"The kids are going to miss you so much but they are so lucky to have gotten to experience the love you had for them," Jesse Maxwell's wife Hope wrote.
A lineman in Jasper, Georgia, was cleaning up fallen trees and working to restore power to his community after severe thunderstorms and tornadoes hit the area. The 32-year-old father of four had just FaceTimed with his youngest child, a 4-year-old daughter, to say goodnight. Tragically, Jesse Maxwell was inside a bucket truck while working with a crew to clear debris when a limb kicked back and hit him in the head.
"River isn't used to not having her daddy home for bedtime," his wife Hope wrote Friday night alongside a photo of the two talking over FaceTime. "She did get to FaceTime him for a few seconds and of course, she has to sleep in one of his shirts for bed tonight so they can match. Thank you for working so hard babe and for being so selfless. We love you!"
The family was in for a shock when they learned that the beloved father and husband had passed away. The morning after, Jesse's wife confirmed the news of his death stating that the family will miss him "more than you will ever know. I do not know how to navigate this. You have always told me I am strong, but I don’t know what I will do without you. The kids are going to miss you so much but they are so lucky to have gotten to experience the love you had for them. You are my best friend and I will love you till my last breath Jess."
Jesse is survived by his wife Hope, his 4-year-old daughter River, an 11-year-old son named Lucas, and daughters Loryn, 7, and Maddy, 6. A GoFundMe has been set up by the family to help with expenses. The page has raised $47,300 of its $50,000 goal at the time of this publication.
The family also released a statement to WSB-TV on Saturday that described Jesse as "an amazing father and husband who led his family to Relevant Church in Locust Grove every Sunday, where he was a member and served." The 32-year-old was a devoted husband and family man who loved throwing the ball in the yard, doing art at the kitchen table, and coaching his kids' softball games. "We all admire his love for her and their children. Jesse is best known for his bad jokes and always making people laugh. He loved his job and had a passion for helping people,” the statement read.
References:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/jesses-family-a-fallen-first-responder
https://www.facebook.com/hope.brown.549
Cover Image Source: (L) Facebook | Hope Maxwell; (R) GoFundMe
