After 3-day-old boy dies, community helps his daddy show his respect

A New Lebanon man’s baby boy died last week, at just 3 days old.

Baby Brantley’s funeral is on Saturday, and in this difficult time for parents Brandon and Jessica Reese, looking respectful for the ceremony is no longer something they have to worry about.

News Center 7's Molly Koweek shares how the community stepped up to help the grieving family.

“This is his little blankie. Right here is where they made his little hand and feet," Jessica Reese said, showing some of the mementos of her newborn son. “It’s all I’ve got left.”

Their newborn son was born at 28 weeks on July 22. He had several health complications and died three days later on July 25.

“I had so many plans to do stuff with him and stuff like that. It’s just, he was taken from us too early,” Brandon Reese said.

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Instead, the young couple had to plan a funeral.

Reese’s mother wrote on the “Struggling in Dayton Ohio” Facebook group’s page, asking for a haircut, beard trim and dress outfit for him to wear to Brantley’s funeral.

“I stopped worrying about, like my personal appearance, and was trying to focus on everything else,” he said.

But he knew he wanted to look respectful for his little boy.

“I wouldn’t have looked very presentable for my son,” he said.

And the Miami Valley was not going to let that happen. Nearly 200 people commented, offering barber services, clothing and prayers.

“I honestly didn’t think that many people would post on there,” Jessica Reese said.

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And they didn’t just post, they came through with a haircut, beard trim and dress clothes.

“Anyone that has helped with stuff like that, I’m very blessed to have encountered all of them,” Brandon Reese said. “Knowing that I’m going to be showing my son the most respect that I can give him and knowing that he’s going to be looking down on me smiling.”

Brantley’s funeral visitation is at 2 p.m. with a service following at 4 p.m. Saturday at Rogers Funeral Home, 324 W. Main St., New Lebanon. It is open to the public.