Tears flow at funeral for two
Last Updated on 5/30/2012
Published on 8/5/2008
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
When a sports utility vehicle crashed in southern North Carolina killing the three occupants early Friday morning, it had a major impact on many facets of Georgetown County.
That was evident Tuesday as the sanctuary of Screven Baptist Church in Georgetown was overflowing with family and friends grieving the loss of 8-year-old Christopher Carl and his mother, 38-year-old Grace "Vienna" Cribb Carl.
Vienna Carl was the daughter of Wesley and Wanda Cribb, the county's Common Pleas Court coordinator. Many of her co-workers from the Clerk of Court's Office -- as well as many others from the local legal community -- were on hand for the joint funeral attended by more than 300 people, according to an estimate from the church pastor, the Rev. Wayne Ellis.
Christopher Carl would have entered second grade at Maryville Elementary School this month. His principal, Stephanie Bell, was joined by other school district officials in a show of support to the grieving families.
Vienna and Christopher were passengers in the SUV being driven by her boyfriend, Jerry Thornburg. They were taking a trip to Maryland to visit some of Carl's relatives.
As they approached mile marker 10 on I-95 in Lumberton, Thornburg lost control of the vehicle which left the road and struck a tree, flipped over and struck another tree.
Police say they do not believe speed was a factor. Although a definite cause has not been determined, police say it's possible Thornburg fell asleep at the wheel.
Vienna Carl's other son, 12-year-old Tyler Carl, decided not to go on the trip. Instead, he stayed home with their father, Steve.
Remembering
"Those were songs that were very important to Christopher," Screven Baptist Church deacon Don Jagers said after the congregation joined in the singing of "Jesus Loves Me," "Into My Heart" and "Nothing but the Blood".
Christopher and his brother would often visit the church with other family members. Jagers told those at the funeral he remembers in the spring of 2006 Christopher gave his heart to Jesus during Vacation Bible School.
"This is both a sad and a joyous day," Jagers said. "Death is cruel and is no respector of persons but we are celebrating because this is Christopher's homecoming. There is not a shadow of a doubt where Christopher is right now."
Christopher was buried with a small Gideon Bible he was given during that VBS session.
Jagers described the 8-year-old as "a blonde head boy with an angelic face."
"He was the perfect picture of a cherub. He had that little smile that would curl at the corner of his lip," Jagers recalled.
He said the last time he spoke to the child was when he was in Joe Carl's barbershop, owned by Christopher's grandfather.
The most heartbreaking part of the funeral was a slide show presentation depicting various stages of Christopher's young life. There was hardly a dry eye in the sanctuary when one of the final pictures flashed on the screen showing a sleeping baby Christopher, wrapped in a blanket, being held by his father.
The Rev. Barry McKenzie, a relative, said he knew Vienna since she was 6-years-old.
"I remember her smiles. When we saw her she never left us without hugging our necks and kissing us and telling us she loved us," McKenzie said.
He told the family he knows there is a lot of hurt in their hearts but, he said, "only time will heal the pain."
After the service, Principal Bell said Christopher was a "sweet child who always had a smile on his face."
She said she attended the visitation Monday night but did not want to look at her student in the casket.
"I want to remember him walking down the hallway with his curly blonde hair," she said. "He was a very good student."
District Superintendent Dr. Randy Dozier, also in attendance, said counselors will be on hand when school resumes this month in case any of the children are having a hard time dealing with the tragedy.
The funeral for Mr. Thornburg, who dated Vienna Carl -- a former property manager for the Dieter Co. in Pawleys Island -- for the past few months, will be today in Gastonia, N.C.
|
Tyler, no matter what, remember the good times with your Mom and brother. Those memories will help you with your grief and pain. It's ok to think of the bad things sometimes, but don't dwell on them, and don't ever blame yourself for what happened to them. God took them for a reason and in his good time, you will know that reason. It amazes me how some people "forget" the good times and hold on to the bad. I feel sorry for those people for they will never be truly happy. I know happiness seems a long way away for you and your Moms family, but just know it will get easier, and you will always have them in your heart, when you get lonely, pull out those memories and remember you are loved. Wanda and your loving family, no words can express how I feel about your losses. I had not seen Christopher since he was a small child, but I am sure he was still as cute and loving as he was then. Vienna was always fun to be around, while she worked with us, we never knew what she would do or come up with next. Even on a coon hunt where she fell in the water and nearly froze to death, she laughed the whole time. She was an exceptional person and I will miss her laughter. I know God has your family in his hands and he will continue to help you all through this terrible time. If there is anything I can do, please let me know. Love to you all. Posted by Janet on 8/15/2008 |
|
carl family im soo srry fer yalls lose. i hope the best just trust in the lord he will help you through all. god bless Posted by Postons on 8/12/2008 |
|
Although I have given my condolences, I did not attend the funeral services. The paper is stating that it was a joint funeral service, but comments have stated that mother and son were seperated and her pictures were blacked out..How could that have happened, and why would someones heart be so vile and blackened as to do this to a mother and child? Mutual respects should have been paid and unless it was a fiance or wife the "girlfriend" should have had no place in a slide show about the life of a child and his parents, regardless of their status..I can assure you that if was done out of spite, these people will not benefit from my business nor of anyone that I am associated with. Evil should not be rewarded, and remember that justice is served by God and that these peoples actions have been recorded by his hand and will have to be answered to upon judment day. Although the bodies may have been physically seperated, just remember that they are in the bosom of our Heavenly Father and a mother and child are rejoicing in their eternal bond. Posted by confused on 8/12/2008 |
|
I don't know who wrote the comment about the funeral but whoever you are, you said what everybody else was thinking. People have told me that it seemed like Vienna was just an after thought & the newspaper articles about it reflected that, too. What would Christopher say about how his mom was treated? What will Jesus say, more importantly? We all have to "forgive" & cleanse our hearts of hate to get to heaven. Rest in Peace, sweet Vienna & Christopher. Posted by Hit the nail on the head on 8/11/2008 |
|
I hope that each of the Carl family is satisfied by your MISTAKES!!! It is a crying shame that you would have such hate to Vienna and to think that you would have seperated Her and her son at the wake and funeral service. You make me sick. As a local I hope that your business goes to crap! It's a shame that people make mistakes in their lives and still cannot make good of them- no matter how hard they try. Vienna was a great person and loved everyone. Her wonderful parents are godly people with HUGE FORGIVING hearts. I pray that the Carl family will have a forgiving heart one day and apologize to Wanda and Wesley for the funeral service that they had for "CHristopher". God Bless that child whose's life was taken so early, but god needed 1 more angel. And for the girlfriend Lisa, you sicken me. To have had your pictures in that slide show! The nerve of you. That service was about Vienna and Christopher. To have only had 2-3 pictures of Vienna, which by the way were blacked out. Who are you kiddin? God bless Tyler and the Cribb family and may peace be with you. Posted by CARL FAMILY on 8/9/2008 |
|
I love you and miss you vienna so much! I only have good memories of you. I always looked up to you because you were so beautful ( on the outside and inside), you always made me happy and made me laugh!!! You were always so silly. Seeing pictures of you and your boys melted my heart. I know you loved your boys and were such a loving, caring, and wonderful mother. You and Christopher I know are looking over us all and wanting us to know that you two are okay because you are together in heaven. I am so sorry that I never took the time to come and meet your handsome little boys until now. I am so sorry!!!! And Tyler I know you don't know me but I love your mama so much and I love you and Christopher too! I hope you know Tyler that you and Christopher, your mama,daddy, and all of your family will be in my prayers. Please always remember in your heart how much your mama loves you and keep your faith in the Lord! I will always keep you all close in my hearts! I pray for all of my family in South carolina. I want everyone to know that my Aunt Wanda has giving me more strength and faith in lord by seeing that how much she loves her family and how well she is dealing with those people that are being so hateful at this terrible time(and you know who you are) I will be praying for you all too because you definetly neede it. If we truly believe in the Lord and we are Christian's we know GOD does not want us to judge or blame. None of us are perfect, none of us!!!!!!!!!! Let's just keep loving and remembering Vienna and Christopher. Posted by Kelly(cousin) on 8/7/2008 |
|
I want to thank Georgetown County and this reporter for all of the acclimates you have given to my daughter and grandson. I am saddened in my heart but rejoicing at the same time. God has a plan and I have prayed for God's will to be done in my life and each family member. It is hard to understand that this could be God's will but we will never understand and it is not meant for us to understand. I am just so thankful that I have a loving God who cared enough for this world that he gave his only begotten son to die for the sins of the world. I pray for those that are having confusion over this event that has taken place and know that God loves us all and just pray for those that do not understand and do not have the peace of God in their lives. Jesus died for all and I pray that anyone that has not received Jesus as their Savior will before it is everlasting too late. God is picking his flowers for his special Bouquet because he will soon send HIS Son to take us home and then I and my family will all be togther again, forever. Our family would like to thank you for the prayers of all and ask that you would continue to pray for our extended family and friends that have felt this great loss, and my prayer is that all will remember that God is Good all of the time and all of the time God is good! Posted by Wanda Cribb on 8/7/2008 |
|
WE WILL TRULY MISS VIENNA AND CHRISTOPHER. ONE THING IS FOR SURE... CHRISTOPHER TOOK AFTER HIS MOMA BECAUSE THEY BOTH WERE THE MOST PRECIOUS AND LOVING PEOPLE YOU COULD RUN ACROSS. THEY ALWAYS WERE SMILING AND LAUGHING AND SHOWING EVERYONE THAT THEY CARED. AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THEY BOTH ARE IN HEAVEN RIGHT NOW LOOKING DOWN UPON US WITH THAT SAME SMILE AND THAT SAME LAUGHTER AND THAT SAME LOVE. SO EVERYONE NEEDS TO LET THEM REST IN PEACE TOGETHER BECAUSE ANYONE WHO DONT SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN TO U OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE SOONER THAN U THINK AND WHAT WILL YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SAY ABOUT YOU??? WE LOVE YOU VIENNA AND CHRISTOPHER!!! AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH TYLER ALWAYS. Posted by Melissa on 8/6/2008 |
|
Everyone needs to pull together and hold Tyler tight as he mournes the death of his Mama and little brother. Who cares what the relationship was between the adults. Take a look at the big picture here. A mother and her child are gone forever, physically, here on earth. * ~ * Every Christian has a past and every sinner has a future * ~ * Posted by . on 8/6/2008 |
|
Let the families mourne their loved ones.Stop the rumors. Move on. GOD Bless the family Posted by Gtown Citizen on 8/6/2008 |
|
VIENNA WILL BE GREATLY MISSED IN THIS SMALL TOWN. SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON WITH A BUBBLY PERSONALITY EVERYONE WHO KNEW HER LOVED HER .SHE BROUGHT A LOT OF LAUGHTER TO ANY ROOM THAT SHE ENTERED . LIL CHRISTOPHER WILL BE MISSED IN HIS NEIBORHOOD AND AT HIS SCHOOL BY HIS MANY FRIENDS. BUT MOST OF ALL BY HIS LOVING FAMILY . PLEASE PULL TOGETHER AS A FAM,ILY UNIT SO TYLER CAN MEND AND NOT CARRY ANY BLAME ON ANYONE FOR THE HURT HE IS GOING THROUGH EVERYONES MAIN CONCERN SHOULD BE ON HIM AT THIS POINT . HE NEEDS EVERYONES LOVE AND SUPPORT . MAY GOD BLESS THIS FAMILY IN THEIR TIME OF PAIN AND SORROW. Posted by ANN RICHARDSON on 8/6/2008 |
|
VIENNA WAS NOT JUST A FAMILY MEMBER . SHE WAS A FUN LOVEING PERSON THAT HER KIDS HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SHE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL OF US. AND WHO COULD HELP BUT LOVE LITTLE CHRISTOPHER SO SWEET SO LOVEING. BUT THEY BOTH HAVE NO MORE WORRIES NOW FOR THEY ARE RESTING IN THE ARMS OF GOD. WE LOVE YOU TYLER AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR PRAYERS. Posted by JO ANN CAULDER on 8/6/2008 |
