CULLMAN – April 27, 2011 is a day that will live in many of our hearts forever. That terrifying day where we thought the sirens would never end, and when those caught in the storm finally did emerge, it was to a landscape no one recognized. Kim Cross, editor at Southern Living Magazine and author of “What Stands in a Storm”, appeared at Books-A-Million in Cullman Thursday to talk about her newest literary creation.
“For me, it started with a story I wrote for Southern Living,” Cross said. “It happened close to our offices, and only seven miles from my house, so it hit close to home. Our editor wanted to do a story, and so I headed up a team that canvassed disaster zones in several states.”
Cross stated that the constants she and her team found across the state were faith, food and fellowship.
When it was finally published, comments and letters poured in with high praise and thanks.
“This was kind of our Katrina,” said Cross. “We need to remember that time and tell it, and I wanted to tell it through the eyes of people who lived it. So I looked at the people who didn’t make it all over the state and chose to focus on Tuscaloosa, because I had gone to school there, and I know the town, and it is a lot of what people remember. I do mention Cullman, because Cullman gets hit first, and so I talk about it through the eyes of people watching in Tuscaloosa.”
The book follows the stories of different people and families, but one of the more heart-wrenching tales from that dark day was the story of three students who were killed at Beverly Heights near the University of Alabama. Danielle Downs, Will Stevens and Loryn Brown.
Both Danielle and Will’s mothers were at the book signing on Thursday to support the story of their incredible children who grew up together in Priceville.
“Danielle and her sister have both been involved in their communities since they were little,” Danielle’s mother, Terri Downs, said.
“Danielle just wanted to help people, and was a senior at Alabama, about to graduate as a social worker. She really wanted to help military families since she came from a military family, and she worked very hard to get there.”
Will Steven’s mother, Jean Stevens, spoke fondly of her son and his determination to be a coach at his school one day.
“Sports were always what he loved,” she said. “Well, that and Guitar Hero. He got a call from the Stillman College Coach who wanted to meet with him and talk to him. He was signed for a scholarship for baseball. He was only 10 days from graduating college when it happened. His coach from high school asked him to come help over the summer, and Will told him, ‘I’m not coming to help you, I’m coming to get your job’.”
I'd like to thank two very special women in my life — Jean Stevens (left) and Terri Downs (right). They lost their…
Posted by Kim Cross on Friday, April 10, 2015
Unfortunately, neither of these childhood friends were able to finish out their work, and now their families’ work hard to remember their lives by helping others. The Will Steven’s Scholarship Foundation, the Danielle Downs Memorial Fund and the Loryn “Lo” Brown Endowed Scholarship all help others achieve the goals that these three outstanding people never had the chance finish.
“The more I talk about it, the easier it gets to talk about it,” said. “We just wanted their story to be told, and to keep their memory alive.”
For more information on Kim Cross, visit Facebook.com/KimCrossAuthor. Copies of the book can be purchased at Books-A-Million.
To donate money to any of the aforementioned funds:
Danielle Downs Memorial Fund
Air Force Aid Society
241 18th Street S Suite 202
Arlington, VA 22202
Checks made payable to ASAF with Danielle Downs Memorial Fund in the memo line.
Will Stevens Scholarship Foundation
P.O. Box 128
Somerville, AL 35670
Loryn Brown Endowed Scholarship
P.O. Box 861928
Tuscaloosa, AL 35486
Checks payable to Alumni Fund with endowment name in the memo line.
