Arkansas Baptists respond to tragedy in Fordyce

FORDYCE, Ark. – Tragedy struck the small town of Fordyce on Friday, June 21. A shooter opened fire at the Mad Butcher grocery store, killing four people and injuring 10 others. 

Wade Totty, who hosts a weekly radio show on the Fordyce radio station, KQEW-FM 102.3 and on CoatesMedia.com, was wrapping up the program when the incident occurred.   

After speaking by telephone with the station owner and general manager, Totty agreed to go to the scene and report. Totty reported from the perimeter of the scene throughout the afternoon. Eventually, he covered the press conference and listened to stories from townsfolk and the press corps. 

The Fordyce native said the community was shocked by the tragedy.  

“I knew some of the victims personally and knew family members of almost all of them. We couldn’t believe that it was happening and that one of our local guys was the shooter,” Totty said.  

Travis Eugene Posey, 44, of New Edinburg, was charged with four counts of capital murder and ten counts of attempted capital murder. Those killed were Shirley Kay Taylor, 62; Callie Weems, 23; Roy Sturgis, 50; and Ellen Shrum, 81. 

Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) Director Randy Garrett said as soon as they heard about the event Friday afternoon, he made calls to Fordyce to see if there was a need for their Red River First Responder Unit to supply food and water for the first responders on scene and others in need. Once approved, the team assembled and headed to Fordyce. Additionally, Garrett called in Ted Darling, a chaplain from Alma, to be there for those on scene.  

“It’s a very traumatic situation. Nobody ever wants to be in these situations, but ABDR stood up and went down there and served the public in need. This is just another thing we do as disaster relief,” Garrett said.  

ABDR stayed on site Friday until the very last law enforcement officer left the lot of the Mad Butcher.  

“We were there and able to do what we needed to do to serve people and hope we represented Christ,” Garrett said.  

Along with ABDR, Arkansas Baptist churches also stepped up to aid the Fordyce community, including Grace United and Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock who both held food drives. Additionally, Fordyce First Baptist Church is “helping wherever and whenever they can,” Pastor Michael Ivy said. That includes counseling, a food pantry, comfort and support, and more. He said the whole community has come together and everyone is wanting to help however they can.

Arkansas Baptist and Fordyce City Councilman Roderick Rogers said there is “a lot of trauma right now because a lot of people are affected.”  

“Then on top of that you have a lot of people worrying, how am I going to get groceries,” Rogers said. He said the Mad Butcher is the town’s only grocery store. Because of the shooting, the store is closed for the foreseeable future and many people in Fordyce simply do not have the funds to drive to another town for groceries. 

Geyer Springs, wanting to help, collected donations of nonperishable food and other items this week to be taken to Fordyce.  

Through the church’s existing connection with Rogers and several church members who were born and raised in Fordyce, Community Engagement Pastor Justin McDonald said they found a need and dove in to help. They brought a trailer load of food earlier in the week and planned to take more today.