Walterboro Grieves Loss of Mother and Two Sons in Fatal Crash
WALTERBORO, S.C. — The South Carolina community of Walterboro is in mourning following a devastating crash on November 3 that claimed the lives of Candace Bright and her two sons, 16-year-old Jordan and 8-year-old Jermane. The family’s deaths have left loved ones, classmates, and colleagues heartbroken — and a tight-knit community grappling with grief.
Family members confirmed that Candace had celebrated her birthday just two days before the accident. She was also on the verge of a major milestone — graduating from nursing school in two weeks — a goal she had worked toward with determination and faith.
“It’s not that I don’t have the words,” wrote Antonio Gaillard, a colleague who described a wave of emotion at work after hearing the news. “You just passed your test. Everybody was crying and missing you. This just doesn’t seem right.”
Another friend, Tamara Guess, shared that Candace’s classmates and friends have rallied around her family, recalling her humor and warmth.
“Your class is definitely coming together and supporting your family as best we can during this difficult time,” Guess said. “We all loved you, but God loved you more.”
Community members have taken to social media to share stories of Candace’s kindness, her sons’ playful spirits, and the deep faith that defined the Bright family. Zenobia Pinckney Dewely, a family friend, offered prayers for Candace’s parents, Elder Charles and Sister Cheryl Bright, and fondly remembered young Jermane’s energy at church events.
“Lord, please comfort the family and friends with Your loving arms,” Dewely wrote.
According to official arrangements shared by the family, visitation will be held Friday, November 7, from 4–6 p.m. at Koger’s Mortuary Service in Walterboro. The Celebration of Life will take place Saturday, November 8, at 11 a.m. at the Colleton County High School Performing Arts Center.
The tragedy has drawn attention to South Carolina’s ongoing struggle with road safety. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, traffic fatalities have been on the rise in 2025, particularly in rural areas like Colleton County.
Yet amid heartbreak, the Walterboro community has responded with compassion — organizing prayer circles, making memorial buttons, and sharing messages of love that reflect how deeply the Bright family was cherished.
As one mourner put it simply:
“Heaven gained three angels, but Walterboro lost part of its heart.”
