The sun prevailed at least through Wednesday bringing warmth to a long line of motorists traveling on Broadway to North Carolina, but by week's end winter gusts seemed to be knocking at our hometown.

We talked about the tragic accident on October 18 that sent a Trentham Hollow man to critical care in the Tri-Cities, injured to the point some thought he was knocking on Heaven's door. Billy Hugh Bible, 54, was driving his mother's gold Dodge Intrepid to Greeneville in the dark early morning when he struck a horse standing in the highway.

The heavy animal was knocked off its feet, came crashing down on top of the car pushing the steel and windshield in on Bible, changing his life in a split second.

Billy's mother, who may be known to you, Emma Bible, lives off Trentham Hollow Road, and has been spending most of her time at her son's bedside. She stays in a hospitality room or a motel when not at his bedside. Her husband was James Leslie Bible, who is deceased. You may know the other children, being Eddie Bible, and Pat Gilbert, wife of former Parrottsville Mayor Mike Gilbert. Family friend Tammy Greene said that Emma has only been home four times since the accident. She loves and is attending to her son. It is about a two-hour drive, and Emma has to buy her meals and there just isn't enough money. The family attends French Broad Missonary Baptist Church near Parrottsville.

On Thursday, Nov. 19, Tammy introduced me to Angela Bible, who is married to Billy's brother, Eddie. Angela knows the family well and answered a lot of my questions so you could know more plus she updated me on his condition along with details of the accident. You may have known Billy when he worked at the Farmers Co-op in the early 1980s. Later he went with Eddie to work at a business in Morristown before joining Takoma Hospital.

"He never had a harsh word to say and always had a joke to tell," said Angela. Billy also played guitar and sang, often at church accompanying his mother, who was the former Emma Balch of Parrottsville. She is the only child of the late Pinkney and Letha Balch. Emma married James Leslie, who died with cancer in 1985. They had been married 32 years. She is retired at age 77, but one time may have convinced you to taste various foods at Food City East.

I asked several more questions about the accident, because it was so rare. Here is what happened to put him at that place at the wrong time. Earlier that evening, sister Sheila Waddell was involved in an accident in Greene Co. Billy and others went to aid her and check on her at the hospital where she was being observed. He left about 11:30 p.m. with Eddie and went home for a break, said Angela. By about 2:30 a.m. he got in his Mom's car and was returning to the hospital to see how the tests went on Sheila. He approached the Cocke/Greene county line where the horse stood. The high-speed impact caused the horse to flip onto the driver's side top of the car. Even though the airbag deployed, it did not protect his head. His skull was completely crushed, face fractured, and jaw broken. He was unconscious at the crash scene when family members arrived. At Johnson City he underwent eight hours of surgery. Later he suffered a heart attack and stroke because of the brain injury.

Mid-week I called Eddie. The family got some encouraging news for Thanksgiving. "He's doing just a little bit better, responding more." At first, when Billy was brought by medical helicopter to Johnson City Medical Center, he was in a coma because of the multiple skull fractures and brain injuries. Last Monday he began to respond to questions by moving his fingers. He could give a thumbs up sign, too, using his left hand. Eddie said that Billy's right side seems to be paralyzed. The doctors are encouraged by the changes. Last week when talking about the brothers and their work, Eddie explained he is a machinist with RPN of Morristown.

Friends and family have planned a benefit for Billy to be Dec. 12 at Parrottsville Elementary School from 4:30 to 10 p.m. The event will include a hotdog supper for $5, Gospel singing and an auction. French Broad Missionary Baptist pastor Eric Hurst will be helping and so to the congregation members. The money raised will be given to Emma Bible.