A mother and daughter from South Carolina died from COVID-19 just weeks apart and were buried on the same day; they were both teachers.
Demetria Bannister, 28, died on September 7 after contracting the coronavirus. Demetria was a third-grade teacher while her mom, Shirley, was the nursing department chair. On the day that Demetria died, Shirley Bannister, 57, also tested positive for COVID-19. Several weeks later, she too succumbed to the disease and died September 27.
Mom tested positive on the day daughter died of COVID-19
Demi was last inside the school building on August 28, and all cleaning protocols were followed at that time. She didn't show any symptoms as well. So they are still in the dark as to how she contracted the virus, especially that the school year started remotely.
Demi tested positive on September 4 and was hospitalized. Three days later, she passed away.
Meanwhile, Shirley had asthma and was also a diabetic before she showed signs of coronavirus infection. On the day her daughter died, she tested positive for COVID-19. Shirley's husband tested negative for the COVID-19.
Mom and Daughter were inseparable
Dennis Bell, Shirley's brother, described the pair as inseparable, The Mirror noted. He said that his sister is everybody's auntie and was a mother figure, even when she was still young. She is the kind of teacher who wanted to make sure that her students succeed and would always be involved with the community. "A confidant and a great listener," is what Dennis could say about Shirley as a person.
At 19, she received her licensed practicing nurse degree from Midlands Technical College. She would then continue working as a nurse for the next 30 years in the gerontology department. She then became head of the nursing department at Midlands, a position she held for seven years.
A former student of Mrs. Bannister attests to her generosity. On her social media, Kenyatta Hicks said that because her father was ill, she could not afford to buy all her books. Upon learning about her situation, Mrs. Bannister provided her all the nursing books she needed. She wrote, "She believed in me at the time when I didn't believe in myself."
As for Demi, she is the spitting image of her mom. They are alike, both in mannerism and the way they carry themselves. More than that, Demi also took after Shirley when it comes to being generous and committed to helping other people, Dennis told NBC News.
Like her mom, Demetria also pursued a career in teaching. Demi was never afraid to try new things, Dennis said. She is full of energy and passion, which becomes more evident whenever she mentors kids.
As a third-grade teacher at Windsor Elementary School, she was known as "Windsor's Songbird," according to the school's principal, Denise Quickel. He said that Demetria loved her student. She would never miss an opportunity to advocate for students and public education.
Lastly. Dennis said that the mom and daughter were committed to living life each day as if it were their last. Both mom and daughter were buried on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
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