Moments before a devastating tornado took his life, 22-year-old Jeffrey Hunter sent a heartbreaking text message to his mother Regina Wood, revealing that the last thoughts the college senior had were his own mother.

At least fifteen residents of Vilonia, Arkansas were slain by the onslaught of an EF-4 twister which ravaged the town Sunday, April 27. One of them is Jeffrey Hunter, who took shelter in his house bathroom as he awaited the arrival of the tornado. Hunter regularly updated his mother Regina through text about his situation. His mother, who resided 20 miles from Jeffrey’s home, was only able to comfort him as the tornado approached.

According to Regina, who spoke in an interview with NWA, one of the first texts Jeffrey sent to her was “Mama, I’m so scared”. All his mother could reply were comforting words, assuring him that he would be okay.

Moments later, Jeffrey Hunter sent his mother his last two text messages. The text messages were as follows:

“He knew how bad it was, these say it’s going to be a direct hit”, Regina said.

Hunter, an only son, was found by neighbor Lyman Watkins, who crawled out of his closet with his wife and five dogs to find the town totally wrecked by the powerful tornado. Watkins described the immediate situation after the tornado passed:

“All you could hear was horns going off and people hollering help help”

Jeffrey Hunter, who attended University of Central Arkansas, was with his father and stepmother when the tornado hit. The two of them were severely injured.

On the verge of tears, Hunter’s mother told NWA that although he lost his son from the terrible disaster, she is comforted by the fact that Hunter got to say goodbye to her during his final moments. Regina said:

“That was the most precious thing a son could do for his mother”

American flags were planted on the very spots where the victims of the tornado were killed. One of those who died during the disaster was Master Sergeant Daniel Wassom, who lost his life protecting his five-year-old daughter from the tornado. His daughter Lorelai, who is currently recovering at a hospital, described her father as a “true hero”.

The Inquisitr reported about the devastating tornado shortly after its onslaught and revealed that the town of Vilonia was still recovering from a 2011 twister, which took 11 lives.

Jeffrey Hunter’s funeral will be held on Saturday, 10 am, at the Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.

[Image from NWA Homepage]