ATLANTA — A popular McNair Middle School science teacher died early Monday morning when an oak tree collapsed on her northwest Atlanta home.

According to firefighters, Dr. Patricia Pusha died when the backyard oak collapsed under its own weight in the soggy ground and toppled onto the back half of the Oakcliff Road home around 1:30 a.m.

Pusha’s family said she had fallen asleep in her living room recliner rather than her bedroom.  That decision, they fear, cost her her life.

“If she would have been in her bedroom, she wouldn’t have been struck,” said Pusha’s niece Tanikki Echols. “This is just a tragedy for our family.”

Pusha’s principal at McNair said he broke the news to students and teachers Monday morning, and said the district’s crisis team was on hand to help with the grieving.

“It’s disbelief and shock,” said principal Ronald Mitchell.  “She was very vocal in the morning.  She would speak to you, and if you wouldn’t speak, she’d follow you and make you speak.  She’d sit down at lunch and talk to the kids.  If she saw a kid was having a bad day, she’d sit down and talk with that kid.”

Pusha was a 25-year member of World Changers Church and several church members stopped by the home late Monday afternoon.  Her family is busy making funeral arrangements.

WSB