Final goodbye: Community rallies to fund funeral for teen beaten to death

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF/Gray News) - Authorities in South Carolina say a 13-year-old boy died after he was severely beaten.

Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said 13-year-old Isaiah Gaymes died last Saturday at the Medical University of South Carolina.

According to Willard, the child died from blunt force trauma.

Ivy Jenerette and Samantha Gaymes were arrested in connection with the alleged assault that led to Isaiah being rushed to the hospital.

Warrants stated that Jenerette beat Isaiah several times with a blunt object.

Authorities said the assaults caused life-threatening injuries to the teen that included injuries to the side and back of his head, broken bones and permanent disfigurement to his face.

A warrant for Jenerette also stated a piece of wood and a handgun were recovered at the scene. Both objects “tested presumptive for blood” and were “consistent with the injury patterns on the victim,” police said.

Authorities said Samantha Gaymes allowed the pattern of physical abuse on the 13-year-old.

Jenerette has been charged with murder and Samantha Gaymes has been charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk.

Felecia Bellamy and Angela Gore were educators at Riverside Elementary School when Isaiah was a student. They said he was a protector, especially when it came to his little sister.

“Although he didn’t get protected, he spent a lot of his time making sure his sister was protected,” Bellamy said.

With the tragic passing of Isaiah, the two educators are taking it upon themselves to do what his mother couldn’t do for him.

“We are so blessed and honored that God has given us the opportunity to be able to help him even in this final goodbye,” Bellamy said.

A funeral will be held on Monday for Isaiah which was made possible through community donations and from the funeral home at North Strand Chapel.

Bellamy and Gore are also starting a scholarship in Isaiah’s honor and making it their mission to protect other kids like Isaiah.

“We know Isaiah’s story very well and we’re going to make sure that in helping and establishing this scholarship it’s going to be able to help people that are in situations like he was,” Bellamy said.

Horry County police say Isaiah’s death remains under investigation as the case continues.

Copyright 2024 WMBF via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.