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Reeling from the devastation of severe storms and tornadoes, the small Mississippi town of Rolling Fork was uplifted by its mayor as the community began recovery efforts.
Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker is a well-known figure in his community, not only because of his political ties but because he is the town’s funeral director.
It’s a business he’s been around most of his life, he said. He was raised by his grandparents, who ran the business for 45 years.
In that capacity, as well as in his role as mayor, Walker has been able to offer comfort to the people of his city, the hardest hit of the towns from Friday’s deadly tornado that claimed at least 25 lives across the state. Another person died in Alabama after it whipped through northeast Mississippi.
«They call me Butch here,» Walker said. «The daughter of one of the victims called and told me, ‘You’re going to have to help me get through this, Butch.'»
‘Wiped off the map’: South hit by more severe weather after tornadoes leave 26 dead. Live updates.
Photos: Tornadoes rip through Mississippi and Alabama overnight
Search and recovery efforts resumed Sunday in Rolling Fork after the tornado displaced hundreds of people in the community of nearly 2,000 residents.
