Doug and Cathy Dennis and daughter Amy are renting a home while theirs is being rebuilt, but that isn't stopping them from planning a big Christmas with nephew, Thomas Scott, and niece Catherine.
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Like Baby Jesus, Myles Cumberbatch noted his family lives in a borrowed home this Christmas.
Myles and Sharon Cumberbatch, their three children ages 9, 5, and 3, and his parents moved to rented homes after the Good Friday Tornado destroyed both families’ homes on Wilkinson Drive across from The Avenue. But they aren’t complaining.
They’re counting their blessings because they are together.
The tornado destroyed or damaged about 850 homes April 10 when it cut a 23-mile swath of destruction across Rutherford County, causing almost $42 million in damages. Murfreesboro mother Kori Bryant and her baby daughter, Olivia, died from injuries suffered in the tornado.
Three families whose homes were demolished reflected about how the damage affected their Christmas traditions. Although they don’t know each other, tornado victims Myles and Sharon Cumberbatch, the Doug Dennis family of Tomahawk Drive and Dr. George and Betty Hester of Riverview subdivision share the common thread of a simpler Christmas with emphasis on their families.
The Cumberbatches
Myles and Sharon Cumberbatch operate their own cleaning service, M & S Sparkling. The family of five lost their home, prompting them to live in a hotel for a month before they moved into a rental home. Most of their belongings were lost with some items still being found and returned to them such as senior high school pictures and his mother’s jewelry box.
His parents lost Christmas decorations older than Myles. He’s recovered some lights and garland but the family bought a new tree trimmed with donated decorations.
“As far as Christmas goes, I think you’ll discover it’s not about the Christmassy things,” Cumberbatch said. “It’s about being together as a family and counting your blessings. As long as my sisters are coming home and other family, we’ll have a big Christmas being together.”
He described the past eight months as a transition time where the parents comforted the children during tornado watches and storms and rebuilt their lives by replacing clothes and basic belongings.
They’ve changed attitudes.
“I don’t feel like the house has to be perfect as long as we’re together,” Cumberbatch explained.
Because of a simpler lifestyle, they’re spending more time together going to the movies or parks.
“It’s a great time to spend with your kids as long as you don’t get lost in (remembering) what Christmas is about,” the father said.
The family compiled a three-page list of people who offered their support of checking on them to donating items.
“It’s time for us to acknowledge all the angels in our lives who called to check on us or ask, ‘can I do this for you?’” Cumberbatch said. “Lots of people had good things in their heart to offer those of us down on our luck. On this time of year, thank our lucky stars. Wow. Thanks and give a word of prayer for community and little angels in our life.”
The Doug Dennis family
When she heard the tornado warnings, Amy Dennis called her father to ask if she should come home from MTSU classes or go to a hair appointment. He urged her to go to the appointment. Had she been home, “the walls would have crashed down on me.”
Her father, Doug, sought shelter in a hallway closet when the tornado ripped rooms away from his home. She lost “stuff” but it doesn’t matter because her father survived.
“He’s beat cancer four times and beat the tornado,” Amy Dennis said of her father. “He’s a miracle and a survivor. I just have to be grateful.”
The family spent the first few days salvaging belongings for storage so they don’t really know if the tornado destroyed their Christmas decorations such as the Nativity scene her mother made and hand-painted when she and her two sisters were children. They’re renting a house and rebuilding at the same location.
Her mother, Cathy, salvaged a 14-inch “little baby Christmas tree” already decorated with fiber optic lights. They piled presents under the table tree. Christmas cards line the refrigerator.
Even though they didn’t decorate as in the past, “the thoughts and feelings of Christmas are definitely there,” Amy Dennis said.
They plan to make the holiday a special time for her nephew, Thomas Scott, 3, and his 1-1/2-year-old sister, Catherine, and her two sisters who no longer live at home.
“We do Christmas on Christmas Eve when everyone comes over for a big dinner,” she said. “We’ll open presents Christmas Eve.”
The family has received so much help from other people they don’t feel sorry for themselves.
“It doesn’t matter where you have Christmas and what you put on the tree,” Amy noted. “Spending time with family, no matter how we decorated, we’re all going to be together.”
Her parents echoed their daughter.
Doug Dennis characterized people as wonderful for helping him even rebuild the house.
“We feel like we’ve been blessed,” Cathy Dennis said. “Nobody is hurt. We still have a lot of our possessions.”
The family is thankful for things that matter, like family, friends and neighbors.
“It’s been very humbling,” Cathy Dennis said softly. “We definitely give God the glory because all good things come from Him.”
The Hesters
Dr. George and Betty Hester were at their church, First United Methodist, “safe and sound with God’s people” when the tornado demolished the custom home they’ve lived in 30 years.
They salvaged what belongings they could and moved to a rental home. She’s spent this Christmas season clearing the mud and debris and saving some decorations. She lost some decorations given to her from other people that can’t be replaced.
“Our saddest point is not being in our own home at Christmas,” Betty Hester said, but added the couple decided to rebuild next year.
Lifting her from sadness was the thought of her grandbaby’s first Christmas with the family.
Her son, daughter-in-law and baby from Little Rock, Ark., and her son from New York City will celebrate the holidays with them.
The couple obtained another tree decorated with ornaments meaningful to the family. The tree and decorations helped lift their spirits to continue favorite traditions rather than dwelling on the material aspects of Christmas.
When she remembers the tornado damage, Betty Hester realizes “it could have been our lives but fortunately wasn’t. It makes you reflect on what’s important and focus on that and be grateful for faith and family.”
For the holiday, she will let faith and family be her focus.
“Our focus is on being together and celebrating the birth of Christ,” Betty Hester said.
Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni@murfreesboropost.com.
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