Church mourns family killed in plane crash (updated Jan. 4)
From staff reports
Four family members who died in a plane crash in Charlotte on Sunday were active members of First Baptist Church in Shelby.
Jim and Kay Chitty and their sons, Jay and Taylor, were killed when their single-engine plane crashed into a neighborhood at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Haley Chitty, the couple's oldest daughter who was not on the flight because she was attending a Campus Crusade for Christ convention in Greensboro, also grew up in Shelby First Baptist Church.
The church planned to hold a community-wide silent candlelight prayer vigil for Haley Chitty and other family members at 7 p.m. Wednesday night, the Shelby Star reported. Others services are expected to be held later this week.
More than 100 people attended a prayer service for the family Monday afternoon, the Shelby Star reported.
"It was a time for church youth to come together and grieve," David Grose, a member of First Baptist Church, told the newspaper. "The youth minister Carol Ann (Hoard) spoke and youth read Bible verses. There was music, and the youth talked to each other. They needed this."
Taylor, 14, was an eighth-grader involved in the church youth group. Jay, 22, grew up in the group.
Kay Chitty taught a children's Sunday School class and Vacation Bible School at First Baptist. Jim Chitty was also involved in Sunday School.
Haley Chitty and other family members released a statement to the Shelby Star on Tuesday.
The statement noted that the words, "The family is resting," are posted on the front door of the Chitty home in Shelby. The message is intended to let the many friends and visitors know that Haley is "is seeking quiet time as she attempts to cope with her new reality."
"The sign, however, carries far deeper levels of meaning," the statement said. "Haley's hope lies in her assurance that her family - her parents and brothers - are indeed resting, safely cared for in the arms of her Lord."
Haley said in the statement that she can rejoice that her parents and brothers are with the Lord. "I can choose to thank God in the midst of this, for the wonderful 25 years that we've had together," she said.
The statement said Haley is resting in the comfort of prayers and condolences from a widespread support system - "buddies from Shelby High School, caring neighbors, members of the family's First Baptist Church in Shelby, UNC Chapel Hill fellow graduates and co-workers with Campus Crusade for Christ." She has served on organization's staff for three years at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
"Haley, along with her grandmothers, aunts, uncles and cousins express their gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love toward the family," the statement said.
Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery in Shelby at 11 a.m. Friday. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Shelby. The family will receive friends in the church gym following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the personal ministry account of Haley Chitty, payable to Campus Crusade for Christ, Account #0549077. They should be mailed to Campus Crusade for Christ, P.O. Box 628222, Orlando, FL, 32862-8222. Memorials may also be given to the First Baptist Church Youth Department, 120 N Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28150.
