By JESSICA WAYNE
Staff Writer

Brionna Spivey is a 14-year-old South Columbus High School freshman who was involved in a tragic car accident May 5.

She has been in a Charleston, S.C. hospital since the accident, but has recently been transferred to Charlotte to obtain the long-term rehabilitation care needed for her recovery.

After hearing of the accident, support and prayers poured out from the community to help the Spivey family.

Two community members, Kelly McPherson and Cindy Anderson, decided to take up a collection for Brionna.

“The idea came from my husband Jerome,” McPherson said. “After we heard about the accident he said, ‘It would be nice if someone put out collection jars to help the family – I know they are going to need it,’ and I said, why not us? That’s where it got started.”

The collection jars were distributed throughout the county. Anderson and her daughters, Autumn and Taylor, decorated the jars. Money collected in the jars for the Spivey family totaled more than $3,000.

“All the businesses have been wonderful; they [business owners] did not want us to take the jars up,” said McPherson.

Adam’s Seafood, Dale’s Seafood, and Fowler’s Grill, all of Tabor City, donated the jars to be used for collections.

Fowler’s Grill and Dale’s Seafood delivered food to the hospital for Brionna’s family.

Williams Township School collected more than $1,000, and several business owners made donations independent of the money collected in the jars.

Waccamaw Bank of Tabor City established the Brionna Spivey Fund, and all collected money was deposited into that fund.

Mikael Spivey, Brionna’s father, said: “I always knew I lived in a good community, but I never knew how good it was until I needed the people.”

McPherson noted: “It is unbelievable the amount of support that has poured out for this child. She [Brionna] has impacted a lot of people, and we thank them for their support.

“The community hasn’t forgotten the Spivey family and it hasn’t moved on. I don’t regret doing any of this for this girl,” McPherson concluded.

Brionna is a long way from a full recovery and both of her parents are currently staying in Charlotte full-time to be near her.

The Brionna Spivey Fund helps cover medical expenses for Brionna in addition to travel and lodging expenses for her parents.

Individuals who wish to contribute to the Spivey family can make checks payable to the Brionna Spivey Fund and take or mail them to Waccamaw Bank, P.O. Box 595, Tabor City, N.C. 28463.