HILDALE — Joseph Jessop Jr. said his heart was racing just before the flood waters came over the banks and swept away his family.

"My heart was pounding a thousand beats per minute — just whacking like a sledgehammer," he said.

Speaking publicly for the first time Saturday about his harrowing ordeal, "Little Joe," as Hildale's mayor called him, also talked about how his faith has helped him carry on.

"I know that Heavenly Father wanted this to happen. And I'm grateful for this experience," he said.

On Saturday, the city of Hildale hosted a public memorial service for the three mothers and 10 children who were killed when two vehicles they were in were swept away by a flash flood created by two intensive storm cells. The service was held in Maxwell Park surrounded by picturesque red rock cliffs under a partly cloudy sky that kept the ceremony graciously cool.

It's the same place where the two families were playing just minutes before they were caught in the fatal storm.

The public memorial was an extremely rare event for the predominantly Fundamentalist LDS communities of Hildale and Colorado City, Arizona — polygamous cities that have traditionally preferred to remain isolated from the outside world. Many families, including women in their traditional prairie dresses, attended Saturday's memorial. Many also opted to sit in the back or stand behind the last row of seats or on the outskirts of the park, leaving many seats near the front empty.

Naomi Jessop and Josephine Annie Jessop and their children — Rebekah, Melissa, Naomi, Ruth, Valiant, Velvet and Caress — were all in one vehicle carried away by the flood. Della May Black and her children Melanie, Tyson, and LaRue were in the other. All the children were between the ages of 4 and 11. Both families were related.

"I'm very grateful to be here on this sacred occasion. I'm thankful to all of you for coming to pay your respects," said Joseph Jessop, who lost two wives in the flash flood. "I'm sure all of you can comprehend the feelings, to a degree, of a father, a husband, losing his loved ones."

Sheldon Black recalled his wife and three children who were lost in the tragedy.

"Della has been such an important part of my life. She did everything for me. She knew exactly what I needed. I'm going to miss her. I know she's close by," he said in a slow, soft voice. "I know Della wanted to be with the children. I know she is now."

He described his three lost children as angels.

Many who spoke Saturday cited their faith for helping them get through the difficult experience.

"I wouldn't want to complain against God and his purposes. I know he has all things in his hands and he always does right. I know this dear family will be nearby as I stay near the Lord. I'm thankful for the religious convictions I have knowing that they have just stepped into another spirit action and they're close," Joseph Jessop said.

"It's comforting to me that they all went together. They're happy doing what they love to do, caring for their children."

Jessop ended his comments by saying, "I just want to acknowledge the Lord and rededicate my life unto him."

During the opening prayer, Kevin Barlow, fire chief for Hildale and Colorado City, asked God to continue to watch over the twin communities.

"We seek for your peace to comfort our hearts. We pray that you will be with the families that have been so generous in allowing, at your call, their families to return unto you as representatives and witnesses," he said.

A timeline of the tragic events was displayed with pictures across the backstop of the park's baseball field. The dramatic photos included images of the deadly storm as it rolled into Hildale as well as the mothers who were killed standing outside their vehicles just before they were swept away by rushing flood waters as well as images of the cars being carried away. The pictures were apparently filmed by a camera from inside another nearby car.

On Sept. 14, the three mothers and 13 children had just finished playing at Maxwell Park. A storm had just passed and water was flooding over the wash at Canyon Street. The women stopped their vehicles, a van and a Suburban, and got out to wait for the water to subside, unaware that a second more powerful storm cell had dumped intense rain in the canyon that was coming toward them.

"As this new storm blew north enveloping the peaks and sandstone cliffs, lightning and thunder intensified contrasting the power of Him who controls all things against the weakness of man," the timeline stated.

Maxwell Wash, which is typically 35 to 40 feet wide, had a wall of water 2 feet high and 630 feet wide rush toward them, according to the timeline. The women and children quickly jumped into their cars with the hope of backing up, but there wasn't enough time and they were swept over a cliff into Short Creek.

"This is an event that will go down in history. Little do you know what tomorrow will bring. We who live in this area are very well aware of these flash floods. We see them all the time," Hildale Mayor Philip Barlow said at the memorial. "I've often wondered what would happen if we had two of those (storms) on top of each other. Well, we found out."

Three young boys, Joseph Jessop, Jr. and two of Black's sons, survived the incident. Each of them sat at the podium of Saturday's memorial along with their fathers, the mayors of Hildale and Colorado City, and Gov. Gary Herbert.

The body of 6-year-old Tyson Black remains the lone missing person. For nearly two weeks, search crews from Utah and Arizona have been looking non-stop for the him.

Black remembered Tyson's "beautiful heavenly smile" on Saturday and recounted a story of when his son helped him at work and wanted to do all the things his father did.

"There's still a precious little boy still needing (to be) found," Joseph Jessop reminded others during his comments.

During his closing prayer, Colorado City Police Sgt. Sam Johnson also asked, "Father, help us to find little Tyson and bring him home."

Saturday's service was as much of an opportunity for the fathers and city officials to thank the many volunteers — many from government agencies — who have been digging in the mud searching for Tyson over the past two weeks as it was a memorial for those lost. It was a message repeated several times by Philip Barlow.

"I know there have been a lot of prayers, and they are felt and they are appreciated," the mayor said. "It's amazing how far this has reached. So many agencies and so many people."

"From literally the armies to the smallest children that have assisted," added Kevin Barlow, the fire chief.

Black said he was "just a little overwhelmed with everything everyone's done to help us. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, everyone that has helped. I love you."

Under some pictures of the volunteers displayed on the timeline were the words: "You have made a difference."

Related:

'We are all humbled,' Gov. Herbert says of Hildale flood aftermath

Gov. Gary Herbert visited Hildale Saturday to express condolences to the families of the victims who were killed in Monday's flash floods.

Herbert said he was humbled and honored to be at Saturday's service.

"Today, we the people of Utah mourn with you … and we hope to help lighten your burdens and give you comfort," he said, while acknowledging that there is still "work yet to be done."

He told those who had gathered that the best memorial for those who were lost is how they conducted their lives from this point on.

"There is more joy in that effort than any other manmade monument we can construct," the governor said.

Colorado City Mayor Joseph Allred was the final speaker of the memorial. He sang a song and dedicated it to Tyson. He also talked about losing his 5-year-old son, Jerold Joseph Williams, a boy who was found dead of exposure in the Kaibab National Forest in August after becoming separated from his family and going missing for several days.

"These experiences are what the Lord gives us, and we're grateful. We have the bright hope of meeting him again and enjoying his loving embrace," he said.

All 21 people killed because of the storm on Sept. 14 were mentioned during Saturday's memorial, including seven canyoneerers who died in Zion National Park and a Hurricane man whose car was also washed away by the flood waters.

"We recognize the superior power of God and our own dependence in this experience," according to the statements on the timeline. "Hard experiences are humbling and bring opportunity to reach. Each one is appreciated. Every moment, every contact, every person is precious."

Hildale officials have indicated that private funeral services will be held for each family. Headstones for the Jessop family have already appeared in the Colorado City cemetery.

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