×
×
homepage logo

Jeeps for Georgie: Local child loses fight with cancer

By Toni Milbourne - For the Chronicle | Jan 29, 2021

This jeep was one of thousands gathered for a Jeeps for Georgie Parade in December. One month later, Georgie lost his battle with cancer. Toni Milbourne

HEDGESVILLE — A young boy who brought together thousands of jeep owners and drivers in December has lost his battle with Stage IV Neuroblastoma.

Georgie’s mother, Misty Williamson, announced the death of her son in a social media post on Jan. 23.

“I’m so broken, lost and my heart is shattered,” Williamson posted. “Our brave, strong, fierce soldier gained his beautiful angel wings today at 9 a.m.”

Just one month prior, on Dec. 23, a large number of jeeps arrived in Berkeley County to provide a “jeep parade” for the 4-year-old boy who loved jeeps. It was Georgie’s wish to see a jeep parade, and the efforts of a few to get the word out sparked the largest gathering of jeeps on record.

Jeeps arrived from around the country, many decorated with Christmas lights, to take part in a parade that spread for miles.

Georgie’s battle with cancer had been a fierce, continuous one. He had been at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital since Oct. 2019, before coming home to Hedgesville to spend the recent Christmas holiday with his family.

Williamson had kept the public up-to-date with Georgie’s fight, sharing the medical scans were showing the cancer had spread and that chemotherapy was no longer a potential treatment option.

Thousands of individuals have shared the news of his death on social media, offering prayers and well wishes for Williamson and her family. Those comments came from those who personally knew the family as well as those who simply knew of Georgie’s battle, following the national coverage of the Jeeps for Georgie event.

“This little guy sure fought the good fight and met the challenge head on,” said one post. “He really brought a lot of people together for a heartfelt cause.”

“Your sweet baby showed so many of us the true meaning of Christmas this year,” said another post. “He will always be our sweet Angel.”

“Prayers for the family. We were Jeep #335. It was amazing to see how many people you touched,” wrote yet another person. “We may not have known you but you stole our hearts.”

The sentiment that young Georgie stole the hearts of hundreds, if not thousands, whom he never met can be clearly seen, as one scrolls through the words of encouragement and love offered on multiple social media accounts.