Help Young Beauregard Tornado Survivors

My name is Cindy Arnold Beasley in Auburn, Alabama.  I am raising funds for the aunt of two grandchildren of  Florel Tate Stenson, a former coworker who died in the recent tornadoes.  Florel's sister is a dear friend, and we want to help her family. I hope to help  the boys with costs of medical, physical therapy, and counseling costs.  The boys, who were in the tornado, survived, but lost their father, grandparents, and other family members.  Their aunt Krystal Garrentt is the direct beneficiary of these funds.  Krystal lost her mother, father, brother, and more relatives in this tragedy.  Her mother, Florel, had asked her to help the boys if anything ever happened to her. Tragically, something did happen, and we are hoping to help Krystal fulfill her promise to her late mother. 

My husband and  I worked with Florel Tate Stenson during our time with Auburn's Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.  We remember fondly how sisters Florel, Glory and Eva, would find a pleasant spot to have lunch, talk, and laugh together every day. They were precious together, their bond so strong. 

Florel, Glory,  Eva, and brother Roger,  were all members of the Auburn Family, having had long careers  there and retiring from AU.

Heartbreakingly, Sunday, March 3, Florel, her husband, son , and uncle, were all killed in the devastating Beauregard, Alabama, tornadoes.  Six other members of the family related by blood or marriage also perished.

The headlines read “Ten Tornado Victims From One Family Connected by Marriage.”  More accurately, the ten were connected by blood, heart, marriage,  friendship,  and all the elements that make up a loving, extended  family.

Florel Tate Stenson, her husband Henry Stenson , son Eric Stenson,  and uncle James Henry Tate, were members of the large Tate/Stenson family.  They and the victims of the Jones and Robinson families lived in an area along Lee Road 39 where other family members also had homes.  Once the scene of laughter and fun in a close-knit family community, it is now a scene of devastation, nothing left but echoes of  the happy past.

Florel’s son Eric, leaves behind two sons who were in the house with their relatives during the storm. They remember flying through the air, and waking up beside each other across from where the house had stood. The boys made it to their father’s truck and blew the horn until their uncle found them. Both boys were hurt, and both boys have begun counseling to deal with the unimaginable terror they have been through. 

Florel’s brother Roger was in another residence and survived the storm, but lost his home, vehicle and everything he owned.  He is being helped by a Go Fund Me campaign in his name.

Florel's sister who does not live in the tornado area, is a dear friend of ours whom we love very much and we want so badly to be able to help her family. We decided the best way to do that is to help the two boys who survived the disaster, but lost so many loved ones.

Florel was lovely gentle, soft-spoken, humble, and sweet. She helped care for her grandsons, and now,  their Aunt, Florel’s daughter Krystal,  will follow her Mom’s wishes and help the boys’ mother raise them.  

Because of the blessed contributions of two corporations (as yet unnamed), the family will not have to bear the cost of four funerals, but, as Krystal prepares to bury her Mother, father and brother, she worries about all the boys will need.  We want to help her and the boys' mother with their current most pressing concerns... medical, physical therapy, and counseling costs.

Please consider helping this grieving family by donating to this fund for the surviving sons of Eric Stenson, grandsons of  Florel Tate Stenson a wonderful woman, now gone from this world. God Bless them all.