BY MILES LAYTON
COLERAIN — On Saturday morning, the sanctuary at Mars Hill Baptist Church will be filled with sorrow, remembrance, and love as the community gathers to say farewell to a mother and son whose final moments were marked by a profound and heartbreaking act of bravery.
Shaunna Lynn Glidden Jernigan, 35, and her 14-year-old son, Timothy “Lil Tim” Jernigan Jr., will be remembered in a joint funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 12. The service will be officiated by Rev. Webb Hoggard, who will lead the community in honoring two lives lost far too soon.
A fundraiser has been established to help with funeral costs and support for the surviving children. Donations and condolences can be submitted through Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service’s website.
Because I absolutely hated how the drive-by media treated this tragic story — showing photos of the deceased while the family is mourning, and even callously talking about water safety while people were at the same beach the day after this accident (WTF) — I’m writing this follow-up story in an attempt to console the family and community. To the Jernigan family — you are in our prayers.
“Our community mourns with the family and friends of the victims,” the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office said in their statement. “The family, friends, our community, and first responders need your prayers during this difficult time.”
Shaunna was more than a mother — she was a first responder, a caregiver, and a constant source of compassion for those who knew her. She worked with Bertie County EMS, dedicating her time and energy to helping others in moments of crisis.
Born June 3, 1990, in Chesapeake, Virginia, Shaunna was known for her warm smile, fierce loyalty, and endless energy for her children. She found peace in simple pleasures: crocheting, coloring, cooking, and gazing at the moon, finding both inspiration and solace in its glow.
Her kitchen was a gathering place for family and friends, always full of delicious food and laughter. She loved animals, believed in kindness, and taught her children to treat others with respect and compassion.
Timothy “Lil Tim” was born April 18, 2011 — he was a rising ninth grader at Bertie High School. Known for his sense of humor and his boundless energy, Tim loved riding his bike, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family, according to his obituary.
The Jernigans’ tragedy happened Tuesday evening at Bertie Beach, a spot near 242 Bal Gra Road in Merry Hill. According to a release from the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office, first responders were dispatched to the scene at 5:41 p.m. on July 8 following a report that someone was drowning. Upon arrival, emergency personnel were informed that a mother and son were in distress in the water. Responders, along with beachgoers, immediately entered the water and were able to rescue an 11-year-old girl — later identified as Shaunna’s daughter — but despite efforts to save them, Shaunna and Timothy could not be revived. The rescue and recovery occurred approximately 150 yards from the shoreline.
“The initial report from the surviving child indicated that she and her mother were floating on an inflatable raft while her brother, Timothy, was swimming nearby,” the sheriff’s office said in the statement released around 1:45 a.m. Wednesday. “The child said her brother became distressed when he could no longer feel the bottom of the beach. Her mother entered the water to save him and also became distressed.”
Despite heroic efforts by off-duty EMS, the Merry Hill Fire Chief and his family, and several beachgoers — “Life-saving measures were done on the mother and son, but unfortunately, they didn’t survive,” Bertie County Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin said in a press release.
Shaunna’s obituary said, “Shaunna’s tragic demise came during an act of profound heroism, as she attempted to save her beloved son, Lil Tim, from drowning. They are now reunited in eternal peace.”
Th Sheriff’s Office also expressed gratitude to the many individuals and agencies who responded to the emergency, including Merry Hill Fire Department, Bertie County EMS, NC Marine Fishery, Windsor Police Department, Bertie County Communication Dispatchers, and the beachgoers who risked their own safety to help.
In the days following the tragedy, the community has rallied around the Jernigan family. Friends, neighbors, and even strangers have donated to help cover funeral expenses and ongoing needs for the surviving children. Donations and condolences can be submitted through Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service’s website.
The funeral service at Mars Hill Baptist Church is expected to draw — classmates, coworkers, extended family, and fellow first responders — all coming to honor the lives of Shaunna and Tim, and to offer their support to those left behind.
Though the grief is deep and fresh, their memory will not be defined by tragedy, but by the love they shared — love that continues to ripple through every person touched by their lives.
Shaunna died a hero with her son knowing he was loved — the strength of a mother’s love in its purest form.
And in Colerain, a small town wrapped in grief, the truth of that love is what will remain.