South Carolina teacher passes from COVID, following mother

Demetria Bannister, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher in Columbia, died last month from COVID-19, just weeks later Bannister’s mother died from COVID-19.

Bannister’s mother, 57-year-old Shirley Bannister, passed away Sept. 20, according to her brother Dennis Bell.

Bannister “ … got really sick about two, three days after her daughter died," Bell said, “she actually went to the hospital twice, the second time they decided to keep her.”

Bell also mentioned that his sister was overwhelmed after her daughter had died. It was known that the senior Bannister had a history of asthma and diabetes. She was also the nursing department chair at Midland Technical College in Columbia.

Ronald Rhames, the college's president, made a statement on social media confirming Bannister’s death, “My heart is broken. Shirley was like an angel on Earth. Her life mission was caring for others."

He continued, "While her death is devastating, her impact is everlasting."

Bell described Bannister’s relationship with her daughter as the best of friends. He continued, "They'd go to dinner together. They'd go to the movies, go to concerts and things like that and they planned events together."

Shirley is survived by her husband Dennis Bannister. Demetria Bannister, her only daughter, died on Sept. 7.