VIDALIA — By any measure, the past three years have not been easy for Diane Hammers.

Her husband of almost 20 years, former Vidalia Police Department Chief and veteran Billy Hammers, died in late 2011.

“He is my heart and always will be,” Hammers said.

“He called me Little Darlin’ and I called him Teddy Bear, that’s one of the things I miss the most.”

And a year ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

But through constant positivity, the companionship of her animals, and her faith, she has successfully fought the cancer and found a way to live with her sadness.

When The Dart landed on Cross Street in Vidalia on Sunday, Hammers was cleaning up after her five parakeets, one canary and one parrot.

They’re presence in her home is a constant reminder of the beauty all around her.

“I love this world,” she said. “There are so many things that are so gorgeous.”

Hammers got the birds along with several other animals after her husband died to have companions around the house and the birds have not disappointed. They provide a constant source of entertainment.

“They are wonderful to have around,” Hammers said. “The canary sings beautifully and I get up every morning to La’BB (the parrot) speaking.”

“He says over and over ‘wake up with Al, wake up with Al,’” mimicking The Weather Channel’s introduction of Al Roker’s show.

Even though her sadness over the loss of her husband, will never go away, the animals’ companionship goes a long way.

“I think about him every minute of every day, but the animals help,” she said.

In fact, through all of the hard times, Hammers’ faith has never wavered. She still sits in the same pew every Sunday at Natchez’s First Presbyterian Church in which she and Billy used to share.

That faith got her through cancer.

“I trust in God,” Hammers said. “I never once worried about what would happen to me and that is what got me through it.”