So so sad. My prayers are with the family. I can't even imagine, celebrating one day and grieving the next. Such a terrible tragedy.
Columbia County authorities say they are awaiting lab results to determine what killed a Martinez teenager the day after her Lakeside High School graduation.
Melanie Anne Elizabeth Garrison, 18, was found unresponsive in her bed Sunday afternoon and later pronounced dead at Doctors Hospital, said Columbia County sheriff's Capt. Steve Morris.
"We can't make a ruling until we get those lab results," Coroner Vernon Collins said, adding that it might take six to eight weeks to complete them.
An autopsy at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in Augusta did not provide a reason for Miss Garrison's death, authorities said.
Mr. Collins said Miss Garrison had spent the night after graduation with a friend and returned home Sunday afternoon while her father and stepmother were at the movies. Her father later found her unconscious, Mr. Collins said.
Miss Garrison was a member of the Lakeside chorus for four years and a member of Health Occupations Students of America. She also was a member of Warren Baptist Church.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Thomas Poteet & Sons Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park.
Reach Valerie Rowell at (706) 868-1222, ext. 110, or valerie.rowell@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
So so sad. My prayers are with the family. I can't even imagine, celebrating one day and grieving the next. Such a terrible tragedy.
Sorry for your loss! I hope the answers come soon for your family.
So sad! Teens now days, she probably stayed with a friend so they could hang out late. Drugs or alcohol was probably related to death somehow. So sad.
may she rest in peace now and my prayers are with the family..
So tragic. You cannot help but grieve with this family. I cannot even begin to imagine the heartache that they are experiencing. May the family and friend be able to find some comfort, in knowing that Melanie is at peaceful rest, in GOD's loving arms.
Cottoncandy, even if what you said was remotely true, only an insensitive jackazz would make the statement you did.
Tell it like it is colcamp1. I agree with you, some things are better left unsaid. Who would have known that cottoncandy was also a cotton brain until that insensitive post.
May peace be with her family, but like so many people that post on here from day to day, say mean and nasty things. I can think of many people who have lost there love ones and by now it would have been many ugly things being said.
Heart Breaking!
First of all this is a good kid; Melanie has been and would have continued to be a positive contributor had her life not been cut short so tragically. cottoncandy you are a total idiot;
First of all this is a good kid; Melanie has been and would have continued to be a positive contributor had her life not been cut short so tragically. cottoncandy you are a total idiot;
I don't know this family, but I have heard such nice things about this young lady. It is so sad for the family and the many friends. Hopefully, they will find a cause--to not know would be unimaginable. May they draw strengh in the love of our Lord. He knows their pain and will bring comfort.
To the family, May God shower you with comfort only He can give.
I saw this in the obits. There was also a nineteen year old in the obits. I heard she had a heart attack. These kids are so very young to be dying. My condolenses to all.
My prayers are with this family.
Her father was my best friend in school when they lived in Alabama. No one should have to outlive their own child.
I pray peace and strength for the family.
My prayers go to a loving God, that He would wrap His loving arms around the family and friends of this beautiful young lady.
What did the idots say that got there posts removed. It was very sad for everybody I was at Doctors Hospital ER when she passed away. There were a lot tears you could feel the lose that people were having. My Heart goes out to the family. I do not know how I could hold up if one of my children passed away.
What in the world was wrong with my 7:44 AM post? All I did was mention how insensitive cottoncady's post was.
It is tremendously sad to see a life cut short when it was really just beginning. God bless the family and friends of Melanie.
May God bless everyone who posted and her family. Please KNOW that this young lady is in a better place now where no one can make a nasty comment to her anymore. It is better to remain ignorant and not post than to post and remove all doubt.
Let's pray. Father in the name of Jesus we come to you now asking that you remove any sin that might hinder this prayer. We pray that you give Melanie's family peace, joy, and strength that they need to continue. Lord help them to find the answers to their prayers in your word. You said that to die is gain and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Now Melanie has ETERNAL LIFE with you in Heaven. This world is not our home Lord. Help us to understand that according to your word, Jesus is soon to come and we MUST be ready. Teach us how to love and comfort one another Lord. Love is your greatest commandment. May you send many people to shower the family with lots of love at this time. Lord, your concern is souls and we MUST be fishermen of men daily. Thank you for giving this family the comfort and support needed to get through this great and precious loss of Melanie. Let your grace and mercy keep them safely each day AMEN!!!
When people speak ill of our loved ones God has taken to His home you are speaking directly to Him and forsaking Him. Pray God has mercy on you. He will, God has mercy on all of us each and everyday that He allows to live in sin and and not let us die.
She either got hold of some bad drugs, and overdosed, or someone slipped something in her drink!!! The comments are no more or less than they would be if it was someone of another race. Lets be truthful, you people , the same ones that are posting now, with all the good things about this girl, you would be saying just the oppsite.As soon as you leave this story, you will be right back, on another story, with all of your nasty, racist, comments!!!!
I'm so sorry! My prayers are with the Garrison family!
I want to thank all those who prayed and wished us well during the past few months. Your prayers and thoughts were felt and appreciated. We have many wonderful friends and I thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for each of you. Melanie had many friends that loved her and she loved them. May God bless you as he has blessed Melanie's family. Jim Garrison
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