Birmingham-area parents identified as slain Panama City Beach men: ‘They were inseparable’

A weekend trip to Florida turned deadly for three young Birmingham-area fathers who died after being caught in a rip current on Panama City Beach.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as Harold Denzel Hunter, 25, Jemonda Ray, 24, and Marius Richardson, also 24.

Ray and Richardson were cousins ​​who, according to family members, grew up as brothers. Hunter was their friend. Their families said Saturday they are working to get their loved ones back to Alabama.

“I just wish the outcome was better than it is,” said Jayla Ray, whose brother Jemonda was among the three killed. “I’m glad they were found and can come home.”

The three men were part of a group of six who arrived in Panama City Beach on Friday to stay at an Airbnb. Ray’s girlfriend, Richardson’s wife and one of Hunter’s cousins ​​also made the trip.

“They checked in the rental and rushed to get in the water,” Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said.

They entered the water around 8pm and were quickly swept away by the rip current. The youths were reported missing near the Watercress Condominiums at 6201 Thomas Drive.

All three swimmers were eventually rescued from the murky waters and sent to local hospitals for treatment, where they died.

Ray, the father of a young son, graduated from Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham and worked at Amazon.

His mother, Iris Richardson, is heartbroken.

“I called him ‘dad’ because he acted like my dad,” Richardson said. “He kept everyone smiling. She was the sweetest person.”

The men were in chest-deep water when they became distressed.

“The detective told me he was trying to get back to shore, but the current got the better of him,” Richardson said.

“It’s hard,” she said. “He made sure he saw me every day.”

Ray loved soccer, playing in the youth leagues in Birmingham and then at Jackson-Olin. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan.

“He was loved,” his sister said. “He left here knowing he was loved.”

Ray and his cousin, Marius, had grown up together since birth.

“It was two peas in a pod,” Richardson said. “They were inseparable.”

Marius Richardson, a Woodlawn High School graduate, leaves behind his wife and a 2-year-old son.

“He was a hard worker, too,” Richardson said. “He always took care of his family. He was a good man.”

Hunter graduated from Jefferson County Junior High School and worked for Mavis Tires & Brakes.

He leaves behind two young children – a son and a daughter.

“He was the life of the party,” said his sister, Selina Black. “He was always smiling. He wanted everyone up, even when he was down.”

Hunter loved his children and he loved music.

“He was our own personal DJ,” Black said.

The family said they will miss his laugh and his contagious, energetic spirit the most.

“This was all so unexpected and hit the family hard,” she said.

A GoFundMe has been started to help Hunter’s family. Donations can be made here.

“I have such a heavy heart this morning regarding the loss of three young visitors to our community,” Sheriff Ford said in a Facebook post. “I am praying for their family and I ask that you do the same. It’s such a tragedy.”

“We witnessed so many people, including visitors to our community, gather on the beach last night to desperately search for them,” he said. “The acts of bravery by the first responders were amazing.”

“Many of our rescue swimmers from the sheriff’s office, Bay County Emergency Services and Panama City Beach went into the dark and dangerous waters for over two hours to try to rescue and search for the young men,” said Ford. “I worry about the emotional toll these situations take on first responders because I know I go through that myself.”