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 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 investigate the source of the loud bang, they found the back door shattered. Jamie rushed to the garage to retrieve something to block the door, only to discover the garage had already been swept away.
Soon after, the house began to collapse, and Jamie frantically called out for their 8-year-old son, River, who was home with them in Minneapolis, North Carolina. The couple were also parents to three other sons, Brandon, Sebastian, and Ethan.
Despite closely monitoring the situation from their home overlooking the river, Jamie and Melissa were caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. In a rush, In a frantic search through the collapsed house, Jamie managed to find their son, River.
When he looked up, he saw Melissa perched on what remained of their home. Tragically, this was 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 couldn’t find his wife. He searched for her desperately, calling her name, but there was no sign of her. His young son turned to him and said he thought Melissa was gone.
Despite their continued cries, she never reappeared, leaving Jamie in shock. Amidst the chaos, he couldn’t even remember if their house was still standing
Jamie and River managed to find shelter at a neighbor’s house. Although Jamie suffered a fractured spine and a head injury that later became infected, he admitted that the physical pain was nothing compared to the heartbreak of losing Melissa.
He reflected on the unimaginable speed at which the river rose, describing it as beyond words and something no one could have anticipated in their area. The devastation from Hurricane Helene‘s floods left him struggling to even know where to start rebuilding their lives after such a tragedy.
Jamie is currently mourning his wife, struggling to grasp life without her. He reflected on the depth of their bond, sharing every day together and being deeply 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 were just weeks away from celebrating their 10th wedding 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, and 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 providing comfort to Jamie. 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, “He grieves the woman that he plan [sic] 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 also 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 alleviate 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 offering assistance through financial contributions, prayers, and emotional support.
