Jeff Davis community wrapping their arms around local families in need

HAZELHURST, Ga. (WSAV) — The Jeff Davis community is raising money for two families facing hardships during a local high school’s regional championship.

Fans filled the stands at a baseball game Friday night, but the regional championship was only part of the reason.

Karter Galbreath, sophomore and varsity baseball player at Jeff Davis High School, was struck in the head by a baseball in late March. News 3 spoke to family and friends about the day the situation happened.

“In the batting cages there’s certain protocols that they have,” April Poe, a family friend of the Galbreath’s said. “Karter thought the two that were still batting were done and they didn’t see him. When he bent down, he didn’t know they were down. They didn’t know he was there, and it was just the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Karter’s twin brother, Kase Galbreath, recaps moments after the injury before they knew he suffered from a brain bleed.

“We thought he was going to be ok, but we went home and he kind of slurred his words a little bit,” Kase said. “I was like, ‘we need to take him to the hospital’.”

Karter was transferred to the Shepherds Center in Atlanta and is now recovering.

It was also a night for Renee Water who was shot three weeks ago. I spoke with her husband who was in attendance at the game, Roy Waters.

“She was at Memorial Hospital for seven to eight days and they transferred her to Atlanta to the Shepherds Center,” Roy said. “As of right now, she is partially paralyzed from her waist down.”

Scottie Graham is one of the organizers. He is a part of the Jeff Davis Dugout Club and Triple H Solutions.

“A certain amount of money for a home run, a certain amount of money for a record strike out and for a base hit,” Graham said. “We would put that out on social media and everybody and other businesses just started calling in …”

“We have raised money by selling T-shirts, bracelets, we’ve done gun raffles…,” Poe said.

Her business, Southern Roots Salon, is one of more than 20 businesses supporting the cause. Organizers, family and friends told News 3 that donations have come in from beyond the Hazlehurst borders.

Some proceeds will be split 50-50. By the end of the night, WSAV was told the proceeds total is around $10,000.

If you are interested in helping the two families on the journey back to recovery, their Venmo’s are below:

The Galbreath Family/ Jeff Davis Dugout Club: @JDdugoutclub1

The Waters Family: Kody-Waters-11