Johnny Peterson, Bertha Mendoza Obituary, Death – Authorities reported on Monday that the bodies of five out of the six individuals missing from Impact Plastics in Erwin have been recovered. These individuals are believed to have been swept away by floodwaters caused by Hurricane Helene.
While the official names of the deceased have not yet been released, a northeast Tennessee funeral home and friends of the missing have confirmed the identities of four victims. Among them is Johnny Wayne Peterson, 55, who was confirmed to have died in the flooding. His obituary notes that he had worked at Impact Plastics for over 35 years and is survived by his children, their mother, and a grandchild on the way. Peterson was also heavily involved in local football, supporting his son at every game.
In honor of Peterson, donations can be made to the Johnny Peterson Memorial Fund at the Clinchfield Credit Union located at 1038 N Main Ave, Erwin, TN 37650.
Another confirmed victim is Sibrina Barnett, who was also an employee at Impact Plastics. A memorial benefit spaghetti dinner is being organized for Barnett, scheduled for Sunday, October 13, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fairview Methodist Church, located at 878 Highway 81 North in Jonesborough.
Bertha Mendoza, 56, is another victim identified after the flooding of the Nolichucky River. Originally from Janamuato, Michoacán, Mexico, Mendoza had been a resident of Unicoi County since 1998. She had worked at Impact Plastics for many years and is survived by her parents, husband, four children, four grandchildren, and other family members. Her obituary highlighted her love for spending time with family, particularly her grandchildren. The family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses.
Another employee of Impact Plastics, Lidia Verdugo, has also been confirmed deceased. Loved ones expressed their devastation on a GoFundMe page, describing her as a wonderful mother and grandmother.
As the search continues, one individual remains missing: Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso. Reynoso’s husband, Francisco Javier Guerrero, shared his anguish, saying, “She said goodbye to me, and to take care of the kids. We feel destroyed because of what’s happening, specifically because we don’t have answers if she is one of the people that were located.”
The community is mourning the loss of these individuals as recovery efforts continue, with families seeking closure during this difficult time.