Woman rallies to restore Roan Mountain church severely damaged by flooding
Published 2:19 pm Thursday, October 3, 2024
Star Photo/Buzz Trexler/St. John Freewill Baptist Church Pastor Richard Sheppard and his wife, Jane, stand in mud-caked road frontage of St. John Freewill Baptist Church, 178 Old Rock Quarry Road, Roan Mountain, which sustained significant flood damage when the remnants of Hurricane Helene roared through the region.
Star Photo/Buzz Trexler/A piano, pews, and other items lie strewn about the sanctuary Wednesday at St. John Freewill Baptist Church, 178 Old Rock Quarry Road, Roan Mountain, which sustained significant flood damage when the remnants of Hurricane Helene roared through the region Sept. 26-27.
Star Photo/Buzz Trexler/The sanctuary at St. John Freewill Baptist Church, 178 Old Rock Quarry Road, Roan Mountain, shown Wednesday, sustained significant flood damage when the remnants of Hurricane Helene roared through the region Sept. 26-27.
Star Photo/Buzz Trexler/St. John Freewill Baptist Church, 178 Old Rock Quarry Road, Roan Mountain, sustained significant flood damage when the remnants of Hurricane Helene roared through the region Sept. 26-27.
Star Photo/Buzz Trexler/Church member Margaret Heaton stands in the doorway Wednesday of St. John Freewill Baptist Church, 178 Old Rock Quarry Road, Roan Mountain, which sustained significant flood damage when the remnants of Hurricane Helene roared through the region Sept. 26-27.
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Last weekend’s flood showed little mercy to St. John Free Will Baptist Church, located on the outskirts of Roan Mountain.
Winds and rains from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene played havoc with the church building located on Old Rock Quarry Road. The 100-year-old building sustained significant flood damage. Pews and a piano, as well as song books, and other items were tossed and overturned in the sanctuary.
Margaret Heaton and her husband, Wayne, are long-time members of the church, which has about 40 members. “Everything in the building is ruined. An almost new piano was broken. Padded pews, wet from the water, are puckered. It is heart-breaking,” said Margaret, who noted that new carpeting was installed in the church just this past spring.
Margaret also said that there was about five feet of water in the adjoining fellowship hall. It was up to the kitchen bar and counter, but she is hopeful the water can be cleaned from the building, and services can be held there until a decision can be made about the church sanctuary.
Pastor Richard Sheppard, who has served the church for the past 20 to 21 years, teared up as he stood in front of the church Wednesday with his wife. “Everything in the church is destroyed. I mean, the pianos are gone. All the sound stuff is gone, looks like. We might be able to salvage the pews. We might have to have them upholstered,” he said.
Sheppard, who lives between Banner Elk and Elk Park, N.C., spoke of the many churches and other places he saw devastated as he and his wife traveled from their home in Western North Carolina to Roan Mountain.
“So many people have been affected. I guess it’s hard to imagine unless you see it. If you go to Johnson City, it’s hard for the people there and elsewhere to know the devastation that’s gone up through Roan Mountain and Avery County (N.C.). So many churches, places….,” Sheppard shared.
As tears again welled up in the corner of his eyes, Sheppard shared that he had a cousin killed in the storm.
Heaton said St. John church averaged about 38 in attendance each Sunday. “We have services Sunday morning and night and on Wednesday. It’s a special place for us and all our members. The church was flooded in 1998, but nothing like this,” she said.
She continued. “It’s a mess. Utilities companies have been using the church parking lot as they, too, survey the flood damage in this area. In addition to the flooding, there are downed power lines and utility poles, and downed trees. So much devastation.”
Heaton noted that through the years so many long-time Roan Mountain residents had attended the church. “So many old-timers, who are now gone, worshiped here. It holds so many wonderful memories,” she said with a sigh.
“Everything in the church will have to be replaced. We didn’t have flood insurance, so we’ll have to raise funds other ways. Hopefully, other churches in the area will help us,” Heaton said.
She said a St. John Emergency Fund will be set up at Carter County Bank in Roan Mountain for persons who would like to help.
“I heard that a little church up Heaton Creek flooded as well. I’ve never seen it like this before,” Heaton said with a sigh.
