Edward “Lee” Sessions

Following his service in the US military, Lee began his career in the construction trades working for his father, Jim Sessions Construction in Cairo, Georgia. He left to work as an electrician for Neal Electric, and after 4 years went to work as a carpenter and electrician for Balfour Lumber Company where he spent the next 22 years. In 2001 he started his own construction company, GLS Construction in Evans, Georgia, operating as a licensed contractor and electrician.

The disease with its commensurate nerve damage caused Lee to lose sufficient strength in his arms and legs such that he now requires an electric wheelchair to get around. His son Jason now runs the company. Before Lee needed and electric wheelchair, his mode of transportation was to mount his manual wheelchair on the back of his SUV. That became much more difficult with the electric wheelchair, with the added complication that it would get wet when it rained. His family was now required to physically lift him into and out of the SUV, and after he fell twice he decided to look for a handicapped accessible van. Due to his substantially reduced income however Lee could not afford a van, and an online search by a family member led them to the Joseph Groh foundation. At the same time, Lee’s family discovered a veterans benefit called the Automobile and Special Adaptive Equipment Grant Program. If a veteran has a disability that is service related, this program will help the individual get a handicapped assisted van. If a veteran has a disability that is not service related, this program can pay for the conversion but the

The VA paid for the conversion and the work was completed at Achieve Mobility Sales of Tallahassee. Lee was ecstatic on receiving his new van, as was his whole family! The foundation appreciates learning of this benefit for veterans and will include information about it through the links section in their next website update.