The mother was swept away by the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, while her husband and 8-year-old child, who were also scrambling to safety, watched helplessly.
North Carolina mom, Melissa Hensley Guinn, and her husband, Jamie Guinn, were startled by a sudden, explosion-like sound. This marked the beginning of a devastating ordeal that would ultimately leave their children without a mother and lead to Jamie losing his wife.
Melissa Hensley and Jamie Guinn from a post dated October 6, 2024 | Source: Facebook/ehaery/
When Jamie and Melissa went to check out the cause of the big bang, they found the back door shattered. Jamie rushed off to the garage to get something to block the door but the garage had already been washed away.
Soon after, everything came tumbling down and Jamie recalled calling out for his son, River, 8, who was home with them in Minneapolis, North Carolina. The two are also parents to three other sons, Brandon, Sebastian, and Ethan.
Jamie and Melissa were caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, despite closely monitoring the situation from their home overlooking the river. In a rush, Jamie searched through the collapsed house to find their son, and fortunately, they were able to locate him.
He then looked up to see Melissa sitting on top of where their house previously sat. This marked the last time he saw her alive.
He recalled Melissa shouting at him to watch out, which led him to believe that another landslide was imminent. An emotional Jamie narrated, “So I tried to grab my little boy and threw him on my back because I figured it was another slide, and by the time I turned back around to try to make myself alert … she was gone.”
Jamie recalled the frantic moments when he realized he couldn’t find his wife. He searched for her desperately, calling out her name, but she was nowhere to be found. His young son turned to him and said he thought Melissa was gone.
Despite their continued cries for her, she never reappeared, leaving Jamie in shock. He couldn’t even remember whether their house was still standing amidst the chaos as everything felt hazy.
Jamie and River managed to find shelter at a nearby neighbor’s house. Though Jamie suffered a fractured spine and a head injury that later became infected, he admitted that no physical pain compared to the heartbreak of losing Melissa.
He also reflected on how unimaginable the river’s rapid rise had been, describing it as something beyond words and something no one could have expected in their area. The devastation caused by the Hurricane Helene floods left him at a loss for where to even begin rebuilding their lives after such a tragedy.
For now, Jamie is mourning his wife and struggles to comprehend life without her. He reflected on how much they had shared, spending every day together and being involved in each other’s lives.
“Just going from having that person in your life every day to literally gone in the blink of an eye, it just shows how often you might take for granted being with someone,” he shared.
The couple had been together for 17 years and had only a few weeks left to celebrate their 10th marriage anniversary. “She was the absolute greatest mother and wife we could have all even asked for,” he gushed.
The couple cherished the tradition of exchanging small gifts each year. They frequently expressed their love for each other throughout the day.
Jamie always responded with a playful, “Love you more.” This year, he decided to get Melissa a small plaque that detailed the many reasons behind their love, symbolizing the depth of their bond.
Melissa Hensley and Jamie Guinn from a post dated October 6, 2024 | Source: Facebook/ehaery/
Melissa’s sister, Elizabeth Hensley, has also been mourning her loss while also providing comfort to Jamie. As she grieved for her sister, she recognized the depth of Jamie’s sorrow as he coped with the absence of his wife, the mother of their four sons, and his partner.
She said Jamie was grappling with the loss of the woman he shared his life with, who cooked dinners alongside him and helped keep their home tidy. Elizabeth reflected on how their laughter filled their days, even amid the moments that tested Jamie’s patience.
In her sorrow, she acknowledged that Jamie, “grieves the woman that he plan to spend the rest of his life with him. Now he has to spend the rest of his life with only her memories, Jamie we love you. We are so thankful for you being a part of our family and we are so grateful for how much you loved Melissa.”
Though their family will never be the same, Elizabeth hopes that their bond will grow stronger, and she wants Jamie to know just how deeply she cares for him during this difficult time.
Elizabeth urged people to support Jamie, who underwent surgery for his head injury, and his sons as they restart their lives. “The hardship that will be following in the days, weeks, and years to come will be heavy on our family. If you can give please do. If not please say a prayer and share,” she wrote.
Jamie’s friends and family have set up a GoFundMe page to assist with medical expenses and aleviate other financial burdens he may face during this challenging time. Brandy Burroughs, the organizer of the fundraiser, noted that Melissa was her co-worker.
She described her as, “a great mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend to anyone that was in her life. She was beautiful, strong, passionate, generous and an all around sweet soul. She will be missed greatly by everyone that she touched in life.”
Jamie has a significant task ahead of him, but he is surrounded by a supportive community that is offering assistance through financial contributions, prayers, and emotional support.
