Off The Record
Last Two Words Father Said To Son Derrick, 4 And Daughter Harmony, 7, Before Losing Them During Hurricane Helene
The Taylors’ normally enjoyable evening took a terrible turn from the beginning. They blew each other kisses, not knowing that in the morning they would have to deal with terrible news.
A destructive storm claimed the lives of around twenty-six Georgians, including a brother and his sister. As families deal with the tragic deaths of loved ones, this horrific incident has had a significant impact on the community.
The night of September 26, 2024, started off calmly for the Taylors, even though they knew that Hurricane Helene was headed into eastern Middle Georgia. Even yet, they had no idea where it would land or how much of an impact it would have well inland.
As a result, they were spending precious time together as the kids unwind with their parents. The 34-year-old Crystal Taylor and her 11-year-old son Cassidy were cuddled up on the couch in the living room as they fell asleep.
The two had been watching a cooking show called “Beat Bobby Flay,” while Crystal watched her phone for weather updates. Her 39-year-old husband Herbert Taylor and their two other children, Derrick, 4, and Harmony, 7, were sound sleeping in their bedroom.
After midnight, the violent storm tore across the region, roaring across the Ocmulgee and Oconee rivers and advancing from Valdosta into Augusta.
In the end, the 5,500-person city of Sandersville—which is situated in the middle of the triangle made up of Macon, Statesboro, and Augusta—found itself squarely in the path of the storm.
Crystal’s mother called to see if their trees were still intact at about 4:00 a.m. They were, Crystal reassured her, even if the wind had picked up a lot. A huge oak tree with a trunk as broad as a truck tire towered over the backyard.
On sunny days, the tree’s wide canopy shaded much of the home and the backyard, and it stayed upright. Herbert, a heavy equipment operator, walked outside to have a look when the winds picked up and noticed his truck’s cover lifting into the air.
His two youngest children were sleeping in his bedroom, so he turned to head that way down the hall. The house exploded before he could get to them.
Derrick and Harmony were resting when the massive oak tree toppled upon their bedding. “My babies,” Herbert shouted out, just as the impact set off an electrical fire. Cassidy and Crystal, in the meantime, hurried to a neighbor’s house in order to be safe.
Cassidy was tearful but maintained her composure as she called 911. Giving their home’s address, she said, “A tree fell on top of our house. My 4-year-old brother and my 7-year-old sister are in it. The house is on fire.”
When rescuers got to the Taylor home on South Hospital Road, the storm was still howling. After putting out the fire, Derrick and Harmony were trapped since the enormous oak tree blocked their path.
Crystal sobbed, “I can’t get to my babies.” Fearful that calling their names might provoke them to cry out while she was helpless to save them, she struggled to stay calm. Hours dragged on, and it took more than five hours for the crew to saw through the tree and reach the children.
As time passed with no sign of her kids, Crystal, a pre-K teacher at Ridge Road Primary, reassured herself, “My babies are going to come out. They’ll be alright.”
She imagined Harmony would come looking for the special cooked white potatoes her beloved “papa,” made for her, while Derrick would ask for his favorite snack, cookies and Graham crackers.
This future was tragically cut short. Derrick and Harmony, according to the Taylors, died instantly. The family is still mourning their loss and is grateful for the public’s well-wishes and encouragement.
Herbert wrote on Facebook on September 28, 2024, “I wanna thank everybody for the calls and all the luv and prayers we’ve been getting; it really means a lot to us at this difficult time. Much luv to yall.”
On September 30, 2024, Crystal also spoke out, “Hello everyone, I wanted to reach out to everyone and say that nothing has gone unnoticed and me and my family appreciate all the love that has been shown to us during this time.”
Additionally, the Taylors have been getting donations via Herbert’s cash app $Rick4715 from kindhearted people. Additionally, the family has a GoFundMe page setup by Jenna Barefield and Brittany Price. As of this writing, it had raised more than $55,000 of the $100,000 target.
The page reads, “Please consider giving to help the family during this incredible loss with funeral expenses as well as finding new housing and everyday expenses. They also have their oldest daughter to care for.”
The Taylor family is incredibly appreciative of the community’s financial assistance, prayers, and thoughtful acts, for which they have received over 900 donations.
While they work to rebuild their lives, the Taylor family and other families are in mourning. As we previously reported, a small boy and his grandparents were among the numerous people who lost their lives in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The aunt of the deceased youngster wrote a long article that she uploaded online that described what transpired.
According to a recent CBS News report, at least 135 individuals have lost their lives as a result of Hurricane Helene. According to officials, the Carolinas reportedly suffered the worst damage from the hurricane out of all the states affected, with over 80 civilian deaths reported there.
The horrifying account of a mother, her son, and her parents becoming stranded on a house rooftop in Ashville, North Carolina, was published by the news outlet. Megan Drye, a helpless and distraught mother, watched as a flood swept away her parents and her 7-year-old son Micah after the house collapsed into the river.
Little Micah and his grandparents had a horrible, very sad fate, while Megan was saved. Jessica Drye Turner, Megan’s sister, provided additional details about the tragedy by posting updates on Facebook.
Jessica started out by sharing the emotional upheaval she was still experiencing as she came to terms with the loss of her parents and nephew in the section of her post that she indicated was made on September 30.
However, she noted, “I feel a bit guilty because I’m so at peace with things. We will see them again one day and there’s nothing that could entice them to come back after being with Jesus.”
After Jessica finished making revelations about spirituality and her belief that her parents no longer felt the same level of panic, fear, and desperation as they did in their last moments, she acknowledged her sister’s grief. “I’m sick that Megan has to live with those images but they are no longer here… It will be a long road for Megan,” expressed Jessica.
She then mentioned the tough times that also lay ahead for her and their other sister, Heather Kephart. Transitioning the focus of the message to her deceased nephew, Jessica disclosed, “They just found Micah’s body. He was found 1/4 of a mile past where they found Megan… He was such a perfect little boy. He wanted to be a superhero. And now he is.”
The bereaved aunt then revealed, “The last thing [Micah] yelled before he was taken was, ‘Jesus! Please help me!'” Ending this update, Jessica penned, “And I still loudly call on His name! New grief and strong faith. New motto.”
In addition to discussing her own pain and feelings, as well as those of Megan and Heather, Jessica gave a thorough description of the time her parents, sister, and nephew were in the center of the storm and were afraid for their lives.
The letter revealed that Megan had to wait three hours for rescue after becoming trapped between two trailers due to the current.
Similar to Jessica, Amanda Sprouse Simpkins, a friend of Heather’s, also posted on Facebook about the upsetting news.
In her message, Amanda urged, “Please pray for Megan, Jessica Drye Turner, and Heather and the rest of the family. The loss Megan has endured is profound. She is left with nothing. If you feel led, please give. If you can’t, please pray.”
Amanda’s request for assistance from the public directed them to the GoFundMe page that Heather set up for her sister.
“For Megan Drye, our miracle, who has lived a mother’s worst nightmare. She has survived the unimaginable and lost absolutely everything. The support of others will carry her and encourage her to keep taking one breath, one step, and one day at a time,” reads a portion of the page’s description.
The fact that Heather utilized the final picture Micah’s grandmother took of the cute little boy added even more sadness to the already terrible situation.
The picture showed Micah grinning for the camera when his grandmother snapped the picture, her reflection showing on the door behind Micah. Micah was wearing a Jurassic World T-shirt.
Even if the affected states have taken all the necessary precautions to lessen the worst of the storm’s consequences, Hurricane Helene’s aftermath is still wreaking havoc on a number of US states.
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