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Storm destroys Griffin funeral home during family's wake

By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Updated  January 13, 2023 5:04pm EST
Griffin
FOX 5 Atlanta

Storm destroys Griffin funeral home during wake

A wake was being held at a Griffin funeral home when a "large and extreme dangerous tornado" passed through the area, destroying the business. Other area funeral homes are stepping in to help.

GRIFFIN, Ga. - A group of people say they are thankful to be alive after the dangerous Thursday storms ripped through a Griffin funeral home during a wake.

Parts of Peterson's Funeral Home on 14th Street have been turned to rubble, with the branches of the massive tree that slammed into the building during the storm visible.

Wayne Peterson, the owner of the funeral home, told FOX 5 Storm Team's Jonathan Stacey that he was outside the business sitting in his car next to a hearse when he saw the tree crash down.

MORE ON THE STORM DAMAGE AND STATE OF EMERGENCY

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Parts of Peterson's Funeral Home on 14th Street in Griffin were destroyed by a tornado on Jan. 12, 2023. (FOX 5)

The shocked Peterson could only describe the experience as "scary."

At the time of the storm, most of the funeral home's employees were inside the building talking with a family during a wake.

While the tree caused massive damage, everyone took cover and no one was injured.

Peterson said he could only thank God that no one was hurt during the terrifying moments, but the storm left irreparable damage to his business' foundation.

 "Now we lost everything," he said.

He says the other funeral homes in the area have come together to help make sure the remains of everyone's loved ones are secure and taken care of.