CUTHBERT, Ga. (WALB) - The husband of a woman and the father of their two children killed in a January wrong-way crash held a balloon release celebration Saturday, April 4 to mark what would have been birthdays for his wife and son.

James Spann organized the event at East Bank Park in Fort Gaines for Bernedine Spann and Jaxton Spann, who shared April 6 birthdays with family members.

“April used to be a very exciting month for our family because we celebrated so many birthdays,” James Spann said. “Bernedine and I shared birthdays on April 1st, and Jaxton and his Nana shared birthdays on April 6th. We now have to find different ways to celebrate them.”

Bernedine Spann, 32, and her daughter Ja’Leah Spann, 13, died Jan. 14 in a crash on U.S. 82. Jaxton Spann, 7, died Jan. 18 from injuries sustained in the crash.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, Sherita Goodard, 41, was arrested in connection to a wrong-way crash. Goddard was accused of driving under the influence

“Life will never be the same for us,” James Spann said. “The celebration was bittersweet knowing how happy Bernedine, Jaxton, and Ja’Leah would have been but not being able to see their smiles. This is extremely painful.”

James Spann said the family continues to seek justice in the case.

“We are going to continue to pray and have faith in God that justice is served,” he said. “This lady needs to be held accountable for her personal decisions and choices that led to us losing our three loved ones. We miss them dearly. It only gets worse for us as each passing day only reminds us that we will forever be without them.”

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