Twin polygamous towns remember 13 who died in flood

HILDALE, Utah — A survivor so young he stepped on a stool to reach a podium microphone, remembered his heart “whacking like a jackhammer” in the moments before a flash flood swept he and his family away nearly two weeks ago.

Joseph Jessop Jr. spoke Saturday during a rare public memorial service hosted by two often-secretive polygamous towns on the Utah-Arizona border that typically shun outsiders and loathe government interference.

The public memorial was a surprise because funerals are typically handled discreetly, with no invitations extended to outsiders, including family of the deceased, if they aren’t members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was held in the same lush park surrounded by rich red rock canyon walls where sisters Josephine Jessop, Naomi Jessop and Della Black are thought to have been on Sept. 14 with their 13 children before driving down the canyon during a flash-flood alert.

The neighboring towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, hosted the afternoon memorial service at the top of a canyon road in Maxwell Park where a few hundred people gathered, including Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.

Husband and father Joseph N. Jessop Sr. lost children as young as four or five years old that day: Rebekah, Melissa, Naomi, Ruth, Valient, Velvet and “Sweet” Caress.

A heartbroken Sheldon Black Jr. remembered his wife Della, “she did everything for me. She knew exactly what I needed,” his “little angel,” LaRue Black who would throw her arms around his neck and squeeze him, and his “sweet precious angel,” Melanie Black.

Saturday, he recalled his six-year-old son Tyson Lucas Black, with his “beautiful, heavenly smile,” wanting to join him to do electrical work, climbing the ladder, using the drill, not wanting to goof off. Tyson is presumed dead but remains missing nearly two weeks following the flood. On Saturday, teams of specially-trained dogs still searched for him.

Three young boys, including Joseph Jessop Jr. and two sons of Sheldon Black Jr., survived.

Black Jr. said he was overwhelmed with everything everyone had done to help. Hundreds of volunteers from various government agencies and independent groups descended on the town to search a stretch of several miles for any sign of the women and children.

“I love you,” he said, in a soft voice.

There was no mention of religious persecution this time. Nearly two weeks prior, the two grieving husbands and fathers read from statements during a press conference that offered profuse thanks for the support offered them during the tragedy but also called for the end to what they called “religious genocide” and asked that they be allowed to practice their religion in peace.

The majority of the 7,700 people living in the towns, including the women and children killed in the flash flooding, are believed to be members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS, a secretive sect led by the now-imprisoned Warren Jeffs. Both councils and mayors of Hildale and Colorado City are also appointed by the church.

A religious rift in the town has divided families, with those who remain in the sect at odds with former FLDS members who were cast out of the church or left on their own.

The search and rescue effort following the flood represented the first time in years that many had exchanged words, let alone worked side-by-side. Ex-members of the sect or those who don’t follow Jeffs’ church have remained skeptical that the tragedy may unify the town, but the memorial gave them reason for cautious optimism.

“It’s good to see you all,” the young Jessop Jr. said to the hundreds gathered, at the outset and end of his brief remarks, perhaps not realizing his simple and genuine greeting illustrated something larger. Long split families and neighbors hadn’t seen each other in quite a while, until now.

Even Don Barlow, 83, the first mayor of Colorado City, Arizona, and among the first exiled from the community by Jeffs spent time after the service mingling with people he hadn’t seen in some time, even learning he and Utah’s Gov. Gary Herbert are cousins.

“It can’t do anything but help,” he said. “It’s good. It’s really good. The good Lord has a hand in all things.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.