GA Teen Loses Both Parents Days Apart To The Coronavirus

JOHNS CREEK, GA — The unimaginable happened last week to a Johns Creek teen, who lost both of his parents to the coronavirus just days apart. Now, the community is stepping up to help him.

A GoFundMe campaign has been established for Justin Hunter, 17, who is a rising senior at Johns Creek High School, where he plays football. As of Tuesday morning, the campaign raised more than $453,000 for the teen from more than 8,000 donors.

"The Hunter family has been a shining light in the Denmark, Johns Creek and South Forsyth communities for such a long time," wrote Frank DuCille, who established the GoFundMe campaign. "The loss of Angie and Eugene this week has left us all with such heavy hearts. Please help us in supporting their 17-year-old son, Justin. Your assistance will be used to establish a trust for Justin. This will help provide basic life needs and enable him to pursue his educational dreams and aspirations. Thank you so much for showing your love for Justin during this desperate time of need! Justin we LOVE you and will always be here for you!"

Hunter told WSB-TV that his family all tested positive two weeks ago. He was asymptomatic, but both of his parents had symptoms. They quarantined at home, but when his parents became worse, they had to call an ambulance and go to the hospital.

“They became very sick, and they had the clear symptoms,” Hunter told the TV station. “Their temperatures skyrocketed. They had headaches. Horrible cough. They felt very lazy.”

Both of his parents died days apart: Eugene, 59, died July 26, and Angie, 57, died July 30.

The family had been careful by wearing masks and not going out often, Hunter said.

“We were a regular family just trying to stay safe during this pandemic,” Hunter told the TV station. “When my mom would go to the store, she would be wearing mask and she would be wearing gloves.”

Hunter plans to live with relatives during his senior year of high school.