As crews search the southern part of the United States for victims of Hurricane Helene, the death toll continues to rise. The newest reports say at least 160 people died from the storm, and that may not be the final total. The storm wiped out entire communities, and they will take years to rebuild. Innocent people died, and their families will never forget them.
Tony Taylor was at his home with his family in Charlotte, North Carolina, when tragedy struck on September 27. A tree fell on the family’s home and killed the father of four. Thankfully, the rest of his family survived, but their lives will never be the same.
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The tree fell in the early morning.
According to a post on X from the Charlotte Fire Department, crews responded to a home in the 4200 block of Brookway Drive just after 5 a.m., after receiving a report of a fallen tree. The rest of the family got out, but storm damage trapped two people inside the home, and crews did their best to rescue them. One of the two was freed from the home and was taken to an area hospital. But sadly, Taylor died in the accident.
“The minor children in the home were not physically harmed. Charlotte Fire remained on the scene for about an hour,” the fire department reported.
Family quickly set up a GoFundMe account for Taylor's surviving loved ones.
The fundraising page noted the tree belonged to a neighbor. “For some time, we had been trying to get the tree removed, but since it wasn’t on our property, there was little we could do. Now, we are left not only to mourn the loss of a man whose smile could light up any room but also to support his grieving family through this incredibly difficult time,” the post reads.
The family will miss Taylor.
The GoFundMe page described Taylor as a loving, family-oriented man. “Uncle Tony was a friend to everyone and treated every person he met like family. We are asking for any contribution to help support his wife and children as they rebuild their lives in the wake of this unimaginable loss,” the page reads. “Your generosity means more than words can express, and we are deeply grateful for any support you can offer during this time.”
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Donations have poured in for the family.
The GoFundMe surpassed its original $10,000 goal with nearly $15,000 in donations, and donors left kind words for Taylor’s family.
Someone wrote, “Continue to pray during this difficult time as God hears you and will comfort you.” Another person prayed, “Many prayers for Sandy and the kids. May Jah comfort them during this time.”
