LaReeca Rucker
The Clarion-Ledger
From the archives May 1, 2010
They returned to the sites where, together, they had worshiped and found the structures destroyed.
But little things left undisturbed and religious icons not spared by last weekend’s tornado made them feel God remained in control amid the chaos.
Like the hymnal found in Hillcrest Baptist Church.
“One of the songbooks was open, and a piece of trash was lying across it,” said church trustee Gene Creel. “The song showing was ‘Til the Storm Passes By on page 543.”
The middle of three crosses on the crest of a nearby hill was destroyed, while the other two remained.
“That was Christ’s cross,” said Creel, who was thankful none of the church members were seriously injured.
Plans to build a new church had been on hold, but Creel said the insurance money may now enable it.
Millspring Missionary Baptist Church in Weir, a Choctaw County congregation of about 300, was also destroyed, and members are mourning the loss of 3-month-old Andra Patterson, the storm’s youngest victim. Her family attended the church.
The Rev. Vincent Coleman, who has led Millspring for 12 years, said the church is the center of the community.
“It was just devastating,” he said. “The congregation understands that we don’t question God’s work. It’s unfortunate. We didn’t want this to happen, but he’s still in control of the universe.”
Coleman said Millspring will be rebuilt, but right now, he’s more concerned about the community. “Our major concern is trying to get some normalcy for the people, because if we don’t get them some healing, we don’t have a congregation,” he said.
Brandon resident Fay Hart, 85, grew up in Holmes County about three miles from Ebenezer Baptist Church in Lexington. She attended church there until she married at 21 and recalls ice cream and watermelon socials on the grounds.
The small church built in the 1800s was destroyed, and Hart returned last week to survey the damage. “It was terrible,” she said. “It tore the front part plain off, and it was lying on the ground. The church pews were blown over, and the recreation center was damaged.
“Me and my husband have bought a double tomb out there in the cemetery. It blew some trees over a tomb, but missed mine. I just wanted to cry all the way home. I told them I never believed I’d live to see nothing like that.”
A nearby Methodist church has made its fellowship hall available for Ebenezer’s Sunday services, Pastor Billy Barron said.
Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church members were surprised by what they saw at their church site after the storm.
The Rev. Charles Hughes, who has been pastor since October, was in Jackson when the tornado destroyed the rural church of 50 to 75 members in the Meehan community of Lauderdale County.
When Hughes arrived on the scene, he saw trees down, the church’s front doors lying in the sanctuary, windows blown out, and the entire back wall and roof missing.
“Some of the amazing things that happened are we had a cross in the front of the church that was untouched by the storm,” he said. “And in the fellowship hall, we had a pastor’s table where we had meals. “They had it dressed in crimson with long-stem goblets, crystal wear and rose petals sprinkled all over it. It was four feet from the wall, and the entire wall was pulled out and gone, but nothing on the pastor’s table was moved.”
Hughes said he’s thankful for the generosity of those who have offered help and that no church members were injured.
“For every individual who goes through a life-changing experience — if they reach out to him, he hears,” he said. “I’m a big believer that life is to be lived forward and understood backward.”