The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.
The girl, Maria Sue, was hit in the driveway of the family’s home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The brother, whose name and exact age weren’t available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.
“It looks like a tragic accident,” she said.
May 23, 2008
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So much sadness…..
I woke up to the news today that the Mother of our beloved Bishop, Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, passed away suddenly. Met. Nicholas just returned from an official trip to China and was sending daily updates of his visit. His mother’s death was very unexpected. May her memory be eternal!
I am also praying for the life of baby Vivian Anastasia- she is gravely ill and may not live much longer….please pray for comfort for her family. Lord have mercy!
I often wonder why young innocent children die and older difficult, nasty people are left on earth to cause trouble…I have come to the conclusion that God keeps them here to give them time to repent and save their souls.
My heart just aches for the Chapman family who is burying their 5 year old daughter today. Lord have mercy!
Please watch this video and explanation of his song “Cinderella’.
We have a little Cinderella in our family and I know what bath time is like. Many of you know what I am talking about. This video always brings tears to my eyes and even more so today knowing little Mary Sue is no longer on this earth. May her memory be eternal! Please pray for her brother I can’t imagine the pain and guilt he must be experiencing. Oh, I am just devastated for this poor family.
May all those suffering with pain and loss of loved ones find strength, peace, comfort and hope in the Risen Christ.
(Left to right Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaoey, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily)Daughter of Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman killed
Several family members witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville. The girl died later at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.
In a statement, Velvet Kelm, a publicist for Chapman, said Maria was the Chapmans’ youngest daughter.
Chapman, who is originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria. They also have three biological children.
The singer’s Web site says the couple was persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah’s Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.
The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.
“After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that,” Chapman says on the Web site.
“We’ve really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don’t think so. I believe God is saying, ‘I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.’”
The 45-year-old singer also has released a book about being a father titled ” Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess.” He has won five Grammy awards and 54 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association, according to Kelm.
Comments (4)
Tragic!
Lord have mercy! ((hugs to you))
A few years ago in greece a small girl Anastasia dies,9 years old,in Cyprus,from lung cancer.In 15th of August.Prayers and parakleseis were made for her health amongst others in Panagia church in Porto Lagos greece.The girl slept in Christ and the funeral was done in cyprus.The same day,it was monday,in the afternoon a student from city of Kavala came in Virgin’s church in Porto Lagos to pray.The church is small and near water and has a small wooden bridge in its front.After exiting the church he stood in the bridge.He saw an orthodox nun -kalogria-in black passing in front of him into the church.She held by her hand a small girl with glasses.She told him that the girl wasn’t Hers but she would take it with Her and she went in the church.The student waited for a quarter of an hour for the nun to come out.He thought that the girl might be her niece and she would take her to her monastery.The time passed and the nun never came out.The young man the entered the church and searched everywhere,he didn’t find the two women.Full of fear he went to the priest,Father Nymfon-who is igoumenos-told him about the women and asked him to search together for them.Father Nymfon asked him for the girl’s description her clothes and appearence.He showed pictures of persons sent for parakleiseis,he showed him the image of small Anastasia.The young man identified in her the little girl that the nun-kalogria held in her hand.Father Nymfon in tears explained that the girl died and was buried the same day.The student in tears asked:”and who was the nun-kalogria?”.Father Nymfon told him it was Holy Theotokos.When the young man heard that bursted in tears crying lowdly.This way Her Grace Holy Theotokos wanted to show that little Anastasia’s soul was in Her Arms.I believe more or less that Her Grace protects all the small children who have slept young in age.