Members of the Columbus and Starkville communities have come together to help a local family following a fatal car accident on Friday, Nov. 6.
John “Dodds” Gentry was driving his three sons — JD, 11, Jack, 9, and Josh, 6 — in his GMC Yukon on Highway 82 when he collided with a logging truck in front of him.
Dodds Gentry was pronounced dead at the scene. JD died three days later at University of Mississippi Medical Center. Josh remains in the hospital.
On Sunday, Nov. 8, a Go Fund Me account called “Hope for the Gentrys” was set up to help the family. The goal was $150,000. Less than a week later, the effort had raised $110,760. At press time today, it had raised $115,175.
This number included an anonymous offline donation from a donor or group of donors who contributed $13,453.
An update from the Go Fund Me page on Nov. 13 said, “I cannot express my thankfulness for the community’s blessings upon Gina (Gentry) and her children. We have a long way to go but y’all are some powerful caretakers. Thank you!”
Susan’s Hallmark in both Starkville and Columbus are also accepting monetary donations. According to Shirley McAdams, a manager at the Columbus store, donations can be dropped off at the store between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday.
Gina Gentry works at Susan’s Hallmark in Starkville.
McAdams added that everyone at Hallmark in hoping and praying for Josh and the rest of the family.
Columbus restaurant, The Golden Horn, is also taking donations for the Gentry family, which bought the restaurant a few years ago. Manager Donna Lott encouraged people patronizing the restaurant to make donations or to come by and donate.
“It’s tough when you lose a husband, a friend,” Lott said.
Parents, faculty and staff at Starkville Academy are also keeping the Gentry family in their thoughts and prayers, according to athletic director Glenn Schmidt, who has known Gina since she was in high school.
Starkville Academy had a visit from football star Tim Tebow who talked with fourth and fifth graders, according to the school’s Facebook page. The school’s page included a photo of Tebow with Jack Gentry.
“We’re all just hoping and praying for Gina and Josh and Jack,” Schmidt said. “It’s just something that we’ve all tried to come together as a school family and in support of them. And we’re heavy-hearted and we’re prayerful. But my memories are of opening that door [at the Golden Horn] and seeing Dodds cooking steaks on the grill and the family, the boys, running around a little bit and Gina there smiling and seeing her in Hallmark Store here in Starkville. You know, they’re just huge parts of the Starkville community and our school.”
A funeral will be held for Dodds and JD Gentry at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Starkville.
To donate to the Go Fund Me account for the Gentrys, go to gofundme.com/e796d9kw or visit any Renasant Bank and ask to donate to the Gentry Family Fund.
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