WAVERLY, Va. -- At least 400 people gathered in the small town of Waverly Monday night to send a message of resilience after three people, including a two-year-old, were killed during a deadly tornado outbreak on February 24.
Two-year-old Ian Lewis, Larry D. Turner, 50, and Devine J. Stringfield, 26, were killed after an EF-1 tornado wiped out their Waverly trailer.
Although clean-up efforts have washed away most of the damage from Wednesday’s storms, the people of Waverly still had unfinished business as they said goodbye to three members of their community.
Trenicka Stringfield, the mother, sister, and girlfriend of the victims attended the vigil, alongside of family, friends, and strangers.
“We will keep on pulling, we will keep on trying, because what greater love than this,” said one speaker during the vigil.
"I didn’t see a people who are in despair, I saw a people who had resilience and who were determined to let the world know-- we've taken this storms best shot and we are still here," said another.
Other community members talked about how united the community has become since the sudden tornado ripped through their community.
“I never seen anything like it, we’ve had hundreds of people here helping to do everything from helping to patch roofs, to hand out food, to clean up yards,” said a Waverly resident. “It’s been overwhelming; it’s been people from all over, people who’ve never been to Waverly.”
The funerals for two-year-old Ian and Devine Stringfield will be held Saturday, March 5 at 11 a.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church, 38070 Rocky Hock Rd, Wakefield.
