“The weatherman said the tornado would hit Silver City about 8:30 p.m., and he was right. I was in the only part of my house that wasn’t damaged. I have never been through a tornado, but I served in Vietnam. When I walked out of my house this morning, it looked like a bomb had gone off throwing stuff everywhere.

On the ground is my 45 record of the Denise Williams’ song, ‘I am so Proud.’ I loved music, and she was one of my favorites. When I was in the military, I bought a lot of LPs. They were cheap back then. After I came home, I recorded the albums on my eight-track and cassette recorders and sold the bootleg music. It was the old songs people couldn’t buy anymore.

I kept those albums until two years ago. A close friend, who I grew up with in this neighborhood, got sick and passed away. I sold my records for a good price and gave the money to her daughter. We are a tight community and have known each other for generations. We have barbecues, and everyone brings something. We are a family that takes care of one another and has a good time.

My father wasn’t in my life, but my mother did a wonderful job raising me and made sure I graduated from high school. I was drafted in 1971 and went to Vietnam. A lot of men lost their lives in that war for nothing.

I went to work for a factory making transformers on electric poles then worked for a salvage lot for 21 years until it went out of business. I also worked on farm equipment.

God didn’t bless me with any kids, but I helped raise some. There are kids who call me grandaddy — that is my blessing.

I am 70 years old. When the Lord says it’s my time, I’m ready. But right now, I look around at all of the destruction and realize God blessed a lot of us to still be here.”

Oscar

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On March 24, a tornado plowed through Mississippi, destroying much of Rolling Fork and Silver City. These small Delta towns are 30 miles north of my hometown of Yazoo City, and I often drive through this area when I go home. I went to Silver City on Saturday to help share their stories.

Here are two ways to help residents of Silver City:
Donate to the GoFundMe set up by Camille Rogers, an Alderman in Silver City
https://gofund.me/46cd593d

Donate to the fund for Silver City set up at Guaranty Bank in Belzoni.

Silver City Relief Fund
Guaranty Bank
P.O. Box 657
Belzoni, MS 39038-0657