In Waverly, Tennessee, a community joined together to honor and remember the 20 victims lost in the devastating floods that struck three years prior. A ceremony was held, featuring the dedication of a new monument etched with the names of those who died in the historic flooding on August 21, 2021. Reportedly attracting a substantial crowd, the vigil put a spotlight on the resilience and sorrow still palpable in the small town. "We remember three years ago," said Pastor Daron Brown of Waverly Church of the Nazarene, as reported by WSMV. "We remember when the earth gave way."
The event brought together not just the townspeople, but local and state leaders including Governor Bill Lee and State Senator Kerry Roberts. "There is a sweet thread of redemption that weaves its way through the bitter fabric of the days that this community has faced," Lee stated, as described in the WSMV article. The emotional weight of the tragedy was palpable as Tonia Brown, a victim of the floods, recounted the loss of her home, saying, "Standing here now I can still remember how I felt that day." Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis echoed the sentiment, acknowledging that for some, the passage of time may never fully heal the wounds inflicted by the floods.
As highlighted in a NewsChannel5 article, the Waverly community came in force to the vigil, which took place outside the remains of the Waverly Junior High School. Amid songs and shared memories, they grappled with the collective pain and the long-lasting effects of the floods. "We're a small town. We're not real huge, so when we lose one, it's like we lose 100," community member Georgene Matsuyama was quoted as expressing.
Danielle Hall, a mother who suffered an unimaginable loss in the 2021 disaster, shared her grief with FOX 17. She lost her 7-month-old twins Ryan and Riliegh to the floods. "I've always heard your life can change in a matter of seconds, and never believed it until that day," Hall said, a statement putting a deeply personal face on the tragedy. Meanwhile, Mayor Buddy Frazier reminded the crowd that the city's recovery is a long-term process, predicting it could take another half-decade for Waverly to resemble its pre-flood condition, as wan reported by WSMV.
