Laurel family remembers daughter after tragic ATV accident in Wayne County

LAUREL, Mississippi (WDAM) – Joel and Christyl Touchstone said their daughter Natalie was a bright and active child whose love for others knew no boundaries or barriers.

The 11-year-old was visiting family members in Wayne County on May 26 when she and three others were involved in an off-road vehicle accident.

She later succumbed to her injuries.

“This was God’s way of preventing us from getting there because he knew that if we witnessed this accident, we would never recover,” Joel said.

Both parents said Natalie loved all people, including her pets, and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian one day.

“She just wanted to go out and bring every stray animal,” Joel said.

They said she was also a child of strong faith and pushed her family to go to church every Sunday.

“She had just gotten a cell phone the week before the incident and had already sent about 26 people Bible verses every morning and evening, telling them, ‘Goodnight, I love you,'” Christyl said.

Flowers were laid in Natalie’s honor at Glade Elementary, where she attended sixth grade.

Her father said this was just one of many acts of kindness they had experienced in recent days.

“We’ve really seen the positive side of having people from many states donate and reach out to us,” Joel said.

Toys, pictures and journals are all she has left now, but her parents said Natalie’s kind words reminded them there is still hope.

“I can’t explain how much I love you, because I love you more than words can express. Love, Nat,” Christyl said as she read a letter Natalie had written her.

Natalie’s funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Journey Church’s North Laurel Campus.

There will also be a celebration of life at Glade Elementary on Saturday, June 8. It would have been Natalie’s 12th birthday.

Want more WDAM 7 news delivered to your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

All rights reserved.