JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Elizabeth McNew’s death sent shockwaves through the Atlantic Beach community.
McNew died Sept. 25 of complications after contracting COVID-19.
News4Jax has learned that McNew’s father and older brother both tested positive for COVID-19 but neither got sick as a result. It was unknown how they became infected.
McNew’s father works as a corrections officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, but JSO said contact tracing has eliminated any possibility of work exposure.
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“Elizabeth was one of the most caring, loving children I’ve ever met in my life,” said Alexia Adcock-Stanford, who taught McNew during an after-school athletics program last year at Atlantic Beach Elementary, the school she attended before continuing on to Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School as a sixth grader.
McNew was enrolled in Duval HomeRoom, a virtual schooling option for Jacksonville families. Because of that, she had not been attending classes in person this year.
Members of the Atlantic Beach Elementary School community are trying to help the family raise money for pay for mounting medical bills. “We don’t want them to worry about trying to pay their bills and going to work right now,” said Sarah Daye, who started a GoFundMe with the goal of raising $250,000.
To learn more or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page.