Tylashia Grant's funeral will be held next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Monumental Baptist Church on Oakland Avenue in Florence.
Burial will follow at North View Cemetery in Florence.
Jeraldine Brockington, 42, and Kesia Grant, 23, were in a Florence courtroom Thursday for an initial appearance in front of Magistrate Judge Belinda Timmons.
Magistrate Timmons read them their charges. Each faces a charge of homicide by child abuse in the death of 3-year-old Tylashia Grant.
Deputies say Brockington is Tylashia's great aunt and Kesia Grant is the child's cousin.
Tylashia was already dead when she was taken to a Florence hospital Tuesday. Police have not said who took her to the hospital.
In court Thursday afternoon, the lead investigator described the crime as one of the most horrific cases she's ever worked and says Tylashia Grant faced a difficult life from the time she was born.
Brockington's daughter, Kendra Grant, says her mother had legal custody of Tylashia, through the Department of Social Services, from the time she was an infant. A DSS representative attended the hearing, but did not speak.
Tylashia's biological mother, Temaka Grant, was in the courtroom along with the child's father. Tameka sobbed throughout the proceedings, as did the suspects. Temaka Grant declined to speak with us.
Kesia Grant has two biological children, ages 2 and 7. DSS has removed them from the home.
Kesia Grant and Jeraldine Brockington are expected back in court next week for a bond hearing.
NewsChannel 15 called the DSS office in Columbia to see if there are any open investigations against Jeraldine Brockington or Kesia Grant. We're waiting for a response from the state DSS office.
Florence School District One officials say Tylashia was enrolled in a child development program at Carver Elementary School in Florence until a few weeks ago when her mother withdrew her from the program. Neighbors told us they often saw the little girl getting off the school bus by herself and walking to her home.
An autopsy has been done on the child's body, but it could be weeks before a forensic pathologist releases an exact cause of death. Florence County Coroner Bubba Matthews (florenceco.org/elected-offices/coroner/) says Tylashia suffered from burns, contusions on her head, and cuts on her scalp.
Stay with CarolinaLive.com and NewsChannel 15 for updates.
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Earlier story - DSS: 3-year-old child abuse victim not in foster care
The Department of Social Services (DSS) office in Florence says the 3-year-old girl who was already dead when she was brought into a Florence hospital Tuesday afternoon was not in foster care.
Florence County deputies say the two women charged in connection with the death of young Tylashia Grant, Jeraldine Brockington, 42, and Kesia Grant, 23, were her caretakers. Police have not said why the two woman had custody of Tylashia.
NewsChannel 15 called the DSS office in Columbia to see if there are any open investigations against the two women, who are charged with homicide by child abuse in Tylashia's death. Deputies say Brockington is Tylashia's great aunt and Grant is the child's cousin. We're waiting for a response from the state DSS office.
Florence School District One officials say Tylashia was enrolled in a child development program at Carver Elementary School in Florence until a few weeks ago when her mother withdrew her from the program. Deputies have not release any information, so far, on Tylashia's mother. Neighbors told us they often saw the little girl getting off the school bus by herself and walking to her home.
Deputies have also not said who brought Tylashia into the hospital on Tuesday. An autopsy has been done on the child's body, but it could be weeks before a forensic pathologist releases an exact cause of death. Florence County Coroner Bubba Matthews says Tylashia suffered from burns, contusions on her head, and cuts on her scalp.
Brockington and Grant are expected in court this afternoon, where we expect to learn more details about the case.
Stay with CarolinaLive.com and NewsChannel 15 for updates.
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Earlier story - Autopsy results pending for 3-year-old child abuse victim
Florence County Coroner Bubba Matthews says 3-year-old Tylashia Grant suffered from burns, contusions on her head, and cuts on her scalp.
He says it could be days or weeks before a forensic pathologist will be able to determine if those injuries, or something else, led to the little girl's death.
Florence County deputies charged Jeraldine Brockington, 42, and Kesia Grant, 23, with homicide by child abuse Wednesday.
Deputies say Brockington is Tylashia's great aunt and Grant is the child's cousin. According to officers, they were Tylashia's caretakers. They have not said where Tylashia's biological mother is.
Brockington and Grant are expected in court this afternoon, where we expect to learn more details about the case.
Stay with CarolinaLive.com and NewsChannel 15 for updates.
