A mother and daughter, both teachers, were buried together after tragically passing away just weeks apart at the age of 57 and 28.
28-year-old Demetria Bannister and her 57-year-old mother Shirley Bannister were a South Carolina teaching duo dedicated to their passion for education.
According to the reports, Demetria died from COVID-19 on September 7, the same day her mother tested positive for coronavirus. On September 27, Shirley succumbed to the disease as well.
The mother and daughter are survived by Dennis Bannister, Shirley’s husband and Demetria’s father, who tested negative for coronavirus.
As Shirley’s brother, Dennis Bell, explained in an interview with NBC, the mother and daughter were “loving and driven women” who were inseparable.
According to the brother, they were “the light of any room” and loved spending their time teaching and planning family outings.
“Demetria was almost a spitting image of Shirley — in her mannerisms and the way she carried herself. She loved mentoring kids and making learning fun. She wanted to transfer that energy and passion to younger people,” Bell expressed.
“Ms Bannister loved her students and never missed an opportunity to advocate for students and public education,” Principal Denise Quickel said of Demetria who was well-known for organizing student activities and leading the school’s choir.
While Demetria taught at Windsor Elementary School for five years, her mother Shirley worked as a nurse for thirty years before becoming the head of the Midlands Technical College nursing department.
“She was a confidante, the kind of person you would go to with problems, and she would be like your own personal sounding board, a great listener,” Bell said of his sister.
According to the reports, Demetria was the only child of Shirley and Dennis Bannister.
Sending prayers for the family during these tough times.
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