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A dad who died last week as tornadoes and storms struck Georgia last week spent his final moments on FaceTime with his four-year-old daughter.
Lineman Jesse Maxwell was one of the three people who died on Friday (13 January) as storms overtook the northern central parts of the State.
Photos and social media posts from Jesse’s family - including his widow, Hope - show that he was able to speak to his youngest daughter before her bedtime which was their routine.
“River isn't use to not having her daddy home for bedtime," Hope Maxwell shared on Friday night, alongside a screenshot of the father and daughter's final FaceTime call.
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“She did get to FaceTime him for a few seconds and of course she to sleep in one of his shirts for bed tonight so they can match.
“Thank you for working so hard babe and for being so selfless. We love you!
“Also a huge thank you and continued prayers for all of the other first respondents that are out there working all day and night.”
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Police said Jesse died only a few moments after hanging up.
The 32-year-old dad and power line worker had to remove fallen trees to restore power to residents in Jasper County. He died when a falling tree limb struck him in the back of the head, police said.
Maxwell is survived by his wife, their 11-year-old son named Lucas and three daughters - Lorynn, seven, Maddie, six and River - who are ‘devastated’ by his death.
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The family released a statement after news of his death spread, calling Jesse ‘an amazing father and husband who led his family to Relevant Church in Locust Grove every Sunday’.
“If he wasn't coaching their softball games, he was always in the stands supporting his children," the tribute read.
“From throwing the ball in the yard, to doing art at the kitchen table, Jesse was there."
Hope also shared a picture of a tribute made using a cross and a picture of the family attached to it alongside handwritten notes.
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In the Facebook post accompanying the picture she wrote: “Baby, you are so loved and I need you more than you will ever know.
“But I know you are joking with Jesus. You will forever be my hero and I will love you until my last breath.
“Also thank you for the crews that put this cross up for him… thank you so so much! It means more than y’all will ever know!”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by the family to help pay for funeral costs and any other expenses that will likely arise following the father-of-four’s unexpected death.
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Storms ravaged through Georgia on Thursday and Friday last week as residents faced tornadoes and high speed winds.
According to the Georgia Power Outage Map, thousands of residents were left without power in counties across the state.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Thursday (12 January): "Throughout this evening, Marty’s and my thoughts will return to those impacted by today’s severe storms and tornadoes."
"I have declared a State of Emergency and ordered all relevant agencies to respond with an all-hands-on-deck approach to the affected communities."
Our thoughts and condolences are with the Maxwell family.
Gregory Robinson