At least 23 people, ranging from 6 to 89 years old, died Sunday when a massive tornado slammed into the small community of Beauregard, Alabama. Here are some of their stories:
BEAUREGARD, Ala. — At least 23 people, ranging from 6 to 89 years old, died Sunday when a massive tornado slammed into the small community of Beauregard, Alabama. Here are some of their stories:
SHEILA CREECH and MARSHAL LYNN GRIMES
Sheila Creech, 59, had been staying at companion Marshal Lynn Grimes’ home in Alabama while damage from Hurricane Michael was being repaired at her Panama City Beach, Florida, apartment building, her granddaughter said.
Creech and Grimes, also 59, had a long, sometimes tumultuous history, granddaughter Desteni Clifton told the Montgomery Advertiser .
As a young couple, they had two children together, before moving on to new relationships and having more children with other partners, Clifton said.
Two years ago, the internet brought Creech and Grimes back together. They rekindled their romance, even planning marriage.
They had been camping over the weekend, bringing along Taylor Thornton, a friend of Grimes’ 11-year-old daughter, Clifton said.
“I guess they maybe didn’t hear the sirens, or if they did, it was too late for them to get anywhere safe,” Clifton said. “It was a total surprise. She was very young and so was he.”
Grimes’ daughter broke both her legs when the tornado hit, Clifton said.
DAVID WAYNE DEAN
David Wayne Dean, 53, was known as “Roaddog” to his friends for his love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
