September 25, 2022 - The city of Brookwood, Alabama held an emotion-filled memorial service on Friday that honored 13 coal miners who died Sept. 23, 2001, after explosions erupted at the Jim Walter Resources Mine No. 5 in Tuscaloosa County.

"I knew these guys. And ... it's something that we will never forget," said Larry Spencer, international vice president for the United Mine Workers of America District 20.

Spencer said he was working at the No. 7 mine when the first explosion erupted at the No. 5 mine. Even with the passage of time since the disaster, Spencer said he will always remember the close relationships he forged with those fallen miners.

"We're committed to continue to remember all of our fallen miners. They're dear to my heart. Every year affects me the same way. And I pray it never changes," he said.

Sep 23, 2022; Brookwood, AL, USA; Crystal Davis, Alvin Davis and Saundie Smith set up a memorial bell as coal miners and family members mark the 21st Anniversary of the mine explosion at the Jim Walter Resources Mine No. 5 in Brookwood that claimed 13 lives on Sept. 23, 2001.

Photo: Gary Cosby, Jr - Tuscaloosa News

Spencer was joined by local coal miners, family members and Tuscaloosa County residents in front of the Miners’ Memorial Monument at West Brookwood Church during the service that paid tribute to those 13 men who died 21 years ago.

The service hosted by the Alabama Miners Memorial Foundation included guest speaker Thomas Wilson and a musical performance by Promise Land. The memorial service also featured a candle-lighting ceremony and cannon salute in memory of the fallen miners.

The 2001 explosions killed Gaston Adams Jr., Raymond Ashworth, Nelson Banks, David Blevins, Clarence “Bit” Boyd, Wendell Johnson, John Knox, Dennis Mobley, Charles Nail, Joe Riggs, Charles Smith, Joe Sorah and Charlie Stewart.

Sep 23, 2022; Brookwood, AL, USA; Coal miners and family members mark the 21st Anniversary of the mine explosion at the Jim Walter Resources Mine No. 5 in Brookwood that claimed 13 lives on Sept. 23, 2001.

Photo: Gary Cosby, Jr - Tuscaloosa News

Friday's service also paid tribute to other Alabama miners who lost their lives in recent years.

"Every person is important, every person that has lost their life is important, every person that's still living is important.- We try to look at everything that's happened around our community and around the Alabama area, and we try to let people understand that we're concerned about all of them," Spencer said.

Kenny Nichols was a member of the mine rescue team who assisted miners who were injured after the explosions.

"Those were all my friends. I worked at No. 5 Mine. So all those guys, I worked with on a daily basis. They were like family. And I loved each and every one of them," Nichols said.

Sep 23, 2022; Brookwood, AL, USA; Kenny Nichols looks at photographs of the miners who were killed as coal miners and family members mark the 21st Anniversary of the mine explosion at the Jim Walter Resources Mine No. 5 in Brookwood that claimed 13 lives on Sept. 23, 2001. Nichols was part of the mine rescue team working the explosion.

Photo: Gary Cosby, Jr - Tuscaloosa News

Nichols said he still grieves the loss of his fallen friends and teammates, but he finds comfort in attending the annual memorial service. Nichols said he is moved by the continuous love and support shown by the Brookwood community.

"It's awesome. Because that just lets me know that their memories are not gone ... that everybody remembers how well they were loved and liked by many. Because they were just as good out in the community that they lived in, as they were underground with us. You know, they carried themselves highly and they had good morals and good standards, each and every one of them," Nichols said.