Family turns tragedy into car seat safety mission

SAVANNAH, Ga. — A Savannah family hosted a car seat safety event Saturday, Aug. 29, in memory of two children killed in a 2023 car accident.

Valerie “Miss Gina” Bailey Hearns said her grandchildren, Knowledge and Kingston, ages 4 and 5, and their mother, Shatasha, died in a car accident in Statesboro in August 2023.

“Losing one person is bad, but losing three at one time, you know, it was hard on us,” Bailey Hearns said.

From car seat giveaway to certification

As the holidays approached after the crash, the family decided to give away 10 car seats in honor of the boys. While planning the giveaway, Bailey Hearns said the family met women who told them car seats also need to be installed correctly.

“We did not know that at the time,” Bailey Hearns said. “So from that, we all became certified child passenger safety techs, and we learned how to install car seats correctly.”

Bailey Hearns said that became the family’s mission — making sure people have car seats, know how to install them correctly, know how to choose the right seat, and that children are riding safely.

Remembering Knowledge and Kingston

Bailey Hearns described her grandsons as energetic and joyful.

“They were just like the life of the party. I don’t want to say life of the party, but they brought life,” Bailey Hearns said. “Knowledge was very smart. I mean, he had the right name, Knowledge. He wanted to know everything. He asked questions, and he wanted to find the answers.”

“Kingston was full of energy,” Bailey Hearns said. “But both boys, like I said, they were just a joy. Joy to be around.”

The family named its event “August to Remember” in honor of the boys and their mother.

“I want to just not just remember Knowledge, Kingston, and Shatasha, but remember where the chest plate go. Remember the harness. Remember the tether,” Bailey Hearns said. “So we’re going to put remember in front of everything that we do on Saturday.”

Event details

The event was held Saturday, Aug. 29, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Commercial Drive in Savannah.

Registration was available through a QR code and link, though Bailey Hearns said registration was not required. Families could also reach out to Bailey Boys Car Seats through social media.

Bailey Hearns said resources on car seat safety and other child safety products were available at the event. Families who needed a car seat received one and were shown how to install it correctly before leaving.

“When we know that we have showed them the correct way to install the car seat and we know that the child came in and they were not safe but they’re leaving safe, the parents are leaving more knowledgeable,” Bailey Hearns said. “It gives us a sense of, it gives me a sense of like joy that, I don’t know, peace, a little comfort.”

Bailey Hearns said the work has become her family’s passion.

“I wish we didn’t have to do it,” Bailey Hearns said. “But we love doing this. I mean, we’re saving kids.”