A tornado that touched down 100 miles away the night of March 1 had devastating effects on one local family. Jerry Dukes, 43, of Americus, was killed during the storms that swept through that area Thursday.

A former resident of Thomasville and 1983 graduate of Thomasville High School, Dukes was mourned by local family members and friends this week.

Dukes was at the home of a friend at the corner of Hudson Street and Oglethorpe Avenue when the tornado struck, according to a family member. As he took shelter under a table, a wall of the house caved in, causing his death. Carrie Gaines, 53, was also killed.

Ava Dukes, Jerry Dukes’ sister-in-law, said the family was shocked to hear the news.

“We were devastated,” she said. “We tried to contact him after we found out about the tornado, but we were unable to locate him. We were all worried.” The Dukes family got the news that Jerry had been killed at about 2 a.m. Friday.

Dukes played basketball in high school and after graduating he attended Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. There he met his wife, Cathy Dukes, who survives. He also leaves behind two children and a family still coping with his loss.

“He was a lovable person — everyone knew him,” Ava Dukes said. “He loved people and he loved basketball.”