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A perfect example of neighbor helping neighbor and friend
helping friend occurred on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at the Camilla
home of Verna Jeffers.Volunteers banded together to remove a
massive tree that had fallen to the ground and into Jeffers'
yard.
When the tree first fell, Mrs. Jeffers said that she was concerned
because the tree was so large and so old, resting right next
to the house and garage. She had the tree examined and was told
that it was 152 years old but it looked as if it were in good
shape. Armed with the knowledge of its age, she decided to get
a second opinion of the tree¹s condition and get an estimate
of the cost for its removal.
Tree removal specialists contacted wanted over $3,000, a cost
that was far too expensive for the Camilla citizen's budget.
She left the tree's fate "in the hands of God." Jeffers
said when the tree came down, it was as if "hands gently
set it down into the yard" without damaging any property.
As soon as businessman Robert Davidson found out that the
tree had fallen, he started contacting people to donate their
time and resources to help remove the tree. He was able to get
the help of many citizens, along with equipment necessary for
the massive tree removal undertaking.
There were bags of gloves, chainsaws of all types, wheelbarrows,
big trucks, a forklift, a semi-truck and many friends gathered
together to clear the tree from Mrs. Jeffers' yard.
The day started off like most Southern Georgia summer day:
hot and muggy, although it quickly turned rainy. The rain did
not hamper the clean-up crew, however.
"We thought it was going to take all day to cut and haul
the tree away," Davidson said. "With everyone's help,
though, it only took until lunchtime."
Mrs. Jeffers was near tears at the generosity of her friends.
She said that she hoped that the tree would live on to help keep
some families warm during the winter to come. She wishes to thank
the following individuals that were instrumental in moving the
tree and showing what it means to be a neighbor and friend: Robert
and Cheryl Davidson, Tom and Sheryl Carey, Mel Jones Sr., Martha
Shiver, Jay Powell, Charles Stripling, Johnny and Bo Brentine,
Beach Williams, Loyce Clark (Red), Ralph Murphy, and Ray Muggridge.
