Parents and faculty at Immanuel Center for Christian Education are rallying around the family of a Columbus man killed by an alleged drunk driver.
Ninth grader Courtney Hall, 14, and seventh grader Colden Hall, 12, lost their father John Hall, 38, July 1 when his motorcycle collided with a car on Highway 45 North. Hall died at the scene of the accident and the driver of the car, Julian Alvarez Lopez, 34, was taken to jail charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence, driving with no license and no insurance.
Hall is survived by his wife, Stacey Hall, and three children; two with Stacey and a third from a previous relationship. John and Stacey were separated, but Stacey says John went “above and beyond” in his court ordered child support payments, including paying toward the children”s tuition. Stacey, a nurse, was left to support three children and pay tuition for the two youngest.
But Stacey”s fellow parents at Immanuel weren”t about to let that happen.
“There was an outcry from everyone as to ”how can we help these children?”” said Christie Smith, who has a child in both Courtney and Colden”s classes.
After a call to Regions Bank, Smith”s husband, Nelson Smith, moved to act. Nelson Smith, parent John Acker and Immanuel employee Kristy Bailey collaborated to begin the John Hall Memorial Fund to benefit the Hall children.
Anyone can contribute to the fund at any Regions branch in Columbus, but the Smiths jump-started the fund Thursday at Immanuel”s orientation, raising $250 in one night.
Nelson Smith said the next step is to reach out to local businesses to donate and allow fliers advertising the fund to be displayed in their offices.
“We”ve just begun putting the information out,” said Smith Monday.
Stacey Hall says all of the donated money will be put toward her children”s educations. Annual tuition and expenses for Hall”s children to attend Immanuel costs approximately $7,400.
“We wanted to make sure they could stay in the Immanuel family to get all the love and support possible,” said Christie Smith.
Stacey Hall is thankful school started back for her children Monday because it will take their minds off the loss of their father. She says they have good days and bad days, but the fact their father is gone looms over everything.
“They can feel the loss when they”re asked certain things. Just in day-to-day conversation about family, you can tell it”s real to them when they have to say ”my father was killed.” Every day is another day having to deal and accepting their dad”s not there,” she said.
Fortunately, Immanuel has been there at every turn.
“Everyone at Immanuel has been great. We”re just overwhelmed at everything that”s been done. We don”t know how to begin to thank them,” said Hall. “The Smiths and all the other families have gone above and beyond my wildest dreams providing emotional support and providing for my children. Especially now that John”s not here.”
Working as a nurse, Hall is lucky to have overtime available to her most weeks to make extra money. However, she says supporting three children is a struggle.
If anything positive can come from her family”s situation, Hall hopes people of Columbus will think twice before driving drunk.
“Another person”s misjudgment has affected so many people and taken something from my kids that they”ll never get back,” she said.
Lopez”s court date to face charges has been continued to Aug. 19 while the court appoints an attorney.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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