ST. GEORGE -- A grieving father stood over the silver and chrome casket where a handsome young man in a dark grey suit and navy blue tie lay at peace.

"I love you, son. You tried to be a man. I'm proud of you," said Charles Harrison, his tear-filled eyes saying the rest of the things his voice couldn't.

Today, Chazz Harrison -- a father, a brother and Harrison's only son -- will be laid to rest. He was 18.

"He had to grow up real quick because of the tragedies," Harrison said. "He always came to me and said, 'Dad, I'm a father now. I have all these things, these responsibilities to do.'"

Chazz was the father of Madison, a happy, smiling child who would have turned 1 year old today.

Last Tuesday, Chazz, Madison and Madison's mother, 21-year-old Shaquana Dobbin, were on their way to buy birthday party invitations for Madison's first birthday party.

They never made it.

Just a few miles from Shaquana's home, they were struck head-on by an oncoming motorist. Investigators say Shaquana died instantly. Tiny Madison lived for another hour after being taken to the Regional Medical Center.

The driver and passenger of the other vehicle were taken to area hospitals. No charges have been filed, investigators say.

The forecasters are calling for heavy rain today during Chazz's funeral service. But for Harrison, it's been raining for a while.

"A couple of years now," Harrison said. "My daughter got killed up there, same highway, truck too."

Harrison's 15-year-old daughter, Mieasha Harrison, died May 26, 2006 after being struck by a passing vehicle as she attempted to cross Highway 178 near the same spot where Chazz and his family would be killed.

Five months later, in October, Harrison's wife, Reather, died at the age of 41 after an extended illness.

Harrison said the tragedies have taught him valuable lessons about life and family.

"I've learned to reach out to my loved ones, say all the things a parent is supposed to say," he said. "You do all that because you don't know what's going to come, the good, the bad."

The youngest of six children, Chazz was a serious young man, his father said. While he loved a pick-up game of basketball with his neighborhood peers, he was a responsible young man who wanted everything in life.

"I had to tell him to slow down, but he wanted it all," Harrison said of his son.

Harrison said he believes the tragedies they've suffered may have given his son his serious demeanor, and the desire to experience and enjoy life to its fullest.

Along with his sisters, Chazz grew up in church. Harrison said his son was "very spiritual."

"He had no choice, because we put it in him," Harrison said.

Sometimes, living for God drew criticism from acquaintances but that didn't bother the father of six.

"I wouldn't allow certain types of behavior to go on in my house," he said. "I'm sure they got some of that. I see them stepping away from the group and they say, 'Thank you, Dad. We want a better life.'"

And that was no more exemplified than in Chazz's life. Chazz had found a young woman who Harrison believes would have soon been his daughter-in-law. Harrison describes Shaquana as a "nice, loving, caring individual."

"She was sort of shy around me at first but we came to love one another," he said. "After a while, she came to me and talked to me."

With tear-rimmed eyes, Harrison said his little Madison was a light in his life.

"She was so happy, full of life, beautiful child," he said.

With birthday plans for Madison in place, Chazz, Shaquana and Madison were on their way to pick up party supplies when the collision happened.

Harrison's cousin came by his house late that afternoon. His heart fell when it dawned on him something serious had happened.

"I saw that look on her face," he said. "It hit me so hard. I couldn't think, I couldn't digest it. I didn't know how bad it was at that time."

After the collision that had killed his girlfriend and infant child, Chazz was airlifted to Columbia where he lingered, clinging to life.

However, about five hours after the crash, Chazz's hopes and dreams to be a good, Christian father ended.

"We're just ... shocked," Harrison said.

Harrison said his granddaughter never got a chance to blow out her first birthday candle. On Sunday night, though, family members gathered anyway around the single casket shared by Shaquana and Madison for a small commemorative birthday party in her honor.

Mother and daughter were buried in a service Monday, the day before Madison's birthday.

Harrison said he doesn't understand God's wisdom in these matters but leaves life's questions up to Him. He said he had his son for 18 years and is thankful for that.

"He's a product of the community, not only from this community but Orangeburg," Harrison said of his son. "There have been people who have helped him and been there for him. We are grateful. We wouldn't have made it without them."

With his head down, leaning over a silver and chrome casket where a handsome young man in a dark grey suit and navy blue tie lay at peace, a grieving father again needs that community.

T&D Staff Writer Richard Walker can be reached by e-mail at rwalker@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5516. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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