Family of 3 slain children sets funeral, celebration of life services in Sumter

Funeral arrangements have been made for the three children who were killed in their beds by a family member on Tuesday, March 21, in Sumter.

Aayden Jahari Holliday-Slacks died at age 5. He attended Millwood Elementary School with Aason Makai Holliday-Slacks, who died at age 6. Ava Jazlynn Holliday died at age 11. She attended Alice Drive Middle School.

“It is with great sadness, Aletha Holliday announces the passing of her beloved children,” a Facebook post “from the family” on the mother’s business page stated Friday afternoon. “As we come together in remembrance of these beautiful and vibrant children who left an imprint on their hearts and minds of those who heard their laughter and felt their presence.”

The viewing will be held on Thursday, March 30, at Job’s Mortuary, 312 S. Main St., in Sumter, according to the death notices for all three children that are in The Sumter Item’s March 25-28 weekend edition. After a private viewing for family, a public viewing will be held from 2 to 7 p.m.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, March 31, at 1 p.m. at Salem Chapel and Heritage Center, 101 S. Salem Ave., in Sumter.

Police say Aayden and Aason’s father, Charles Edward Slacks Jr., was the shooter in a murder-suicide that claimed the lives of the three children and an Army co-worker of the mother, U.S. Army Central Soldier Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Evans.

Holliday, the mother, is the sole survivor of the shooting.

Aayden was born in West Point, New York. Aason was born in Honolulu, Oahu.

Ava, daughter of Holliday and Andre Rush, was born in Overland Park, Kansas.

To honor the children, the family is requesting attendees “celebrate their life with colorful attire.”

Those unable to attend can view the celebration of life service on Job’s Mortuary’s Facebook page.