An elderly couple was found hugging each other in death after a massive tree crashed through their bedroom during Hurricane Helene, their grandson reported Thursday.
Jerry Savage, 78, and his wife Marcia, 74, were among more than 150 people confirmed dead in what has become one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history. The couple’s death in Beech Island, South Carolina, underscores the devastating impact of fallen trees during severe weather events.
John Savage, 22, the couple’s grandson, described the harrowing moments before the tragedy. “We heard one snap and I remember going back there and checking on them,” he said. “They were both fine, the dog was fine.”
Shortly after, a thunderous “boom” signaled the fall of one of the property’s largest trees onto the grandparents’ bedroom.
“When they pulled them out of there, my grandpa apparently heard the tree snap beforehand and rolled over to try and protect my grandmother,” John Savage said, adding that the family finds solace in believing it was “God’s plan to take them together.”
The Savages were married for over 50 years. Jerry, a retired electrician and carpenter, and Marcia, a former bank teller, were remembered by family and friends as hardworking, kind, and devoted to their church.
Tammy Estep, 54, the couple’s daughter, described her father as a “doer” and her mother as an avid gospel singer known for her cooking, especially her banana pudding.
Hurricane Helene has left a trail of destruction across multiple states, causing flooding, mudslides, and widespread power outages. The storm’s death toll includes two South Carolina firefighters killed by a falling tree while on duty.
As communities grapple with the aftermath, the Savage family’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the storm’s human cost. A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover funeral expenses for the couple, who are survived by two children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
“They loved each other to their dying day,” John Savage said, encapsulating the bittersweet nature of his grandparents’ final moments together.
