A devoted mother gave everything to ensure her kids were taken care of. She never imagined she would be taken from the world before having the chance to see her kids grow up. Tragically, she was not the only member of the family to pass away unexpectedly.

Losing a loved one is one of the most challenging experiences anyone can face, and it often happens when we least expect it.

A mother and her beloved son were standing next to their car, thinking about the future and simply enjoying life—they had no idea what would happen next.

Their Community Loved Them

Jamie Krajewski and her 17-year-old son, Tyshon Harper, were well-loved by their community. Tyshon, affectionately called “ducky” or “chubby,” was a stand-out athlete and played in the Junior Football League.

In a matter of seconds, the family’s world was turned upside down without warning or a chance to say goodbye.

Tyshon’s future was bright, and he always made his mother proud. Jamie was hardworking and held three jobs to make ends meet, also ensuring her babies never struggled.

It Should Not Have Happened

On Friday, September 16, 2022, the duo stood along the road at Interstate 395 in Putnam, Connecticut, without worry. They undoubtedly looked forward to the upcoming weekend, but fate had other plans.

The wonderful mother and her son were victims of a car accident. Family member Roland Krajewski shared that it was difficult to talk about the incident and noted that everyone was heartbroken as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy. He expressed:

“We lost them two. Their hearts were just so full of life, they shouldn’t be emptied yet. (sic)”

The Family Was Heartbroken

Roland grieved the passing of Tyshon deeply and emphasized what a significant loss it was. Tyshon did well at school and helped around at home, often acting as the father figure in his single-parent household.

While Tyshon’s brother, Javon Harper, was shattered, he knew he needed to step up for his siblings. He shared that his mother would have wanted him to look after their family, so that is what he chose to do.

Kristen Stringfellow, the superintendent at Norwich Public School, said:

“Please keep their family in your thoughts and prayers as they grieve the tragic loss of their mother and brother.”

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They Lost Their Protector

The crash left the entire Norwich community mourning for the two precious people who were taken too soon. The family lost their protector, Jamie, and they wondered how they would continue without the person who kept them together.

In a matter of seconds, the family’s world was turned upside down without warning or a chance to say goodbye. Tyshon’s cousin learned something from the duo and said he would never forget this lesson:

“They told me that giving isn’t something that should be thought of, it should just be something that’s done.”

They Had a Great Bond

Tributes and love for the fallen angels poured in, and Tyshon’s football league teammates wrote the following:

“If you ever played with Tyshon, you certainly would have heard, ‘LETS GO CHUBBY’ coming from his mother after every play, big or small!”

Everyone remembered the bond between Tyshon and his mother and praised Jamie for how she loved and supported her kids. She was an angel now—and she could look over her family from heaven, with her son by her side.

Support for the Family

The family started a GoFundMe fundraiser where anyone was welcome to support them financially. By September 21, more than $27,000 had been donated to assist with funeral expenses and any other needs the family might have. On the page, they said:

“Jamie and Tyshon were unimaginably taken from us in a very tragic accident. Jamie was a single mother with five children and was always there for anyone who needed help. Tyshon was nothing but a great human being.”

We send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the family as they mourn the double tragedy. May God grant them the strength and courage to continue.

Click here for a story about a mother and her three kids heading home after enjoying a lovely dinner together. Their relatives started to worry when they had not returned by midnight.