An Alabama community is mourning the loss of Jace Watkins, an 11-year-old boy from Hueytown, who died Saturday night after a week-long fight in the ICU following complications from a severe case of the flu, according to his family.
Jace had been hospitalized at Children’s of Alabama after he was diagnosed with influenza in the days leading up to Christmas.
Family members said his condition deteriorated quickly: he began suffering seizures, and at one point stopped breathing as doctors worked to stabilize him.
By late Tuesday night, the family said Jace’s condition worsened again, with swelling in his brain that did not subside—leaving his brain unable to receive enough oxygen.
His grandfather, Scott Parsons, described the moment as overwhelming, like something “moving forward without pause,” as loved ones tried to process what was happening in real time.
His aunt, Sabrina Parsons, told reporters Jace did not have major underlying health issues, explaining that while he was born premature and had used inhalers years ago, he had otherwise been healthy.
She said he told everyone he felt fine before he started vomiting and then had a seizure—an abrupt turn that left the family stunned.
As Jace fought for his life, Hueytown rallied around him.
Community members gathered at Hueytown City Park for a prayer vigil organized with help from Amanda Aloia, who said her son is in the same class as Jace.
The vigil drew friends, classmates, teachers, and neighbors—many of them strangers to the family—united by the shared heartbreak of watching a child suffer during the holidays.
Jace was a fifth-grade student at Hueytown Intermediate, and his death has left a deep ache across the school community as students return to classrooms carrying grief that feels too heavy for children to hold.
His family’s story is also unfolding amid an intense flu season.
Local coverage noted moderate flu activity in Alabama during mid-December, as hospitals and families across the state reported a rise in serious illness.
Jace’s loved ones are remembering him not only for the fight he didn’t choose, but for the childhood he was still living—school days, friendships, and the simple routines that should have stretched into years.
A photo shared by the family credits Joann Parsons, one of the relatives helping preserve Jace’s memory as the community grieves.
