By Jessica Moore

Staff Writer

The Fowlkes Street Church of Christ in Franklin is asking for help for a Lewisburg man who was a minister there and now cannot work because he was injured on the job.

Brother Jerry Holman, 43, was a involved in a very serious accident in October 2012 in West Virginia, and it changed his life forever.

Holman drove a tractor-trailer truck for a living. That day, after realizing the truck in front of him was stopped, he began to slow down and eventually came to a stop as well. Unfortunately, the truck driver behind him was unable to stop. He collided with Holman's vehicle, allegedly driving 65 mph. The truck Holman was driving was carrying a full load of ceramic tile to a home improvement store. The truck that hit him was also carrying a full load of cargo. Being hit from behind caused Holman and his truck to be sandwiched between two trucks. The driver who hit him died in the accident. Holman had to be cut from the cab of his truck, and stayed in a hospital in West Virginia for two full weeks.

He suffered many injuries, including extensive damage to both knees, a broken ankle, a compression fracture in his back, double whiplash, and hemorrhaging in both eyes. As a result of the accident, he has also been experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Holman has been going through extensive amounts of physical therapy and is making headway in that area. Unfortunately, this has been a tough and long process, especially with his eyes, since the hemorrhaging has blurred his vision. Without adequate vision, Holman is unable to work. As part of his treatment he has gone through four sessions of laser eye surgery, but unfortunately he still cannot see well enough to drive. The eye doctors have said it will take time.

What makes this situation even more difficult for Holman is the insurance company and his attorney can not settle until his eyes have recovered or they know the extent of permanent damage. This means Holman has no way to support his family.

Fowlkes Street Church of Christ members have rallied round to support their former minister.

"Having worked as a fellow minister in the same community affords me the liberty of speaking of the character of Jerry," wrote current minister Nathaniel Grimes. "He is a proud man who has taken care of himself and his family leading up to this incident. I believe that every effort to put himself back in a position to support his family is being taken. In the meantime, it isn't hard to imagine how difficult things can get ... At this time the saying 'But for the Grace of God there go I' comes to mind."

Fowlkes Street Church of Christ has set up accounts at both Regions and First National Bank in the name of Jerry W. Holman for anyone who would like to donate funds to help Holman and his family. Holman can be contacted directly at (931) 637-1474.