Campbell says the limb that fell had a specific defect that the oak's other limbs do not have. He says there are some dead limbs that should be removed, however.
The tree, found in Pointe Coupee Parish northwest of Baton Rouge, is called the Miss Jane Pittman Oak by many people because Gaines drew inspiration for parts of the book "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" while sitting under the tree.