School mourns 2 sisters who drowned in Blount County

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Students at Locust Fork Elementary School wrote messages for Jessie and Diana Harmon. Source:... — Students at Locust Fork Elementary School wrote messages for Jessie and Diana Harmon. Source: WBRC video

Messages for the two sisters line the halls of Locust Fork Elementary. Source: WBRC video

BLOUNT COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - A Blount County school tried to prepare students to cope with the loss of two students on Monday.

A hallway at Locust Fork Elementary is lined with posters so the students can express their feelings about the loss of the two sisters.

"So that kids could come and provide as an outlet for them to talk, or to write notes, thoughts and prayers. Just so they had a place to go," Principal Amy Williamson said.

Sisters Jessie Harmon, 11, and Diana Harmon, 13, died in a drowning incident on the Locust Fork River.

Will Standridge is a senior at Oneonta High School but he was the two girls' youth pastor at County Line Baptist Church. Standridge came to the school to help provide counseling.

"The message I'm trying to spread to these kids right now is that even though there has been a tragedy in Jessie and Diana dying and passing on and going to be with the Lord, that there is hope," Standridge said.

Standridge helped set up a GoFundMe account to help the Harmon family with funeral expenses.

"They are in dire urgent need of this to help bury their children and to help their youngest child that's left, Amber, to have a good future and education and everything," Standridge said.

As of Monday, the account has raised more than $18,000. The money will will help the surviving sister Amber with clothes and other needs for school.

Williamson has been principal at Locust Fork Elementary for six years but the loss the of Harmon sisters was a first during her tenure.

"We have not been through a tragedy at the school such as this until now but we have experienced a lot of tragedy across our district," Williamson said.

Williamson lost her niece also to a drowning incident along the Locust Fork River. Williamson's only concern Monday was preparing her students grief.

"Today we showed up with an outpouring of support. Several counselors across the district, several local pastors," Williamson said.

The two girls had been at Locust Fork Elementary for just a year, coming from Warrior Elementary. Williamson said Jessie was a bright spot as someone who was always smiling and Diana was tall, athletic and excelled at track.

The youngest sister Amber still attends the school.

To donate to the GoFundMe account, go here: https://www.gofundme.com/2357mfhf