A Georgia family is mourning a double loss this holiday season. Jaylah Donald had just left her family’s Thanksgiving celebration when she lost her life. But she wasn’t the only one who died — she was pregnant, and her unborn baby died too. Donald was riding in a car with her mom to drop off a neighbor who lived nearby. She had no idea when she got into the car that she would lose her life in an accident. As her mom backed out of the driveway, she wasn’t paying attention to their surroundings. As a result, another car crashed into them. Now, that driver is facing charges, and Donald’s mother is fighting for her life in the hospital.
A news release from the Georgia Department of Public Safety states that the 19-year-old’s mother, Takila Donald, “backed improperly and failed to yield while entering the roadway” as she was leaving a private driveway on November 28, 2025.
Her car was struck by a BMW on the passenger’s side. Donald was declared dead at the scene. Her unborn baby was also killed, but Takila Donald was life flighted to the hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the BMW complained of injuries and was taken to the hospital. It was then discovered that the person was driving under the influence. According to the release, charges are pending for both drivers.
“Jaylah was just beginning her journey into adulthood,” a GoFundMe account created by her family read. “At 19, she was full of life, hope, dreams, and excitement about welcoming her first child. She carried her baby with pride and joy, always smiling and glowing with love. To lose them both so suddenly is a heartbreak that no family should ever have to endure.”
Family shared that the young woman was “sweet, joyful, caring, and always carried a beautiful smile.” Relatives also mourned that the lives of her and her baby were cut short. “Our hearts will forever ache for the future that was stolen from them,” the fundraiser page reads.
Her family spoke with Atlanta News First to express their loss. “When I first got up there, I couldn’t breathe, for one thing,” Jaylah’s grandmother, Genette Anderson, expressed. “I got to be the strong person and accept it because I can’t question God, because at the end of the day we’re all going to have our number.”
Donald was seven months pregnant when she was killed. A recent high school graduate, she told her family she planned to attend college after her son was born.
Her father, Jonathan Ponds, told the outlet that he had only found out she was pregnant a few hours before she was killed. “It was crazy to find out that I was going to be a grandfather and then a couple hours later I lose my daughter and my grandson,” he shared. “I was actually very ready to embrace the role.”
