HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -
While hundreds of homes were destroyed by Sunday's
tornado, and many residents found debris items in their yards, in the small
community of Ovett, Rita West discovered what might be described as a family
heirloom.
"I was getting my run in for the afternoon,
finished up my run and I was picking up some debris that was in my yard," said
Rita. "I found a piece of paper, I walked over and I picked it up and turned it
over and it was a baptism certificate."
Although the tornado hit 15 - 30 miles away
from Rita's home, there is a possibility that such debris could have travel
that distance.
"We were fortunate here in that the tornado
didn't come in our area, but it evidentially it rose up above us and went over
this area," said Rita. "We had lots of debris in the area, and finding this
certificate I thought was just something very unusual."
While some may have discarded of this, Rita
took it upon herself to try and find its rightful owner.
"I know finding this would be something
important to a family member," said Rita. "I've got several things from my
grandparents, from my mother and father as well. I know if my grandparents had
passed, or if they were still alive and I had the opportunity to get this, I
would want to keep this so that it could be handed down to my children."
The baptism certificate is dated Sunday,
March 1920 from Batesville, Arkansas, and it appears to be for Nelva Jean
Johnson.
If you are Nelva Jean Johnson, or know who
the baptism certificate belongs to, email vpacheco@wdam.com
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