Thomasville Times

Jerry Hawk an inspiration

‘Keep pushing, keep praying’



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Jerry Hawk has always loved to be outdoors, hunting and fishing. He killed this big rattlesnake a few years ago. A November 2021 accident was life changing for Jerry but he kept a positive outlook. Even from his hospital bed he was able to give a determined “thumbs up.” His optimism hasn’t dimmished.

Jerry Hawk has always loved to be outdoors, hunting and fishing. He killed this big rattlesnake a few years ago. A November 2021 accident was life changing for Jerry but he kept a positive outlook. Even from his hospital bed he was able to give a determined “thumbs up.” His optimism hasn’t dimmished.

Jerry Hawk grew up in the Bashi community, enjoying life on his farm and spending most of his time in the great outdoors.

After graduation from Thomasville High School in 1978, Jerry went to work for his father, Mitford Hawk, who owned a logging company. In the mid ‘80s, Jerry started his own business, “Jerry Hawk Logging. “ He was also a cattle and hay farmer, running 80 head and cutting hay each summer for feed.

Jerry married Deneen Sheffield, and they made their home in Bashi. They were blessed with one daughter, Nikki.

Avid hunter, fisherman

Jerry always loved to hunt and fish. Turkey hunting was his favorite, and for years, he hunted with close friends Shannon Tucker, Todd Morris and Jim Duncan. In the last 10 years, this group of friends derived great pleasure from videoing their turkey hunts.

One hunter would take a gun, and the other, a camera. When they would meet at a camp house, they had many good laughs and even learned a thing or two from those videos.

Jerry Hawk’s hunting buddies have helped him and encouraged him all the way. From left are Troy Stabler, Jerry Hawk with Lulu, Shannon Tucker, Todd Morris and Dylan Averitt.

Jerry Hawk’s hunting buddies have helped him and encouraged him all the way. From left are Troy Stabler, Jerry Hawk with Lulu, Shannon Tucker, Todd Morris and Dylan Averitt.

A life-changing day

At the beginning of deer season on Nov. 21, 2021, Jerry joined in a yearly Bashi tradition. At the beginning of the season, hunters and their families would gather at someone’s camp to have a big “community cooking.” They would assemble together, eat and share stories of previous hunts.

On this particular night, friends from Louisiana had invited Jerry and many other locals to their camp to partake of some good Cajun cooking.

When the evening ended, Jerry drove home along Elam Road, just as he had done hundreds of other times. As he rounded a curve on the rub-board dirt road, loose gravel sent his wheels into a spin, throwing his truck into a ditch. A single stump in that ditch caused the truck to flip, trapping Jerry inside.

Up ahead, Jerry’s friends, Melissa and Woodie Newton, checked on Jerry, just as they always did when they got home. Unable to reach him, the couple immediately realized something was wrong. They rushed back along Elam Road to find him.

When he arrived home from the Shepherd Rehabilitation Center, Jerry was welcomed by family and friends. Pictured, front, from left, Dylan Averitt, Jerry Hawk, Nikki Hawk and Lulu. Back, Melissa Newton, Woodie Newton, Deneen Hawk, Donna Morris, Larry Joe Morris and Micah Ohme.

When he arrived home from the Shepherd Rehabilitation Center, Jerry was welcomed by family and friends. Pictured, front, from left, Dylan Averitt, Jerry Hawk, Nikki Hawk and Lulu. Back, Melissa Newton, Woodie Newton, Deneen Hawk, Donna Morris, Larry Joe Morris and Micah Ohme.

Traveled road often

“I had been down that road a million times,” Jerry explained. “There’s usually a lot of traffic on it, but nobody came by that night. My truck was running the whole time, and I was afraid the truck was going to catch on fire. I couldn’t move anything but my hand.”

When Melissa and Woodie Newton arrived on the horrendous scene, they instantly knew it was bad. They quickly called 911 and Jerry’s family. Many others came to help. Jerry was transported to Thomasville Regional Medical Center and then on to the University Hospital (formerly USA Medical Center) in Mobile by helicopter.

Blessed to be alive

Jerry stayed at the Mobile hospital for a month and then at the Mobile Infirmary for another month. It was during this time that he realized his life would never be the same. But even more important, he understood how blessed he was to be alive.

“My friends showed up all the time to encourage me and do anything they could for me and my family,” he said.

His friends also found many other ways to encourage Jerry not to give up.

“Jim Duncan put those old hunting videos on YouTube and set up a TV in my room for me to watch them. He fixed my phone where I could watch them on that TV. It was such a blessing. I lay there and watched those old videos and saw how much we had all changed. I really appreciated this.”

Rehab in Atlanta

After two months, Jerry was sent to Shepherd Rehabilitation in Atlanta, Ga. The people he met, and the things he had to face there opened his eyes even more to his own blessings.

“I thought I was in bad shape until I got there,” he stated. “Some of these young kids made me look like I was in good shape. It really opened my eyes to see young folks going through this.”

For Jerry, the Shepherd Center was a godsend. Nurses, like Mattie and Danielle, and therapists helped him adjust to his new way of life in a wheelchair. He took therapy both in and out of bed. Before he came home, he could use his right arm, but the staff also got his left shoulder moving again.

“They helped me a lot,” he said. “They stayed right on me to keep things going. They reminded me how blessed I was, because so many others there had it much worse.”

Jerry stayed at the Shepherd Center for four months and began to see his world with new eyes. His family organized a “Team Hawk” campaign with t-shirts. They sent encouraging messages and daily scriptures. Many friends called and sent cards. To prepare his home for adaptive services, his hunting friends showed up and built a ramp into his home.

An adjustment

When he did come home, both he and his family had to adjust to a new way of living, one that now included a hospital bed, lifts and a wheelchair. Jerry looked at every obstacle with such a positive attitude that he inspired everyone around him.

Jerry faced therapy with the same positivity. Since coming home, he has relearned to feed himself, brush his teeth and shave. He has an adaptive van, which he hopes to be able to drive one day. His friend, Shannon Tucker, is now fixing Jerry’s Ranger so that one day, Jerry can drive it and stay outside more.

“I’ll be able to go to the pasture and look at my cows on my own,” he stated. “It’s bad to have to depend on somebody to do everything for you.”

Faith, and faithful friends

Jerry attributes his progress to his faith and all the support given to him by his family and faithful friends. Since the time of his accident, Dillon Averitt has stepped up to run both the business and the farm. His wife, Deneen, and daughter, Nikki, have been at his side to do whatever was needed, especially getting him outside.

“Getting outside and riding up and down the road and seeing things I took for granted for years has helped me a he said proudly. “I’m just lot,” so blessed to have my family and all these friends me.” who never left

Recently, Jerry was able to go on a hog hunt with a large group of friends. Even his hunting buddies from Louisiana came up to join him. Nikki pointed out that the hogs cooperated that day, coming near so that Jerry could see them. Since the road he can now move his arms and shoulders, he is already planning to deer hunt next year.

“People have been so good to me,” Jerry reflected. “God has a purpose for everything. There’s a reason I was not killed, and I’ll eventually see why one day.”

Jerry Hawk is an inspiration to all who know him. Throughout this journey, his positive attitude, humble spirit and incredible resilience have blessed so, many others.

Never give up

Someone once said that being challenged in life is inevitable, but being defeated is optional. Jerry Hawk chose to take the high road. He now sees life through new eyes and measures his life by the obstacles he has overcome. He has bounced back from adversity and continues to grow from every challenge.

“You can’t give up,” he said. “If you give up, things won’t ever get better. You just have to keep pushing and keep praying!”

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