A Tennessee father's final moments were spent saving those he loved from flooding

WAVERLY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A daughter wants her father to be remembered as a hero after he spent his final moments saving those he loved the most during catastrophic flooding.

Joseph Reeves, a United States veteran, loved his family more than anything in the world. His daughter Rachel Reeves says he was always willing to give to others.

Rachel received a message from her 18-year-old sister with a picture of the house flooded up to their waists. The message said:

“If I don’t make it, I love you.”

That’s when Rachel immediately made her way to Waverly.

Rachel says when floodwaters came rushing through her family’s Waverly home, Joseph had to make a quick decision and opened the doors and encouraged his wife and 18-year-old daughter to get out.

“They had to make the tough decision to leave the house because there was just no way to stay in,” says Rachel.

Rachel’s mother has stage four cancer and isn’t able to be in cold water because of her chemo treatment.

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“My dad was able to pull the door open and hold the door open for them to get out and I just think it took so much energy from him and somehow a miracle from God, they went on the right side of the current, but they all got separated."

Rachel’s mother and little sister made it, but sadly, her father didn’t, as he went right into the rapids.

Rachel says her family was preparing to say goodbye to each other.

“They were just telling each other how much they loved them and giving love and hugs,” describes Rachel.

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Rachel says if it weren’t for her father, she doesn’t think her mom and sister would be here today.

“Without my dad holding that door for them to get to safety, they would’ve never got that door open,” says Rachel.

Rachel says she’s been overwhelmed by the support the family’s gotten from the community.

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