April 27, 2011: The Day Lawrence County Will Never Forget

In memory of the 14 lives lost during the tornado outbreak that changed our home forever.

On April 27, 2011, Lawrence County, Alabama became part of one of the darkest chapters in modern Southern history. That day, a catastrophic tornado outbreak swept across the Southeast, spawning 62 tornadoes in Alabama alone. Over 230 lives were lost across the state. Fourteen of them were from right here in Lawrence County. Families shattered, homes flattened, and the landscape we knew so well forever changed.

That day, we didn't just witness a storm. We lived through a defining moment that tested our county’s resolve, our compassion, and our unity.

A Storm That Reshaped Our Home

One of the most destructive tornadoes to touch down that day was an EF5 – a monster nearly a mile wide with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour. It cut a path across our home county, devastating communities like Mt. Hope, Langtown, Chalybeate, and surrounding areas. Entire homes vanished. Trees were stripped bare. Buildings that had stood for generations were suddenly gone.

But more devastating than the physical destruction was the loss of life. Some were taken in an instant. Others in the chaos of the storm’s aftermath. Each one was someone’s family – someone’s friend, neighbor, or church member. Lawrence County was left in mourning.

We Remember Their Names

In total, 14 people from Lawrence County died that day. Among them were the young and the elderly, parents and grandparents, sons and daughters. Their names are etched into granite at the Mount Hope Memorial, but more importantly, they’re etched into the hearts of everyone who calls this place home.

We honor:

• Matthew Chase Adams

• Earl Lewis Crosby, Sr.

• J.W. Parker

• Helen Smith

• Horace Grady Smith

• Mike Daworld Dunn

• Aurelia Guzman

• Zora Lee Jones Hale

• Lyndon Lee “Doby” Mayes

• Mary C. Mayes

• Donald “Duck” Ray

• Allen O’Neal Terry

• Herman O’Neal Terry

• Edward “Ed” Vuknic

These were not just victims of a storm. They were members of our community. Some were leaders, others humble servants. Some were children with their whole lives ahead of them. Every one of them mattered. And their stories deserve to be told, shared, and remembered.

A Memorial for a County’s Loss

The Mount Hope Memorial stands today as a solemn reminder of what was lost and what still stands strong. While the names etched into the stone include those from Mt. Hope, the monument is a tribute to all Lawrence Countians affected that day.

It’s more than just a stone. It’s a symbol of survival. Of remembrance. Of love.

Folks from all over the county gather there to reflect – not just on the storm, but on how we’ve moved forward. It’s a place to grieve, to give thanks, and to remind ourselves that even the fiercest winds can’t break the spirit of a close-knit community.

Strength in the Storm’s Wake

What followed the destruction was nothing short of inspiring. Volunteers poured into neighborhoods. Churches opened their doors. People who’d lost everything shared what little they had left. Power crews, first responders, and neighbors worked side-by-side, day after day, to bring some sense of normalcy back to our communities.

Over time, homes were rebuilt. Trees were replanted. Families found ways to move forward, even while carrying the weight of loss.

But the greatest rebuild wasn’t physical — it was emotional. We found strength in each other. In shared stories, in meals around kitchen tables that had been repaired, in laughter that slowly returned to the front porches. That strength is what defines Lawrence County today.

Fourteen Reasons to Keep Remembering

Every year, as the anniversary approaches, we remember those 14 lives not just in sadness, but in honor. We talk about who they were, what they loved, and the light they brought to their corners of the county. We honor them not just with names and flowers, but by continuing to build the kind of community they’d be proud of.

April 27, 2011 will always be a part of our story. But it’s not the only part. The rest is still being written every day — in kindness shown between neighbors, in the resilience of our towns, and in the hearts of the people who call Lawrence County home.

To those we lost — you are not forgotten.
To those who lived through it — you are not alone.
And to Lawrence County — your strength remains one of our greatest stories.