Articles

Award the latest good work to honor teen crash victim

By Danaline McPhail Bryant, courtesy of The Athens Messenger

He had a smile that would light up a room, bright eyes and a big, compassionate heart.

Those are some of the ways family members describe Adam Jolley, a 16-year-old from Athens who died in a car wreck on July 2, 2009. Also killed in the accident were Adam’s friends, Adam D. Fitzgerald, 17, of Pomeroy, and Christopher “Nathan” Coe, 17, of Albany. All were students at Alexander High School.

Losing a child is a devastating experience. While Adam’s family continues to grieve for him, they’ve also formed a group dedicated to remembering Adam by helping others in his name.

The Adam Jolley Memorial Group has funded several good works already, including helping someone whose home was burned, helping with hospital bills, providing Christmas gifts for a family, and building a ramp for someone with mobility difficulties.

 “The group exists just to honor Adam,” said Ginger Jolley, one of his aunts. “When we do something, we give a little card that tells a little bit about him. We help when we can. All the money is raised right in the family. It’s to remember him, and his big heart and his beautiful, beautiful smile.”

On November 15, they presented an inaugural award they plan to give annually. The 2010 Adam Jolley Memorial Caregivers Award was presented to Athens County Visiting Nurses Association. The association is part of a larger, diversified health agency, Appalachian Community Visiting Nurses Association, Hospice, and Health Services.

Family members gathered at the agency’s offices to present a memorial award they chose to represent the hearts-and-hands nature of the visiting nurses’ mission, along with a donation of $500 to help continue their work.

The family decided to give the award because Adam was only 3 years old when his grandfather, Darrell Jolley, had a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on one side. Despite his young age, Adam immediately became one of the caregivers for his “Pappy.” Over the years, Adam took on other chores to help his grandparents, including mowing their large yard, shoveling snow, and installing a concrete ditch drain.

One of Adam’s aunts, Ginger Jolley, presented the award as many members of the agency’s 70-person staff gathered with family members.

“This is not an easy thing — to give a memorial gift to honor someone so young that we loved so much,” she said. “Adam used to give me a thumbs-up if I asked him something and it was cool with him. If I close my eyes, I can imagine him here, among us, giving me the thumbs-up to go ahead. We wanted to give this special award this week because Adam would have turned 18 this Sunday.”

She said with the help of visiting nurses, her father has progressed and is able to walk with the help of a brace.

“So our family wants to give this memorial to visiting nurses in the name of our precious Adam for the work you have done in the past, the work you are doing now, and the work you will do in the future,” she said as she presented a heart-shaped candle that sits in two cupped hands and the monetary donation.

“Thank you,” said Deborah Sechkar, chief executive officer of the agency. “I’m in awe of how your family has come together in this difficult time. Losing someone you love is extremely hard, and it says so much about the family that you are willing to open those wounds and talk about it. The creation of this award is amazing.”

Sechkar said the monetary donation would be used to help those who can’t pay for services receive the care they need.

After the presentation, family members talked about Adam.

“He was a wonderful kid,” said his mother, Kristina Jolley. “He liked to live life to the fullest, and he never met a stranger. Whenever we went somewhere he was always waving or saying hello to people… At his funeral, people were lined up out the doors and waited for four hours. I was amazed at all the people. His friends are now our friends and have been so good. We’re having a party for Adam on his birthday, and I’ve asked his friends to bring favorite pictures and tell their favorite stories of him. We’re going to celebrate his life.”

“He was a really caring person. He cared about people and animals and always wanted to help. He would do anything for anybody,” said Pam Decker-Knapp, his grandmother.

Kelley Jolley, another aunt, told of a time when Adam came to the hospital shortly after she’d had emergency brain surgery for an aneurysm. She said despite her “disgusting” post-surgical appearance with many staples in her head, Adam came close when others were afraid to, kissed her and told her he loved her.

“I could barely stand to look at myself in the mirror, but Adam didn’t care,” she said. “He was very special.”

A memorial scholarship in Adam’s memory will be given for the first time in May — when Adam would have graduated — to an Alexander High School student.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the scholarship fund can send it to the school for the “Adam Jolley Memorial Scholarship.” For information on the memorial group or to nominate someone for next year’s caregivers award, contact the Jolley family.