SUMNER, Ga. (WALB) - Severe storms that moved through South Georgia early Thursday morning left a trail of destruction across the region, including a deeply personal loss for WALB News 10 anchor Quinlan Parker and his family.

At around 6:45 a.m., powerful winds tore through Sumner in Worth County, completely destroying a beloved family barn owned by the Quinlan’s family.

The barn was more than just a structure. For the Parker family, it was a place filled with memories, community and celebrations; this was the place the family gathered after their family matriarch passed in November 2025.

“Devastation, heartbreak,” Parker said, looking at the debris. “We just lost our matriarch, my great-grandmother, a couple of months ago. And now to this... You never think something like this could happen in a snap of a finger. One moment it’s standing, the next moment, it’s crumbled and destroyed.”

The space had been used not only for family gatherings and special events but also served as an Airbnb-style stay where visitors could come experience the peaceful countryside of South Georgia.

In a matter of moments, the severe weather brought it all down.

Quinlan Parker’s uncle, Julious Parker, also visited the property shortly after the morning storm.

“I got a call from a neighbor at this farm,” Parker, the uncle explained when he arrived. “When I saw her call, I said ‘Uh-oh. Something’s wrong.’ She said the barn here was wiped out. When I got up here this morning, I said ‘Oh my God. That’s a life changer.’”

The damage extended beyond the barn itself. The Parker family also owned several horses that were kept on the property. The storm completely destroyed the stable, and sadly, one of the horses had to be put down as a result of the damage.

As someone who covers the news, and anchored the severe weather earlier that day, Quinlan Parker said this storm hits closer to home than any news he has reported before.

“You always have that gut feeling of leaving your family at home to go to work to share vital information with our viewers,” he said. “But never in a million years did I think that our family barn would be demolished by a storm system that we didn’t even think would do what it did this morning. Let alone while I was giving severe weather coverage in the middle of it.

Quinlan anchors WALB’s morning shows, called “Today in Georgia,” from 5 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Nearby the barn, a large storage container was lifted from the ground and shifted by the powerful winds, leaving debris scattered across the property. What once stood as a place of warmth and memories is now a scene of destruction as the family begins the difficult process of picking up the pieces.

For many in the community, the loss hits close to home. The Parker family’s barn was not only a gathering place for loved ones but also a welcoming space for guests and visitors who shared in the beauty and hospitality of South Georgia.

As storms continue to be assessed across the region, this moment serves as a reminder of just how quickly severe weather can change lives.

“It’s all about looking ahead,” Parker said. “Of course, we have the memory still etched in our brains. But I think it’s going to be a different feel whenever we do clean up and rebuild.”

WALB’s hearts go out to the Parker family during this difficult time.

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