THOMSON, GA — In a heart-wrenching tragedy that has shaken the community, 27-year-old Kobe Williams and her month-old twin boys, Khyzier and Khazmir, lost their lives when Hurricane Helene tore through rural Georgia last week. The storm, which has devastated parts of the Southeast, left a trail of destruction in its wake, including the heartbreaking loss of the Williams family.
Kobe Williams was sheltering with her newborn sons in their trailer home when the unthinkable happened. As the storm intensified, Kobe’s father, Obie Williams, recalled the last conversation he had with his daughter. He could hear the howling wind and the eerie sound of branches pounding against the windows as Kobe gave him an update on their safety. A devoted single mother, Kobe was doing everything she could to protect her sons, but Obie, concerned for their well-being, urged her to take shelter in the bathroom, a more secure part of the trailer.
“She promised me she would go to the bathroom with the boys until the storm passed,” Obie told reporters. But soon after, her phone went silent, and the family’s worst fears were realized.
When they could no longer reach her, one of Kobe’s brothers, determined to check on his sister, braved the treacherous conditions left in the storm’s aftermath. Fallen trees and downed power lines made the journey perilous, but when he finally arrived at the trailer, he was met with an unimaginable scene. A massive tree had collapsed onto the trailer’s roof, causing it to cave in. Tragically, Kobe and her twin sons were crushed by the debris, all three dying instantly.
Kobe’s father, still grappling with the loss, shared his anguish with The Associated Press. “I’d seen pictures when they were born and pictures every day since, but I hadn’t made it out there yet to meet them. Now I’ll never get to meet my grandsons. It’s devastating.”
Khyzier and Khazmir, born on August 20, 2024, are the youngest known victims of Hurricane Helene. The storm, which has claimed over 200 lives across several states, left a significant mark on communities from Florida to the Carolinas. In Georgia alone, several children were counted among the dead, including a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy from Washington County, located about 50 miles south of Thomson.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has left eastern Georgia in ruins. Obie, who lives in Augusta, described the scene as apocalyptic. Power lines lay strewn across streets, tree limbs blocked roads, and utility poles were snapped in half. Obie and his neighbors were trapped in their homes for over a day as emergency workers tried to navigate the destruction and restore services.
Like many families across the Southeast, Kobe had to make a difficult decision when it came to Hurricane Helene. Evacuating with newborn twins seemed impossible to her. Nursing two infants made relocating under such severe conditions an overwhelming task, and she, like others, chose to ride out the storm at home. It was a choice that would have deadly consequences.
The Williams family, like many others in the path of Hurricane Helene, now faces a long road to recovery. Obie, who has 14 other children, said several of his children were also affected by the storm. Some remain without power, while others have sought refuge in nearby cities like Atlanta or returned to Augusta to be with their father as they grieve the loss of Kobe and her boys.
For Obie, the pain of losing his daughter and grandsons is immeasurable. He described Kobe as a strong, loving woman who was the heart of their family. She was a bright, social young woman who brought joy to those around her and was on the verge of starting a career as a nursing assistant. She had put her education on hold to focus on raising her twin boys, a testament to her selflessness and dedication to her family.
“That was my baby,” Obie said, his voice heavy with emotion. “And everybody loved her.”
As the Southeast continues to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, the loss of Kobe Williams and her sons stands as a poignant reminder of the storm’s deadly force. The community of Thomson, like many others, is left grieving, coming to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of a mother and her newborn children.
For families like the Williams, the road to healing will be long. They are now awaiting the release of the bodies by the coroner and the clearing of roads so they can lay Kobe and her sons to rest. Their loss is a solemn reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the fragility of life in the face of such destructive forces.
As the Southeast rebuilds, the memory of Kobe Williams, Khyzier, and Khazmir will remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved them, a reminder of the storm that took too much from too many.