Webb’s Assistant Fire Chief Is Ready to Help
Jerry Tew, assistant chief of the Webb Fire Department, is the kind of guy who’s there when you need him — all you need to do is give him a call. His willingness to help his friends and neighbors extends beyond the call of duty through his free wheelchair ramp-building service and disaster relief efforts.
Tew’s journey of service began in 1991 with the local fire department and what was then called the Southern Baptist Convention. His work encompasses a range of activities — from cleaning mud from buildings after floods to clearing downed trees left behind by a storm and feeding large groups of people during disasters.
But, one of his most personal projects involves building wheelchair ramps for those who cannot afford them. “We do not charge whatsoever,” Tew says. If the ramp recipients can afford the lumber, that’s beneficial, but Tew is adamant that a lack of funds should never be a barrier to accessibility.
The origins of this project lie in Tew’s connection with the local, renamed, Southern Baptist Association. When the previous volunteers retired, Tew and his team took up the mantle. The need for such a service hit close to home when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly a decade ago. “We built a ramp for her, and I won’t take it down. It’s so handy,” he says. Because of his personal experiences, Tew has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those who face mobility issues in his community.
In addition to his efforts in the Wiregrass, Tew’s volunteerism extends nationally and internationally. He was part of relief efforts in New York after 9/11, Florida, Lebanon, and Honduras. “We work with FEMA, not for them,” he clarifies, highlighting the grassroots nature of his work with disaster relief. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief’s efforts are focused on the physical side of relief, complementing the financial support provided by other organizations.
When asked what drives him, Tew’s response is swift and simple. “To help people,” he says. This drive is deeply intertwined with his faith. Raised in a Baptist church, his commitment to helping others is both a personal passion and an extension of his religious beliefs.
“It hurts when water messes up a home and you just have to pull belongings out to the street and start over,” he says. For Tew, the opportunity to help others outweighs these challenges.
He was recently recognized as an honoree in the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass program, a partnership between Wiregrass Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Foundation and WTVY. This honor celebrates individuals like Tew, who quietly make significant contributions to their communities.
“Mr. Tew’s commitment to our community is nothing short of inspiring,” says Stevie Sauls, WEC’s vice president of member services and communications. “On behalf of Wiregrass Electric, we are honored to recognize such a selfless individual, whose actions speak louder than words and whose impact is felt far beyond the physical structures he builds.”
As part of the partnership, Sauls presented Tew with a $1,000 check, courtesy of Operation Round Up, to help him continue his ramp-building operations for individuals in need. If you need his help, all you have to do is make the call.