JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The oldest of seven victims killed in a dock gangway collapse on Georgia’s Sapelo Island Saturday was a retired special education teacher, her granddaughter told News4JAX.
RELATED | 4 of 7 killed in Georgia dock gangway collapse were from Jacksonville, coroner confirms
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Carlotta McIntosh, 93, was one of four victims who were from Jacksonville.
“She was a retired special education teacher that was vibrant, full of life and was loved by many. She belonged to many organizations locally such as the Live Long and Like It Club, Wilder Park Senior Citizens Club, the Pokeno club and many more. She was the matriarch of our family and will truly be missed.”
Ebony Davis, granddaughter
The victims were identified as:
- Isaiah Thomas, 79, from Jacksonville
- Carlotta Mcintosh, 93, from Jacksonville
- Jacqueline Crews Carter, 75, from Jacksonville
- Cynthia Alynn Gibbs, 74, from Jacksonville
- Charles League Houston, 77, from Darien, Ga.
- Queen Welch, 76, Atlanta
- William Lee Johnson Jr., 73, from the Atlanta area
Crowds gathered on Sapelo Island for a fall celebration by the island’s tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.
First responders said as many as 40 people were on the dock gangway when it collapsed, sending at least 20 people tumbling into the water.
Two medical professionals from Jacksonville told News4JAX they will never forget what they saw.
“It was horrific,” said Tracey Ramey-Sheppard, who is a nurse practitioner.
“It wasn’t good at all,” said nurse Teresa Haywood.
Jacksonville City Councilman Rahman Johnson issued a statement Monday regarding the tragic ferry dock collapse. In that statement, Johnson pointed out that he knew two of the victims personally, including McIntosh.
“I had the privilege of knowing both Mrs. Carlotta McIntosh and Mrs. Cynthia Gibbs personally. They were strong, resilient women who embodied the very spirit of Jacksonville. Mrs. McIntosh, with her 93 years of wisdom, and Mrs. Gibbs, with her unwavering commitment to our community, were pillars of strength and compassion. Their loss leaves an immeasurable void not only in my heart but in the lives of those who had the honor of knowing them.
This is a heartbreaking loss for Jacksonville, and my heart aches alongside the families of all those affected by this tragedy. The ferry dock collapse at Sapelo Island has shaken us to the core, as it took the lives of people who were more than just names on a list—they were beloved members of our community.
This tragedy is a reminder of how fragile life can be, but also of the enduring strength of community. As we grieve, let us remember the contributions of Mrs. McIntosh, Mrs. Gibbs, and all the lives lost. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, and I call on Jacksonville to stand in solidarity with those affected.
We will honor their memory and seek ways to ensure that tragedies like this do not happen again. In the meantime, my office is ready to provide the support needed to the families and the wider community as we navigate this difficult time together."
Councilman Rahman Johnson
Mayor Donna Deegan also provided a statement on the tragedy.
“I am heartbroken by the tragic events this week on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The majority of those who lost their lives were from Jacksonville, home to the nation’s largest population of Gullah-Geechee descendants. As we observe Gullah-Geechee Heritage Month, we mourn the lives lost and extend our prayers to the Gullah community, which has been profoundly impacted by this tragedy.”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan
A full-scale investigation is ongoing, including local, federal and state agencies, looking into what the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is calling a “failure of a gangway” that officials say should have needed very little maintenance but was inspected daily.