FORDYCE, Ark. – A lot can happen in 365 days, but for the city of Fordyce, one year can seem like no time at all.

On June 21, 2024, four lives were taken, and several more were injured in a mass shooting at a Fordyce grocery store. This left scars on people like Betty Strong, who was in the store when bullets began flying.

“All I can hear at nighttime is the gunshots,” Strong said, “The shotgun, the nine-millimeter. And then I see the bodies and the blood. And then I just wake up shaking all over.”

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At a balloon release, remembering the day Fordyce stood still, Betty said it’s the four people who couldn’t be there that make the day so important.

“Roy Sturgis, who got killed, someday I will get to tell him that he was my hero. Because his actions gave people like me time to seek safety.”

Wanda Gaskey said the woman she’s thinking about most is 23-year-old Callie Weems.

“She used to babysit Bonnie when she was really little.”

Wanda adds, “Callie, I had just talked to her. She was going to come over and visit with Bonnie a little bit.”

Most days, Betty wants to forget what happened, but today, she takes the time to remember why she can’t.

“People forget. And they don’t teach their kids history — what happened,” Betty said.

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A statement was also released on Saturday by Helen Browning-Grice about her daughter Callie Jane, one of the victims of the Fordyce shooting.

“365 Days Without Callie Jane

June 21 marks 365 days without the physical presence of my beautiful daughter, Callie Weems — “Callie Jane.”

June 19 marks 365 days since I last held her in my arms, kissed her on the forehead, and told her I loved her and how proud I was, standing in the church parking lot after revival.

June 20 marks 365 days since I last heard her sweet voice, always ending every call with “I love you.”

June 21, 365 days since our last text. Then… just like that, she was gone from this earth. But, not gone. She walks now in Heaven, at Jesus’ feet.

From June 22 through every day since, I have awakened to the painful reality that my baby girl no longer walks beside me here, but I’ve also clung to the truth that she is alive in Heaven. That’s how I’ve made it this far.

God has a plan. A plan for every tear, every scream, every heartbreak. And one day, in His time, it will all be revealed.

Callie’s light continues to shine. She was honored posthumously with the Arkansas Hospital Association Nurse of the Year award and the Daisy LPN of the Year award for 2024. She was also honored with a flag flown over the Capitol by our Governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

In remembering Callie, I want everyone to think of her faith, her courage, her deep love for family and friends, her infectious laughter, and her joy for life.”

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Browning-Grice said a scholarship has been established in her daughter’s name, and that of Roy Sturgis, and is being managed by Busy Bees called the Callie Weems and Roy Sturgis Memorial Scholarship, which is part of the Arkansas County Co-Op.

Those wishing to donate can mail directly to P.O. Box 170, Kingsland, Arkansas 71652