Just a few days before Christmas, 73-year-old Ernestine Williams faces the toughest task of her life. She has to bury her daughter and console her granddaughter.
"I don't have another daughter," Williams said. "I won't be able to see her, talk to her or tease her. I never thought that I would bury her."
Williams' daughter, Beverly and Anthony Jackson died after Beverly's car crossed the center line and collided head-on with a van. Their 2-year-old daughter, Antonique, was injured but survived.
She is in stable condition at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
"She's got all these tubes and things on her," Williams said. "She has a swollen eye and broken leg."
Williams says she still has not gotten over the shock.
"I'm going to pray, and I'm not going to ever stop praying," Williams said. "I'll cry but I'm going to pray too, that's how I'll make it."
Because Antonique lost both her parents, an aunt on her father's side is now applying to become her legal guardian.
"We will share her on weekends during the week and whatever," Williams said. "We're not going to fuss over her. We're going to love her and let her know we're there for her."
There has been an accident victim trust fund set up for Antonique. Anyone who would like to contribute is asked to go to First Citizens Bank and tell the bank that the money should go to the Mount Sinia Baptist Church Antonique Jackson Fund.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
