Fundraiser to aid wreck victim’s family

Photo provided State Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, and Andrew Corbett talk about plans to establish a Jason Corbett benefit fund. Andrew’s brother, Jason Corbett, was killed on Oct. 30 in a motorcycle wreck in Sumter County.

By RANDY BURNS
Item Staff Writer
rburns@theitem.com

Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, is taking the lead in efforts to alert the community to the needs of a Sumter County family that lost a husband and father in an early morning motorcycle wreck on Oct. 30.

Jason Michael Corbett, of 805 Colony Road, died when his motorcycle collided with a car on Jefferson Road as he was on his way to work. Corbett, a Lee County native who attended Bishopville High School, worked 10 years at Porter’s Fabrications as a machinist and welder.

He leaves behind his wife Donna and three sons; Leonard, 13; Hank, 11; and Victor, 2.

The Jason Corbett Memorial Fund has been established at the National Bank of South Carolina. Donations to the fund are accepted at any NBSC branch.

“I know the family,” Brown said. “I watched the kids grow up. They’re good people. I ask the community to step up and help this family.”

Jason’s brother Andrew Corbett said he went to Brown for advice.

“I had several questions on what I should do,” Corbett said. “Grady has been very helpful.”

Andrew said community support would be particularly helpful in the “short term.”

“There’s limited insurance,” he said. “But it’s going to take time for the insurance to help, and it’s not going to do much more than pay for the funeral expenses. The family is helping all we can.”

While Donna plans to go to work, there’s no income currently coming into the home, he said.

“Even the 13-year old (Leonard) is talking about getting a job,” Andrew said. “I don’t want him to worry about that.” Andrew said his brother was a family man.

“He was a quiet guy,” he said. “But he would do anything for you.”

Corbett was a member of the Sumter Masonic Temple, Lodge No. 364, and was recently raised to the title of Master Mason.

Bobby Touchberry knew Corbett for about four or five months he said, after meeting him through the Masons. Touchberry said he and Corbett became instant friends.

“He was truly a gentle giant, a very nice, soft-spoken man who always smiled when he talked,” Touchberry said. “All too young to be gone and all Masons’ hearts and prayers go out to his family.”

Jason’s mother Vernell Corbett recently retired as a cafeteria worker at West Lee Elementary School.


Contact Staff Writer Randy Burns at rburns@theitem.com or (803) 491-4533.