Hello friends and friends of friends.  Last night at 10:45, the Lord called my father home to be with him.  He was a brilliant man, devoted husband of almost 50 years and terrific father.  Dad was quickly losing weight over the past 6 weeks, culminating in his admission to the hospital on October 28th and his death 3 short days later.

My dad had 6 children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grand children.  He was a wonderful man and would do anything for anyone....even if it meant he had to do without.  I remember growing up, he was a door to door salesman who sold advertising supplies to small businesses. We never had a car so he walked and used the bus when he could.  He would leave the house in the mornings and not come home until he had that night's dinner for my 2 brothers and mom.  I remember times he came home with cardboard in his shoes and his feet bleeding.  I also remember in the summer going with him...carrying his briefcase for him everywhere we went.  He knew the meaning of sacrifice and we loved him for everything he did.

We're never truly ready to deal with something like this.  It has crushed my mother and severely impacted all of our lives.  The harsh reality of it all is, my parents have been living on less than $800 a month from Social Security for the last 3 years. They have also been raising my 7 year old niece, Elizabeth, since she was born.  Even with the monetary help from the family, slowly they have fallen into a vicious cycle of juggling bills from day to day just to survive.  Now, dad has passed and there is nothing available for his final arrangements..except the standard $255 that he will receive as a death benefit from Social Security.  We also are moving my mom in with us as she can not make it on her own and we have to relocate my niece to southern Florida to live with her other grandparents.  This is the reason that I am here to ask for your assistance. 

My brothers and I all have families and are not only grieving together but learning as we go in this process.  We can't pool together enough of the money to take care of all of this at this time and humbly ask for your help. Any amount you can give to help my mother, and my family, to raise enough to take care of my dad's final expense and associated costs would be greatly appreciated.  Please find it in your heart to take a minute to share this with your Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest friends for us. 

I speak for all of the family when I say thank you for your time and for anything that you can do. 

Eddie Jack