Southport Strong: How the city is coming together in the wake of tragedy

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — In the wake of the incident last weekend, many in Southport are expressing their grief and concern in a number of ways.

The makeshift memorial in front of American Fish Company for the victims has grown in the days since the shooting.

Since WWAY  was there on Monday, the memorial has more than doubled in size with hundreds of bouquets remembering the victims, Solomon Banjo, Joy Rogers, and Michael Durbin.

One of the most prominent items that you first see is a cross bearing the names of the victims, with the goonie bird crying on it as well.

Many items say Southport Strong on them as well, showing the strength of the community coming together.

WWAY spoke briefly with two women who knew Michael Durbin personally.

A native of Ohio, Durbin is an Ohio State fan, and a way that his memory is being honored is a pot in the form of Ohio State’s famous Buckeyes helmet, with the Buckeye stickers on it as well, both women pausing to look at the pot itself.

A sign next to the door reads “blessed are those who mourn, for they are comforted.”

Krista Marsh said it’s been special seeing the community come together.

“Through the tough times, everyone’s going to stick together, everyone’s going to band together and be there for each other,” Marsh said. “And all of the benefits and all that they’re having to raise money for the families and, you know, the workers who aren’t working right now while everything is closed and everything. I mean, it’s, it’s amazing to see the community coming together, really pulling together and staying strong.”

However, Southport Strong is even extending beyond the city’s boundaries.

Artist Katherine Lewis lives in Supply and has created small print versions of paintings she did of the American Fish Company, the yacht basin, and the Southport Water Tower.

Her initial run of 300 copies sold out within 48 hours, raising $3,000, which she will split and donate to the families of each victim.

“Even though I couldn’t like do it by myself with the help of the community, you know, buying the prints, I’m able to give back in that way,” Lewis said.

So many people have reached out that she will make another 100 copies to sell.

“I just think it shows people come together in a time of need, and I think everybody can empathize with the families and you want to help in any way that you could.”

She even painted her own version of the cross that bears the names of the victims, saying that she will make prints of that as well.

The city is also showing its strength through several fundraisers to support the victims, like one planned by Fishy-Fishy and Edgewater for Sunday, October 5th.

Those businesses will donate all proceeds from a shift lasting from 4 pm to closing time to the families of the victims and the first responders.