Community mourns as Madison County deputy remembered as ‘everyone’s mom’

MADISON, N.C. (WLOS) — On the afternoon of Sunday, November 3, more than five weeks after her death, a memorial service and procession was held for the deputy sheriff who died in the Helen flood.

Michelle Lynn Elliott Quintero, a major with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, died just after 7:00 a.m. on September 27th.

“She was everyone’s mom,” said Ashlyn Quintero, Michelle’s daughter. “I remember friends coming to our house, they came and always said: “Mom, we’re home.” It was never Michelle or Mrs. Quintero, it was always “Mom” and that’s what she tried to be, not only for Isaac and all our friends, but for anyone who needed a mom figure – it was her to step in, especially through my work.”

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Quintero worked for the sheriff’s office for 17 years, beginning her career as a dispatcher.

She then worked as a sheriff’s deputy and signalman and eventually served a long sentence in a detention center.

“We house juveniles for the state, and even with these juveniles, she loved these juveniles and they respected her,” Sheriff Buddy Harwood said. “She was a mother figure to these teenagers, something some of them never had.”

Quintero comes from a law enforcement family.

“The support here has been very strong, but it’s been hard, it’s been very hard,” said Isaac Quintero, Michelle’s husband.

Isaac works for the state Department of Corrections; their children and her brother wear Madison County sheriff’s badges on their arms.

“You help the community and you see how many people this mom has really helped before,” Ashlyn said. “They come back and say, ‘Oh, I know you, you’re Michelle’s daughter or you’re Michelle’s son,’ and it’s good to be able to help people that she’s helped in the past. and just listen to what they said.”

On Sunday afternoon, her law enforcement family gathered at East Yancey High School and canvassed Brookstone Church in Weaverville, where her memorial service was held.

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“We have to be there for our people when they’re hurting and they’re crying, because at the end of the day, we’re not ten feet tall and bulletproof,” Harwood said. “We are still human.”

Her service ended with the end-of-duty bell.

Quintero was 48 years old.