Charlstyn Taytum Hubbard meant many things to many people.

Affectionately known as Charlee Tayt, the 11-year-old sixth grader from Alabama was spunky, sassy, ​​smart, athletic and witty.

But most of all Charlee Tayt was kind.

One day at Drew Middle School in Lincoln, someone was picking on one of his classmates. Charlee Tayt quickly stepped in and took over for the student.

Her actions did not go unnoticed and Charlee Tayt’s teacher applauded her kindness.

“He was always so uplifting to others,” said his mother, Bliss Hubbard. “She was a lively little girl who loved everyone. “He was very sweet and loved everyone.”

On Thursday, October 24, Charlee Tayt died by suicide in the bedroom of her Talladega home.

It was tragic. It was unexpected. And it was pointless.

Her family said Charlee Tayt received Facetime calls from about four boys, and they later learned the boys had made some negative comments about Charlee Tayt’s appearance.

Within hours, Charlee Tayt was dead.

“This wasn’t a bullying situation that lasted maybe two or three days,” Bliss said. “We know there was a Facetime call where he made fun of her appearance.”

Bliss said she went to Charlee Tayt’s room on Wednesday to say goodnight and that she loved her.

Hours later, around 4 a.m., Bliss, who was expecting her third child with husband Lance, was up early and about to start doing laundry. She realized she didn’t have enough stuff for a full load and went to Charlee Tayt’s room to get her daughter’s dirty clothes.

“Then I looked at the bed….It was a terrible scene,” Bliss said. “I started screaming for my husband.”

“It was a nightmare,” Bliss said. “He was moving very slowly but also very fast.”

Charlee Tayt did not leave a note, but sent some text messages to friends around 12:30 p.m. Bliss and Lance later learned about the Facetime call.

“For us, it took a while for someone to say something that would hurt him,” Bliss said.

“Frankly, whatever he experienced that day, no matter how much he was told at home, no matter how much he was told by his family, what was told to him was enough to make him think that he was not valuable enough to survive.”

Bliss said he has no history of depression or bullying.

“People say, ‘Parents should talk to their kids more,'” he said. “This wasn’t us. “We communicated openly.”

“We talked about some things. We didn’t have any secrets,” he said. “We even talked about the hard things.”

Bliss said she checked Charlee Tayt’s phone a few days ago to make sure nothing inappropriate was happening. “I didn’t see anything unusual or anything that I should be concerned about,” he said.

Talladega police now have Charlee Tayt’s phone and the investigation is ongoing.

Bliss said the family, including Charlee Tayt’s 18-year-old brother Easton Hubbard, who served in the U.S. Navy, was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love everyone had for Charlee Tayt following her death.

Bliss shared this message she received on Tik Tok after sharing about Charlee Tayt’s suicide.

“Hello. You don’t know me, but I wanted to share something with you. My daughter has had a rough few weeks and posting TikToks made her feel better,” the woman wrote to Bliss.

“He doesn’t know your daughter but somehow your beautiful daughter saw (her daughter’s) TikTok and commented and said she was so very beautiful,” he wrote. “When my daughter read this, she had a huge smile on her face and it made her day because it was coming from someone she didn’t know.”

“I can tell you that your sweet daughter has been a light to everyone who knows her and those who don’t,” the woman said. “I’m so sorry for your loss… I just wanted to let you know that my baby had a happy day that day and that your family is in our prayers.”

“He was an angel on Earth and he knew it,” Bliss said. “It was just a moment of vulnerability where individuals reached out to him.”

Charlee Tights was everything Bliss and Lance could want in a girl.

She was a standout softball player and gymnast. She loved all things girly, including hair, makeup, and fashion.

He did well in school and was active in his community.

“She was such a witty little thing and kept us humble,” Bliss said with a laugh. “He was probably a mouthful if he thought about it.”

Bliss and Lance aren’t just heartbroken, they’re angry.

“We can’t understand,” Bliss said. “I wish he had come to me right then and gotten into bed with us.”

“I went to his room today and cried on the floor,” she said. “We believe in God and I pray to him and in the next sentence I ask, ‘Why baby?’

“Our faith is what we have to lean on,” he said.

Charlee Tayt’s Celebration of Life was held Sunday at Usrey Funeral Home in Talladega.

“The funeral director said there were 2,500 people there and they never had to turn people away, but on Sunday they had to turn people away,” Bliss said.

Bliss asked the preacher to make another call at the service and said three people were saved during the funeral.

“He would be tickled to death if he knew all these people were there for him,” she said.

“This week has shown that when the community comes together, so many good things can come. “They really lifted us up and it was an incredible sight to see.”

When asked what the family wants Charlee Tayt’s legacy to be, Bliss and Lance said, “Being kind and teaching your children to be kind.”

“She was a kind, sweet girl who loved others,” Bliss said.

They vow to not let what happened to Charlee Tayt be forgotten and plan to speak out against suicide and bullying.

“We’re throwing out ideas,” Bliss said. “We talked about going to schools or churches.”

“We must pray where God wants us,” he said, “but it doesn’t stop here today.”

If you or someone you know is in a difficult situation or in crisis, you can get help. Call or text 988 or chat on: 988lifeline.org.