Wayne Spears. Photo: Courtesy Loretta Lynn’s Ranch
On Saturday, Aug. 21, Tennessee experienced historic flooding, receiving up to 17 inches of rain over a 12-hour period. Since then, at least 22 people have been reported dead with dozens still missing and rescue crews still on the search.
“The need is great here in Middle Tennessee,” says David Buchanan, logistics manager with the Red Cross. “I have been to many disasters, and this is one of the worst I have seen. We have people who have lost everything they worked their whole lives for. We have people here who watched as their family members were swept away in flood waters. This community is hurting. We are here to try to help.”
Among the families affected by Saturday’s natural disaster is Loretta Lynn‘s who lost the longtime foreman of her Hurricane Mills ranch, Wayne Spears, amidst the rising flood waters.
The family took to social media to share the news saying, “Wayne has been a family friend to the Lynns and a fixture to the Ranch for decades and we are all devastated by his passing. The Ranch will never be the same without him but he will always be remembered for his ready smile, kind heart, and willingness to go the extra mile for everyone around him.” They continue, “Eventually we’ll rebuild our community, our ranch, our lives and our homes, but only God could build a man like Wayne Spears. There’s just no replacing that. May he rest in peace.”
The unexpected flooding took out roads, cellphone towers, buildings, homes, and telephone lines. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
For more information on the updating situation in Middle Tennessee, to volunteer, or to make a donation, click here.
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