Tornado victims share how they found friendship during a disaster

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – February 23, 2019, will forever be a historic day for the Friendly City.

An EF-3 tornado swept through the city’s east side.

Six months ago, it may have seemed impossible to find peace in a disaster.

Through all the rubble from the tornado back in February, a friendship was found beneath.

Shirley Ferguson and Monica Sykes have known each other for years, but their bond got a bit closer after the storm.

“She was always a humble young lady. Church-going, she’ll pray for you. I’m talking about she’s a sweet girl. I can’t say nothing bad about her,” said Ferguson.

Sykes helped Ferguson and another woman named Elett Lowury.

Ferguson and Lowury lived close to one another, both losing everything in the tornado.

Monica Sykes said it was fate that both women were put in her path.

I was very emotional when I saw her with that baby wrapped up in a t-shirt. When I held the baby talking to him, and I was like he needs to be changed and she was like I don’t have anything. And that just broke my heart, I had to do something,” said Sykes.

Sykes suggested for Lowury to live in her home until she was able to get back on her feet.

She also reached out to several outlets to help find Ferguson and her family a place to start over.

“Not everyone going to be straight up and honest with you and do what they say they gone do, but she did,” said Ferguson.

Ferguson said if it wasn’t for Sykes help she wouldn’t know where she would be today.

Now, both Ferguson and Lowury have a place to call home again.

“They got them a house very quick and so did Elett with all the donations that people were sending me through CashApp. I saved the money just so she could get her somewhere to stay, her and the baby. I’m glad I was able to be that person to help them get their story out. I’m just humbled that I could help them.” said Sykes.

Both women said that they have a friendship that’ll last forever.