When the Dec. 16 killer F-4 tornado ripped through parts of Tuscaloosa, residents in Etowah County had an advantage of time as the tornado headed their way.
But time did not matter for Macedonia Baptist Church in Coates Bend near Gadsden. The church still received extensive damage as a result of the tornado that made a path from Mississippi through Tuscaloosa and into Jefferson, St. Clair and Etowah counties, touching down only in Tuscaloosa and Etowah. Union Baptist Church No. 3, Gadsden, also was damaged during the tornado’s touchdown in Etowah County.
The tornado damage is the second tragedy experienced by Macedonia this year. The church lost two adult members during a youth missions trip in July. Lisa Johnson, 38, and her husband, Charles, 40, were killed July 15 in a van accident as they began a youth missions trip to Gulf Shores. Several youth were also injured in the wreck.
As the storm crashed down on Tuscaloosa, packing winds of 170–200 mph, at least 11 people were killed and dozens sustained injuries. Marking a path 18 miles long and one-half mile wide, the tornado, classified as the nation’s deadliest this year, destroyed more than 200 homes and businesses. Ironically, no Baptist churches were reported damaged in Tuscaloosa.
Another tornado that hit Geneva County earlier in the day left one person dead.
A member of one Tuscaloosa Baptist church was among the dead in that community and a minister there lost his house to the tornado. Charles Foster, minister of music at Valley View Baptist Church, told The Birmingham News he and his family huddled in the bathroom of their home as the tornado destroyed their house.
Bob Thornton, director of missions for Etowah Association, said three sections of Macedonia sustained damage from the tornado.
The church’s sanctuary received interior damage as a result of rain and snow that fell after the steeple and portions of the roof were blown away, Thornton said.
Several trees fell on Macedonia’s education building, resulting in structural damage. That part of the roof was also torn away. “It was just filled with debris,” Thornton said.
He said damage was also sustained to the fellowship hall by a six-to-seven-foot pine log that appeared to have traveled through the roof at great force. He noted that the log most likely traveled some distance because no pine trees are located in the immediate area of the church and went through two walls after falling through the roof.
Thornton expects Macedonia to face major renovation. Services were canceled at the church Dec. 17 as a result of the damage, he added.
Damage to Union Baptist resulted from two trees falling on the roof of the church, Thornton said. The collapsed roof allowed rain and snow to damage the interior of the building.
Another Etowah County Church, Mt. Olive, Walnut Grove, was damaged after a tree fell on the roof. Thornton said he was unsure of the extent of damage.
Dicky McAllister, director of missions for Geneva Baptist Association, said no churches in his area are known to have received damage to their buildings. He said Devco Baptist Church, Geneva, reported its public address system may have been damaged by lightning associated with the storm.
At press time The Alabama Baptist had verified at least one of those killed by the tornadoes was a Baptist.
Carol Fitts, a member of Little Sandy Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, died as a result of injuries she received when her house was destroyed. Her husband, Jimmy, was also injured but is expected to recover, according to Little Sandy Pastor Billy Gray.
Share with others: