Courtney and Ashley Womack

It's been two years since sisters Courtney Lynn Womack and Ashley Elizabeth Womack perished during a house fire at the home of their grandfather during January 2007. 

The deaths of Courtney, 8, and Ashley, 6, shocked and saddended the Bond community located north of Wiggins. The Stone County residents had not seen a child fire fatality in more than 30 years, according to the Fire Chief Jody Hatten in Wiggins.   

“That’s what’s been so tough right now, with everybody,” Hatten told a reporter with www.sunherald. com at the time. "It's all jumping on us at one time."

Tiffany Deanna Blaylock, Joseph Michael Powell

Joseph Michael Powell

A graveside service for Joseph Michael Powell was conducted Dec. 24 at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Joseph, an infant, died Dec. 17, 2008, in Kailua, Hawaii.   

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home was in charge of services.

Tiffany Deanna Blaylock

Tiffany Deanna Blaylock, 7 weeks old, died Dec. 21, 2008, in Gulfport. 

Bradford-O'Keefe also conducted funeral arrangements, which included a morning visitation and service at Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church on Dec.27.  

Dauphin bridge drowning anniversary

Earlier this month family and residents in Alabama marked the one-year anniversary of the drowning of four children allegedly tossed from an 80-foot high bridge, a tragedy that caused heartbreak across the Gulf Coast region.

The deaths occurred Jan. 7, 2008, over Mobile Bay where law officials say the children were thrown from the Dauphin Island Bridge. They ranged in age from 4 months to 3 years. 

Mobile County Sheriff's Department accused Lam Luong of throwing his children from the bridge after arguing with the children's mother, Kieu Phan. His capital murder trial begins March 9 in Mobile. 

The bodies of 3-year-old Ryan Phan, 2-year-old Hannah Luong, 1-year-old Lindsey Luong and 4-month-old Danny Luong were found within a two-week period in three states as government agencies and residents across southern Alabama, Mississppi and Lousiana searched for the missing children.

Ryan and Danny were found in marshes of Alabama, Lindsey in Mississippi near Chevron Inc.,  and Hannah in the open ocean of Louisiana.  

Law enforcement included Jackson County Sheriff's and Pascagoula Police departments and the Coast Guard, as well as fishermen, marine and wildlife personnel, and residents all along this southern coastal area. 

Vigils and rememberances were held during the holidays and earlier this month for the children to mark the day of their passing, and to continue support for their mother and other family members. 

More stories may be viewed at www.wkrg.com

Birthday party Anyway

The family of Shakeylia Marie Anderson plan to observe the upcoming birthday of the Gulfport teenager, who would have turned 18 years old on Jan. 30. 

"We're having the party anyway," mother Sandra Anderson told reporter Robin Fitzgerald at www.sunherald.com. 

Anderson, 17 at the time of her death in early December 2008, was a student at Harrison Central High School, where she participated in ROTC. 

Harrison County prosecutors charged Leslie Galloway III, 25, of Moss Point with capital murder, underscored by rape and arson. A preliminary hearing Jan. 23 presented details of Anderson's death, including evidence linking Galloway to the murder. Judge Robin A. Metcalfe sent the case to a grand jury. 

Law enforcement accused Galloway of raping Anderson, who was said to have been his girlfriend, burning her body and causing her death by running over the teenager several times with a vehicle. A Ford Taurus belonging to Galloway's mother was used, according to media reports. 

SunHerald.com reported that Galloway claimed two other males committed the crimes against Anderson after forcing the couple to leave a park. Law enforcement believe Galloway is the culprit.

Hunters discovered Shakeylia Anderson's body Dec. 6 in a wooded area off Mississippi 15.

Elijah Luvell Watson

Infant Elijah Luvell Watson, born Oct. 24, 2008, lived two and a half months before he passed away Monday, Jan. 12. 

He was the son of Marcus and Andrea Ladnier Watson, and brother of T.J., Bethany and Joshua, all residents of Vancleave, and brother Jedrek of Texas City, Texas.

Elijah, known as a miracle baby, also is survived by paternal grandfather Dunbar Watson Sr., maternal grandparents William Terry and Donnie Sue Bingham Ladnier; 

Aunts, uncles and cousins who include Donna, Michelle, Lisa, Danny, Juanisha, Shelton, Calisa, Jessika, Alexander, Matthew, Gina, Laura, Connie and Gene, Will and Erica, Daniel, Kristen and Rafael, Britni, Jun, Traci, Quique, Kerr, Isa, Jake, Greyson, Scott and Ellen, Steve and Carrie, Bryon and Stevie, Bekah, Jeremy and Amy and children, Joshua and Lisa and children;

Great-aunts and uncles Pat, Carol and Jimmy, Shane, Joe and Rudy, and friends including Bryant and Carson, Amber and Dustin, Laura, Leslie, Lori and Paul. 

Elijah was preceded in death by sister Raven A. Ladnier, paternal grandmother Annye Pearl Watson and great-uncle Paul Ladnier.

The family sent thanks to nurses and other staff at USA Women and Children's Hospital in Mobile and Children's Hospital at University of Alabama at Birmingham -- Shelly, Mary, Shay, Patti, Jenna, Christy, Mike, Donna, and many others. 

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home arranged visitation Jan. 16 at its chapel in Ocean Springs with funeral services Jan. 17. Burial is at Community of Christ Cemetery in Vancleave. 

Shynia Denise Montgomery

Shynia D. Montgomery,  infant, of Gulfport passed away Jan. 5, 2009. 

Graveside services were held Jan. 15 at Biloxi City Cemetery, arranged by Marshall Funeral Home.

Jett Travolta

The nation has been grieving with the family of teenager Jett Travolta, son of movie stars John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

Jett, 16, died Jan. 02, 2009, after suffering a seizure at the vacation home of his parents located in The Bahamas.  The family held burial services this week after returning to Ocala, Fla.

National news reports said a caretaker discovered the young man in a bathtub, on which police officials initially surmised he had hit his head, but funeral officials later said that was not the case. Jett's father administered CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene. 

John Travolta, who is a Scientologist, identified his son's body after the teenager was taken to a Bahamian hospital, where he was prononuced dead and an autopsy performed.  Travolta and Kelly Preston were reported to have spent several hours with the body of their son after the identification.

Jett Travolta was cremated before the family returned to the United States.