Third Grade Teacher Dies Days After Testing Positive For COVID-19

Columbia, SC — Demetria Bannister, a 28-year old elementary school teacher from South Carolina, has sadly died just two days after being informed that she tested positive for COVID-19. Richland County School District Two Superintendent Dr. Baron Davis confirmed her death and expressed condolences to her family and friends.

“While gone from us too soon, Ms. Bannister’s legacy lives on through the lives of the students she taught in her five years as a dedicated educator. To honor Ms. Bannister’s memory I ask the Richland Two family to join me in reaffirming our commitment to doing all we can to provide premier learning experiences for all students in the safest environment possible and doing our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Bannister, who had been hospitalized, was last inside the school building on August 28. The school has been cleaned and sanitized according to protocols even though she wasn’t actually showing symptoms at that time.

Bannister has been a third-grade teacher for 5 years at Windsor Elementary School. She was known as “Windsor’s Songbird” for her superb musical talents that used to bring joy to the school.

Denise Quickel, principal of Windsor Elementary, shared, “For our school’s Attendance Matters kick off in 2019 she wrote a song about the importance of coming to school to the tune of ‘Old Town Road’. The song and video were a big hit with our school family. Ms. Bannister loved her students and never missed an opportunity to advocate for students and public education.”