JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. — On Oct. 29, 2012, Stacy Halstead got a call no mother should ever have to receive: A tree limb had fallen on her 2-year-old son Tripp's head during a freak accident at his day care.
For the Halstead family, life changed in an instant.
As the blue-eyed toddler fought for months to survive, people all over the country started to follow along and root for his recovery.
[ [PHOTOS: Tripp Halstead through the years] ]
That recovery effort would go on for years and reach millions of people around the world.
After more than five years of fighting, Tripp passed away Thursday night.
People all over the country are mourning Tripp's death. But the news hits particularly close to home in the family's hometown of Winder.
"I'm heartbroken. I'm sure our whole community is heartbroken," Chris Humble, who owns a restaurant in the community, told Channel 2's Tony Thomas on Friday.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
The family of Tripp Halstead will have a memorial service for their young son this weekend.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 18 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Civic Center.
A Memorial Service will immediately follow at 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Civic Center, 65 Kissam Street, Jefferson, Georgia 30549.