Award-winning reporter loses everything in house fire; here's how to help

Josh Dewberry

Josh Dewberry’s name is no stranger to the pages of The Evergreen Courant. As an award-winning reporter and photographer at The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Dewberry’s stories and pictures often appear on the front page of The Courant, especially those about the Town of Repton, the ongoing dispute over the proposed Conecuh Woods landfill and the proposed lake project near Repton. In fact, one of his stories appeared on the front of last week’s edition.

Josh is one of the best people I know, and he’s always willing to freely share his stories and photos with The Courant as a service to the people of Conecuh County. This isn’t something that Josh has to do, and he doesn’t receive one extra red cent for it. He does it as a courtesy to The Courant and to our readers.

I say all that to say that Josh is one of The Courant’s closest newspaper colleagues and friends. Even though he works at another newspaper, he’s always there when we need a favor, and he’s always willing and ready to lend a hand. In turn this week, I’d like to ask all of you to consider lending Josh and his family a hand.

Around 9 a.m. on Wednesday of last week, just as The Monroe Journal was preparing to go to press, Josh’s house in Excel caught fire and burned to the ground. No one was injured in what firefighters believe was an electrical fire, but Josh, his wife Jennifer and their three school-age children – Dustin, Jill and Hannah – lost everything.

Even though Josh works and lives in Monroe County, he has very strong ties to Conecuh County. Josh grew up in Lenox, where is parents Ray and Carol Dewberry still live today. Prior to going to work for The Journal, he served as the editor of the South Alabama News in Evergreen, where he cut his newspaper teeth covering news and sports events in Conecuh County.

Josh and his family are also active members of the Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association. In fact, Josh’s dad, Ray, is a past president of that outstanding organization. Ray is also an active member of the Masonic lodge in Repton.

Josh is one of the hardest-working people that I know. While so many people in today’s world do all they can to get out of work and shrug off their duties as fathers and family men, Josh goes above and beyond the call of duty to do what he’s supposed to do. He (and his wife) get up and go to work everyday and do all they can to provide for their children. They work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and last week’s fire was just a classic case of bad things happening to good people.

It’s my hope that many of you reading this will feel compelled to help Josh and his family. An account has been set up for them through Cadence Bank in Monroeville, and donations can be sent to that account by mail. Just mail the donation to Cadence Bank, ATTN: Dewberry Donation, 780 South Alabama Ave., Monroeville, AL 36460. Please make the checks payable to Josh and Jennifer Dewberry.

In the end, if you can’t send Josh and Jenn a donation, please keep them in your prayers.