Now and Then

In the wake of the devastating February 5th tornado that flattened portions of Macon County, killing 14 people and injuring dozens, Shirley and Roger Tuck are glad to be alive.

“I did two loads of laundry that Tuesday morning,” Shirley recalls, “and regular housework that afternoon.”

“I had always thought of myself as strong, but I did not realize the strength I would need to get me through that night.”

Shirley and her husband, who lived at 2381 Akersville Road, had spent the evening watching television, but Roger, who had open heart surgery in December, had turned in early.

“It was around 10 p.m. when the tornado warnings were flashing across the TV screen,” Shirley said, “and our tornado weather radio, next to our bed, was screaming, but Roger kept clicking it off.”

One glance out the back door confirmed what Shirley already knew.

“A big, wide, black funnel ran all the way to the ground and there was light on both sides of it, which I now realize was from the Columbia Gulf fire,” Shirley said. “With my heart pounding in my chest and my hands trembling, I stumbled backwards and ran to the bedroom.”

“Roger, get up, it's a tornado,” Shirley screamed.

“Ah, you know it's not a tornado,” Roger remembers telling Shirley, “it's just a bad thunderstorm.”

But observing Shirley's near hysteria, Roger hopped out of bed and was stunned when he looked out the door.

Within seconds the tornado hit and they barely had time to get in the bath tub with Roger using his body to shield Shirley.

“I could hear the aluminum siding being torn off the house,” Roger said, “and 2x4's were snapping and breaking. All the windows blew out, the roof went next and then the walls.”

“We certainly were doing some praying,” Roger continued, “and God absolutely had his hands on us.”

“My arms felt like they were slipping from around Shirley several times, but I managed to hang on, and at one point I actually thought we were in the air.”

But finally the winds started slowing down and then it was over.

Surrounded by solid debris, Shirley and Roger crawled through what was left of the house out into the yard, through electrical lines, to the road, then across the street to Frances and Herlin Qualls, whose house was still standing.

“I had one little scratch on my arm and a small place on my leg,” Shirley said, “and Roger was fine. I can't believe that we walked out alive.”

“After being directed to a couple of different places by the rescue squad,” Shirley continued, “they finally sent a school bus to take us to the old high school building, now LES I think, where we were reunited with our son and daughter-in-law, Dustin and Tiffany Tuck and grandson, Rodney.”

And then they were silent, side by side, just enjoying the comfort of being with their family, and safe.

At this point it was 6 o'clock in the morning and they were grateful to be going home with Dustin and Tiffany.

“When I look in the mirror now,” Shirley said, “I notice that the set of my jaw, my eyes, and the way I smile seem different. I stop and really listen to what people are saying. And sometimes I feel a little guilt arise when I think of our neighbors who lost their lives in the storm and Roger and I walked away, but I thank God every day for taking care of us and seeing us through this tragedy.”

The Tucks would like to thank everyone that has helped them in any way during their time of need, including the Church of Christ, Red Cross, Farm Bureau, Murfreesboro Methodist Church, and Defeated Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

And a special thanks to Trudy Moss, Shawn Carter, Kelly Carnahan, Fay Tuttle, Heather Tuttle, Gary Carter, Kathy Carter, Donna Marsh, Mary & Rondal Flippin, Greg & Angie Tuck, Bill & Anita Dyer, Terry & Pam Meador, Wayne & Judy Oldham, A.P. & June Perrigo, Billy & Faye Perrigo, Page Brawner, Joyce & Dennis Swindle, Januarie & Caleb Alred, Shelley Harrison, Terry & Teresa Austin, and Betty Perrigo.