Submitted to The Vicksburg Post

‘After the storm we didn’t have anything. We did not know what to do or where to go, and the people of Vicksburg saved us.’

On Aug. 27, when I left my Ninth Ward home in New Orleans, there was eeriness in the air. As we hurried to get into our van, we loaded it with basic hurricane needs.

Any New Orleanian knows the drill – bottled water, clothes enough for two or three days. “Why pack more, because we’ll be home.”

Little did we know that the city of New Orleans and an almost-forgotten area like the Ninth Ward and countless others would become a part of history.

As we arrived in Vicksburg after a very long ride, we felt blessed to be out of harm’s way. But by the time we watched the news, we learned that the storm was going to hit parts of Mississippi. We still felt confident that we were safe. We continued to pray for friends and loved ones.

Some of the people ran for destinations unknown, others refused to leave their homes and stayed behind. As the storm progressed, we lost power, cellular contact, and for a short time we felt a sense of fear and uncertainty. In the midst of it all, we had no idea of the horrors that our friends and loved ones were suffering back in the Louisiana Superdome and Convention Center.

We had never known such mixed emotions. We were grateful just to be alive, yet there was a great sense of pain for our friends and fellow New Orleanians left behind. As they cried out for water, water for us was only a few steps away. When they cried out for rescue, all we could do was watch and pray that help would arrive soon. When help finally started to arrive and the survivors were taken from the city, a sense of relief filled our sprits and gave us hope again.

The painful images of the people and our city still hurt to think about. Yet with time, we realized that the pain will pass. This has been called the greatest display of compassion that this country has ever shown after such a tragedy.

After the storm we didn’t have anything. We did not know what to do or where to go, and the people of Vicksburg saved us. The pastor, officers and members of Grove Street Church embraced us and gave us hope to keep going. The wonderful people at the Salvation Army on Mission 66 helped us with clothes, food and never once made us feel needy or homeless.

When I needed someone to listen to me, Mrs. Barbara Tolliver and all the people at the United Way were there for me. I would like to also thank Evangelist Geneva Jones and her daughter, Mrs. Ola Henderson, who touched our hearts with beautiful praise songs to help us drown out our pain.

Last, but not least, thank you to Mrs. Brenda Love of Unique Impressions restaurant for taking all 18 of us into her home, restaurant and heart. This tireless angel of love is a true testament of what Vicksburg love is all about.

On Sept 8, at 3 a.m. in the morning, our telephone rang. It was Mrs. Love calling. We had been separated from one of our family members whom we had to leave at West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero. My husband’s 80-year-old mother had suffered a stroke while being transported to Baton Rouge General. At the hospital, Mrs. Elnora Smith’s heart stopped three times, but the doctors brought her back. She was there for days. No one knew who her relatives were. We searched the Internet to find her, but we had no luck. We mentioned the situation to Mrs. Love and she said in a soft and loving tone, “I’m going to find your mother.” We knew that Mrs. Elnora was out there somewhere and every moment was critical. Before the storm, her doctor had just told the family she had less than six months to live.

When the phone rang that morning, it was Mrs. Love telling us she had found my husband’s mother. When she told him, he cried out, “Thank you, thank you, Jesus,” and broke into tears. He said now she didn’t have to be alone.

If she had died alone, I could not have lived knowing that. We left for Baton Rouge General. When we got there, the doctors told us of her condition. All we could do was sit by her side, hold her hand. She couldn’t speak. We contacted the other family members who were scattered from Texas to Atlanta. We told them to come: Mrs. Elnora seemed to be holding on waiting for her family. The doctor even remarked on how he had never seen anyone in her condition hold on so long.

As we sat at her side we talked to her of times long ago, told her we loved her and just waited. Then, on Sept 10 at 11:30 a.m., Mrs. Elnora Smith passed away with her son, the Rev. Joseph Smith, at her side. He said she doesn’t have to suffer any more and I’m glad I was here.

I’m so thankful for Brenda Love: I’ll remember what she did for me for the rest of my life.

Thank you to the citizens of Vicksburg for helping us at the darkest time of our lives.

God bless you.