South Carolina Couple Found Holding Each Other After Devastating Incident
Jerry Savage, 78, and Marcia Savage, 74, were a couple whose love lasted until their very last moments.
Sadly, they were among the many victims of Hurricane Helene, which struck the Southeastern U.S. with devastating force.
After Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm to hit the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005, stories of heartbreak are emerging from affected communities.
Among these is the story of Jerry and Marcia Savage, a much-loved couple from Beech Island, South Carolina, who lost their lives in the disaster.
The hurricane has taken at least 231 lives across six states, and the couple’s death shows just how powerful the storm was. A fallen tree crashed through their home, crushing the bedroom where they had spent so many years together.
Coroner had to separate them
When authorities arrived at the tragic scene, they confirmed the couple’s death.
“My daddy was on top of my mama hugging her, trying to protect her,” their daughter, Tammy Estep, 54, told *USA Today*.
“The coroner had to pull them apart.”
Jerry and Marcia first met as teenagers and fell in love right away. They had been married for over 50 years, were active members of their Baptist church, and shared something special — they were both born on January 22, just a few years apart.
The couple had lived in their one-story home since 1975.
Their daughter Tammy spoke of their love as an example to everyone. “It was immediate, and it was everlasting,” she said.
“The biggest bang of their life”
Their grandson, John Savage, was also in the house that night and shared more about what happened.
Around 4 a.m., he checked on them after the storm began. They were scared but safe with their dog, Angel, by their side.
But an hour later, tragedy struck. They heard “the biggest bang of their life” as the tree fell. John tried to reach his grandparents but couldn’t get in because the door was blocked. It took time for him to learn the full extent of the disaster.
“When they pulled them out, my grandpa had apparently heard the tree snap and rolled over to protect my grandmother,” John told *ABC4News*. “They loved each other to their dying day.”
Sadly, their two-year-old dog, Angel, was also found in bed with them, having passed away too.
She lived for her family
Following this tragic event, a GoFundMe campaign was started to help with funeral costs. A family member running the page described Jerry and Marcia as “two of the kindest and most generous people I’ve ever known.” The couple is survived by two children, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Jerry had been a builder and electrician who loved painting and classic motorcycles, especially Harley Davidsons, said his daughter. Marcia had worked in banking before retiring.
“My mama was very involved in the church, and her grandkids were her life,” Estep shared. “She lived for her family. That was her joy, her love.”
Jerry and Marcia’s story is a sad reminder of the strength of love, even in the face of a tragedy.
Their legacy will live on in the family and community they cherished. Rest in peace.
