Community rallies together to pay off headstone for two-year-old who died from child abuse

VIRDIN, Ill (WICS) — A community comes together...to honor a young boy who died from child abuse.

This after his headstone was repossessed for non-payment.

Jordan Whitaker died on December 2021. Police said he was abused.

Nearly three years later, his family said his headstone was taken back, because those who ordered it promising to pay, didn't.

Crystal Kean, Jordan Whitaker’s cousin, said her side of the family had no idea payments weren't being made on Jordan’s headstone.

"What ended up happening was I went out to the cemetery because I decorate the plots for the seasons and that, and when I went out there I noticed his stone was gone,” Wood, Jordan’s great aunt, said.

Wood said the family wasn't sure what to do at first.

The stone cost about 4 thousand dollars...

"We decided we were going to try and get it back. Jaden Dugger, who was the girl that did CPR on him, she had called me and said would you family be ok with us trying to raise money through like a fundraiser."

Wood and Kean said the post took off from there.

They directed donations towards vesper granite inc., who made the headstone.

She said the local community pulled through...with four donations and a few t-shirts sold...

But it wasn't enough...until...

One kind stranger stepped up.

"The very last person that donated paid off the final amount. Which, I mean, praise God. It's a blessing. Come to find out, she is--all of us know her. And she didn't realize he was part of our family. So, it was kind of bittersweet."

Kean said Ellen Newby Perkins paid off the headstone.

"But it was a large--a significant--a huge amount of money,” Wood said.

Just this week, it was returned to its rightful place, honoring young Jordan.

"He was always a little light. Y'know, his nickname was smiley. I mean, when you seen Jordan, and he was coming to you, he was all smiles. He was such a happy little guy. To see that his light's still shining, y'know--that-that-he's left his mark on this Earth,” Wood said.

Kean hopes to put the remaining funds raised by the t-shirt sale towards benches in Jordan’s honor...

Two-year-old Jordan Whitaker died from a traumatic intestine rupture caused by child abuse...

No charges or arrests have been made in relation to Jordan’s case.

And family and community members continue to fight for justice.