Valley Haven school bus crash victim mourned by community

By John Brice
Correspondent

News of two fatalities and several injured passengers resulting from a traffic accident this past week involving multiple vehicles which included a Valley Haven school bus caused shock and grief in the local community. In the aftermath of the car crash, Valley Haven student Corbin Hamby Jr, aged 49, of Salem who was a passenger on the school bus lost his life along with Tyrone A. Williams, aged 53, of Opelika who was driving a Ford F-150 pickup truck which was also involved in the accident. Investigations by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the accident occurred on U.S. Highway 29 in Beulah approximately one mile north of Opelika shortly before seven o’clock in the morning on Monday, December 9th of 2024.
In an obituary for Corbin H. Hamby, Jr. posted on the official website for Jeffcoat Trant Funeral Home it was stated “Mr. Corbin Hamby, Jr., (49) a loving son, brother, and uncle tragically passed away on Monday, December 9, 2024. Corbin was born to his parents, Eddie Loretta and Corbin Hamby, Sr. on February 5, 1975, in Lee County, Alabama. Corbin, a resident of Salem, Alabama was preceded in death by his mother, Eddie Loretta Hamby.”
It went on to continue “He is survived by his father, Corbin Hamby, Sr.; his sister, Jennifer (John) Doolittle; his brother, Chris Hamby; two nephews: Damarious and Jallen Hamby; and one niece, Kaylan Hamby. A graveside service will be held in Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika on Friday, December 13, 2024, beginning at 11:00 AM.”
Devastated by the shocking news, members of the local community extended their deepest condolences to the families of the departed and offered prayers in their time of need. One commenter on the obituary page remarked “So sorry to hear of Corbin’s death and send my sympathy to the family! Corbin was a pediatric patient of mine when I was a nurse at the Pediatric Clinic in Opelika! He was always very special to me.”
Another commenter noted “I’m so shocked and sadden to see this. I grew up with Child’s family. And this was Mrs.Childs baby. She adored him. To Libby and rest of the family please know that my prayers and thoughts are with you. May God bless you in days ahead.” Several Facebook users also expressed their grief at the news, with one commenting “My heart is broken seems like this time of year we always get something but this one hurts as bad as losing a brother or sister. Ronda loved BO so much and I have a lot of memories with him.”