Decatur Neighbors Come To The Rescue Of 2 Elderly Brothers

DECATUR, GA — Decatur residents and business have banded together to help two of their elderly neighbors — Quentin and Gary Abbott, who are 77 and 72, respectively — after a tree fell on their home in July 2020, cutting off the electricity and leaving them to live in a motel while repairs are made.

Quentin has COPD and suffered hearing loss during his service with the U.S. Coast Guard, according to the GoFundMe page. Gary was injured as a child, is illiterate and cannot live by himself, so he depends on his brother Quentin.

Judy Stroud, a neighbor of the brothers in Valley Brook Estates, created a GoFundMe for the brothers in September. She noticed the tree was still in the Abbotts' yard after she needed a dead tree cut down in her own yard, according to the GoFundMe page, and decided to help them out.

Since creating the GoFundMe, more than $15,000 has been raised — almost reaching the $20,000 goal — and more than 200 people have donated. Stroud also started a second GoFundMe to raise money for a new car for Quentin, which has transmission problems and Quentin cannot afford to repair the transmission.

Nineteen people have donated to the second GoFundMe so far, reaching $1,220 as of publication Jan. 12.

"Being older and having health issues myself, I understand from experience how difficult it is to maintain your house and property without help. I found help from friends, neighbors and family. I'm hoping to do this for them," Stroud said on the initial GoFundMe page.