Millions of people around the world are hurting over the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, but it is important to remember that there are other families experiencing the same devastation as the Bryant family. That is certainly the case for those close to Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton.
Sarah and Payton Chester were two of the nine people who died in Sunday’s helicopter crash. Payton, who was 13, was teammates with 13-year-old Gianna at the Mamba Academy. Andy George, Sarah’s brother and Payton’s uncle, told the Orange County Register that Sarah was a standout soccer player at La Serna High School and “the one that everybody counted on.”
“She was there for everyone,” George said. “She was everything to her family, to our family. Anytime I needed anything, she was the person I went to.”
George said playing on the Mamba team was a huge part of Payton’s life and that Kobe was always there for the Chester family.
“She was on the Mamba team for years, she loved it,” George said of his 13-year-old niece. “It was obviously a big part of her life. He (Bryant) was always there for them. (Payton) wanted to play in high school and college.”
Sarah and Payton Chester received a nice tribute from former Harbor View Elementary school principal Todd Schmidt on Facebook.
“As folks mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant, I want to take a moment to remember two gorgeous human beings who were with him, Sarah and Payton Chester,” Schmidt wrote. “As a principal, we work with some amazing families, the Chesters were one of those, engaged, supportive, encouraging, and full of mischief and laughter and they had the best kiddos!
“This family made such a huge impact at Harbor View. They were genuine, kind-hearted, and caring to the staff, to other families and yes, especially to me.”
Sarah and Payton are survived by Sarah’s husband and Payton’s father, Chris, as well as Sarah’s two sons and Sarah’s brothers, 16-year-olds Hayden and Riley. Sarah’s mother and Payton’s grandmother, Catherine George, told NBC News that Payton “loved playing for Kobe Bryant.”
“He was a great coach,” Catherine George said. “Her mother and father were very helpful … and they practiced a lot, and for 13 she was very good.”
Sunday’s tragedy is historic because it involved Bryant and his daughter, but the other families involved are grieving just as much. Our thoughts are with all of them.
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