wfn.org | United Methodists bury dead, begin cleanup after tornadoes

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

April 14, 1998 Contact: Joretta Purdue*(202)546-8722*Washington  10-71BP
{222}

NOTE: A photograph is available. This story is also accompanied by a
sidebar, UMNS #223.

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodist congregations near Birmingham, Ala., are mourning the
dead and rebuilding homes and churches following an April 8 tornado,
believed to be the worst that's ever hit the region.

Seven United Methodists were among the 33 people killed by the tornado
that struck several Jefferson County communities around Birmingham.
Another 256 people were injured. The storm, with winds exceeding 261
miles per hour,  tore apart more than 1,100 homes and other buildings,
and damaged as many more.

The line of storms started in Mississippi and moved east, going into the
Atlantic on April 9. Alabama was hit hardest, but people in neighboring
states also had harrowing experiences. Two people were killed in
Georgia, and Mississippi and South Carolina each had one fatality.

In Alabama, Sylvan Springs United Methodist Church lost six members.
 
The church held funeral services on April 11 for Mary E. "Betty" and
Wesley "Joe" Parker Jr., both 72.
  
On April 14, funeral services were held for Lenora McCullers, 66.
Daughter-in-law Patricia Lee Markham Sullivan, 47, who died with
McCullers, will be buried on April 18. Sullivan's daughter, Sherry, was
injured, but she has been released from the hospital.

Joy Pratt was buried on April 11, and her husband, Woodrow, 61, was
buried two days later. The Pratts lived in McDonald Chapel, Ala., but
were members of the Sylvan Springs church.

Beatrice Anderson, 76, a member of Edgewater United Methodist Church,
was buried on April 14.

The Edgewater church was destroyed along with many surrounding
buildings. Large tents are being sent to the church so the congregation
can continue meeting on its own property, said the Rev. Tom Hazelwood,
disaster response network manager with the United Methodist Committee on
Relief  (UMCOR).

Sylvan Springs United Methodist Church had some damage, and McDonald
Chapel United Methodist Church will need a new roof and other repairs.

In Georgia, at least 3,000 buildings were affected, but most are thought
to be reparable. Much of the damage to church property occurred at
parsonages. The Rev. James Cantrell, senior pastor at St. James United
Methodist Church, lost the entire second story of his parsonage. The
home of  St. James' associate pastor, the Rev. Al Clarke, also was
damaged.

The parsonage of Associate Pastor Shelley Wisdom Long at Kingswood
United Methodist Church suffered hits to the roof and carport.

About 50 trees fell at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, and part of
the educational building roof was blown off, but services were held
there the following Sunday. Winters Chapel United Methodist Church and
its parsonage were also struck.

Dunwoody United Methodist Church was not damaged, but members' homes
were. Church members have been helping at the Red Cross shelter, and
Dunwoody is the disaster response center for the Atlanta-Roswell
District of the United Methodist Church. Atlanta-Roswell is the area of
Georgia most affected by the storms.

The Rev. Clark Peloubet, a member of the UMCOR disaster response team,
is in Atlanta helping organize the relief effort. UMCOR representative
Bob Blair also is in Georgia, assisting with communications.

Hazelwood is scheduled to visit Alabama on April 16 and 17 to help
assess needs.

UMCOR has advanced $50,000 to the North Alabama Annual (regional)
Conference for disaster response. Donations may be sent to UMCOR, marked
Domestic Disaster Response, #901670-1, at 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330,
New York, NY 10115.

# # #

Material for this story was provided by Ron Council and Alice M. Smith,
communications directors for the North Alabama and North and South
Georgia conferences, respectively.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/