Under a canopy of pink balloons, a gathering convened outside the Tree of Life Funeral Home in Fort Worth on Friday evening. Chardae Mills, attempting to address the assembled crowd in remembrance of her daughters, 4-year-old Ivy Pierce and 15-month-old Wynter Thouston, was overcome with tears.
“My home is so quiet now,” Mills managed to express, struggling to articulate the profound loss she has endured.
On the Fourth of July, the family had gone to the Crystal Clean Car Wash on Cleburne Road to enjoy fireworks when a confrontation erupted into gunfire, tragically claiming the lives of both girls and another man. In total, six people were shot during the incident.
Facing charges of capital murder is 26-year-old Kanard Trent Murphy.
This devastating act of violence has deeply shaken the community once again.
“We must recognize that these tragedies are not normal. A mother should not have to endure this. A father should not have to endure this,” remarked Pastor Rodney McIntosh. “Parents should never have to bury their children. We must strive to ensure that such events do not continue to plague our community.”
The family affectionately referred to the girls as Wynter Harlem and Ivy Joy, recalling how their presence always brought smiles to those around them. As balloons were released skyward on Friday evening, it was a poignant tribute to two sisters whose lives were cut tragically short.
The funeral and burial are scheduled for Saturday at Mount Calvary Family Life Center in Tyler.
