Jeffrey was born on March 5, 1987, a beautiful, red headed baby with huge blue eyes. His younger brother, Brian, followed him by just 17 months, September 18, 1988. Brian was just as beautiful, with thick dark brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. From the time they were walking, they did everything together. They were constant, lifelong companions and very best friends.
Jeffrey and Brian attended Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School together, and, when Jeffrey graduated from Middle School in the 8th grade, together they moved to Mt. Pisgah Christian School. Jeffrey was in the 9th grade and Brian in the 8th. Both Jeffrey and Brian played Varsity Football at Mt. Pisgah, and Jeffrey also ran cross-country. Both were devoted sports enthusiasts, able to recite vital statistics for all of their favorite teams, but football, baseball and NASCAR were their real passions. They both loved fishing, boating and hunting outings with friends and family.
Jeffrey graduated from Mt. Pisgah in 2005 and left for Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. Brian followed him there upon his graduation in 2006. At GSU, both boys were members of Delta Chi fraternity, a privilege they held dear. They were devoted to Delta Chi and their fraternity brothers.
On March 5, 2007, his twentieth birthday, Jeffrey was diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia and returned home to be treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. His brother, Brian, stayed home to be with Jeffrey, and when it became apparent that the only possibility for a cure for Jeffrey was a bone marrow/stem cell transplant, Brian immediately stepped forward. Brian had heart arrhythmia, something learned during his high school football days, and, consequently, was questionable as Jeffrey’s donor. But, he was an eight-point match and determined to save his brother.