Rolling Fork tornado victims mourn those killed
Residents share stories of survival
Residents share stories of survival
Residents share stories of survival
As the sun came up Saturday, many soon realized the severity of the damage from Friday night’s tornado that killed at least 25 people and injured dozens more.
There was complete and utter devastation in the small town of Rolling Fork, where people were mourning the deaths of more than a dozen people.
“My sister didn’t make it. Mary Barfield didn’t make it,” said Rolling Fork resident Jimmy Barfield. “I still haven’t, you know, completely accepted that yet. My family is going to be devastated.”
A scar has been left across the heart of Mississippi following the tornado.
“It seems like a protection, a hand was over where we were, and everything else was gone. All the walls and the roof, everything was gone except for that bathroom,” Barfield said.
Next door on Worthington Street, a woman and her 8-month-old daughter took cover as the twister tore through their home.
“It happened so fast, because I had just gotten my baby out of the bed and put her on the couch with me,” she said. “She wouldn’t have made it if I didn’t grab her out of the bed.”
The lives of people in Rolling Fork have been changed forever, some destroyed.
“It was just heartbreaking, terrible. Just so bad, and like I said, whenever I arrived over here, and I hollered for them for maybe 30 minutes, an hour or so,” said Michael Brown, a cousin of one of the victims.
According to family members, Malissa and Lonnie Pierce were killed when an 18-wheeler landed on their 7th Street home.
“They’re in heaven right now,” said David Brown, Malissa’s son. “I was told they passed away in each other’s arms.”