Written by my Sister in Law Katherine Watson .

Imagine the most beautiful baby boy, smiling and playing peekaboo from the pew in front of you, then shying away when you smiled back. That’s my first memory of Jhaylen, dressed in his Sunday best for his aunt’s funeral. He was such a cutie, lighting up an otherwise somber memorial service with his chubby little cheeks and big wide eyed grins. Best behaved baby in  history! And when he zonked out later at the family home, his dad Zach carried him quietly to the bedroom and laid him down like a little angel.

So when my brother sent me a news story in the wee hours of the morning, I had to read it three times before I responded, hoping I was confused. My heart stopped in my chest and my eyes welled with tears when he replied.


At only two years old, Jhaylen was taken from this world in a horrific accident when an unlicensed teen driver mistook the gas pedal for the brake and struck him with her car. Jhaylen was airlifted to the hospital where sadly he passed away. He is survived by broken-hearted parents Zach and Dejonel, and his four year old brother  Xhayden.



Jhaylen was the sweetest, cutest baby you ever met, and his doting father Zach has been overcome with grief since this tragedy. Now his parents have to bury their son, their baby boy, when they should be creating memories with him instead. Now his brother has a guardian angel instead of a best friend. My heart breaks for them.

Many of us have suffered with job losses in these tough times, imagine being in your twenties, working long hours to make ends meet, and having to bury your toddler. It’s gut wrenching.

Like many parents, Jhaylen’s parents didn’t have a burial plan for their two year old son and funerals are horribly expensive.  Please, if you can, donate - every little bit counts. Also please share this with whomever you can.


(You can find more information on this tragic story here: https://abc13.com/two-year-old-killed-hit-jhaylen-zaire-garbutt-gibbs-unlicensed-driver/6314327/