Jerry Savage, 78, and his wife Marcia Savage, 74, shared a love that endured until their final moments. Sadly, the couple became victims of Hurricane Helene, one of the deadliest storms to strike the Southeastern United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As the hurricane ravaged communities, stories of heartbreaking losses are emerging, and Jerry and Marcia’s tragic story is one of them.
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Residents of Beech Island, South Carolina, Jerry and Marcia were among the 231 lives lost across six states due to the devastating storm. A tree fell into their home, crushing the bedroom where they had spent so many cherished memories.
Authorities later confirmed the couple’s deaths. Their daughter, Tammy Estep, 54, recounted the emotional scene to USA Today. "My daddy was on top of my mama, hugging her, trying to protect her," she said. “The coroner had to pull them apart.”
The couple’s love story began when they met as teenagers. Sharing the same birthday, January 22, they quickly fell in love and spent more than 50 years together, inseparable in life and in faith. They were active members of their local Baptist church and had lived in their cozy one-story home since 1975. Tammy fondly reflected on their bond, describing their love as immediate and lasting. “It happened right away, and it lasted forever,” she said.
Their grandson, John Savage, who was in the house the night the storm struck, shared additional heartbreaking details. He had checked on his grandparents and their small dog, Angel, around 4 a.m., finding them shaken but safe. Less than an hour later, disaster struck when a massive tree crashed into the home. John heard “the biggest bang of their lives” and frantically tried to reach his grandparents, but the door was blocked. He would soon learn the devastating truth.
“My grandpa apparently heard the tree snap and rolled over to protect my grandmother,” John told ABC4News. “They were in love until the very end.”
Sadly, Angel, their two-year-old Chow Chow mix, was also found lying with them, having perished in the tragedy.
In the wake of this heart-wrenching loss, a relative has organized a fundraising effort to help cover funeral expenses, calling Jerry and Marcia “two of the kindest and most generous people I’ve ever known.” According to their GoFundMe page, the couple is survived by two children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Jerry, a retired electrician and builder, was known for his passion for oil painting and his love of vintage motorcycles, particularly Harley Davidsons. Marcia had a successful career in banking before retiring and dedicating herself to her family and church. Tammy described her mother as deeply involved in her church and grandchildren’s lives. "She was our rock and lived for her family," Tammy said. "Her love was unconditional."
The story of Jerry and Marcia Savage is a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Though they are no longer with us, their love and legacy live on through the family and community they touched. Rest in peace.
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