MACON, Ga. — A Macon community is rallying around a disabled mother who lost both of her sons within a week of each other.
The community raised money to help Alicia Smith bury one son Friday after he died from sickle cell disease.
“It's just devastating. I never expected it. Nobody did,” Smith said.
Alicia Smith lost Major Harris, 44, on July 30 after he had a stroke due to a deep brain bleed.
She says the day before burying Major, her other son, 40-year-old Chance Harris took his own life in her home. Smith says Chance took care of her and major.
“[Chance] would help Major to be able to take care of me,” Smith said.
She says it hurts knowing she won't see them anymore.
“I didn't expect Major to die either, but I really didn't expect Chance to,” Smith said.
Her neighbor James Duncombe agreed.
“I can't even describe to you how I felt, because Chance was also a friend,” Duncombe said.
He says the community came together to donate money for Major's funeral after he created a GoFundMe. Bentley and Sons Funeral Home still held the funeral, despite Smith not having the available funds to bury her son.
“The fact that they even took it with no money pending is priceless,” Duncombe said.
Duncombe says he wants the GoFundMe to go far so that Smith can get the mental support she needs.
“My goal is to eventually let her lay her sons to rest and get her back to Miami where she can get emotional support,” Duncombe said.
Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones says it’s important to help your neighbor because you never know what they're going through.
“She's all alone we need to do something to help her get back to Florida because she can't take care of herself,” Jones said
Smith says as she grieves, she's taking it slow.
“Just trying to take one day at a time and keep my head on straight,” Smith said.
You can still donate to the original GoFundMe for both sons.