebook, where it quickly reached thousands of people.

Within hours of Spann sharing the family’s request, Captain Alex McDuffie volunteered to take Smith fishing.

According to FOX10 News, McDuffie, captain of the Sea Hunter charter boat, worked with Zeke’s Landing and others in the community to organize a day on the Gulf, one that Smith’s family said exceeded anything they could have imagined.

Before leaving the dock, Smith thanked everyone who helped make the trip possible.

“Just appreciate everybody putting this together for me and having a good time with my family and friends. I really appreciate it.”

Smith not only caught the one fish he had hoped for, but several more. After returning to shore with a cooler full of fish, he summed up the experience in four words.

“Best time of my life.”

Just days later, Smith died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

In a statement shared on Spann’s Facebook page, Smith’s family said the fishing trip gave Brian memories they will treasure forever and thanked everyone who offered prayers, generosity and support throughout his illness.

“We will never be able to thank everyone enough for the prayers, love, generosity, and support you’ve shown our family throughout this journey,” the family wrote. “You reminded us what a caring community looks like.”

The family said they hope Brian’s story lives on through acts of kindness, encouraging others to help someone in need the way Captain Alex McDuffie and so many others helped him.

According to Smith’s obituary, that spirit of helping others was nothing new. Family members remembered him as someone they could always count on — a man with a servant’s heart who was always willing to help others.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].