‘Baby Grace’ remembered by officials, community after permanent headstone placed

A small, tearful group gathered to remember “Baby Grace” and say a thankful blessing for her recently-placed and community-funded permanent headstone at Hillcrest Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon.

“Baby Grace touched all of our hearts,” Dennis Williams, Horry County police chaplain, said during a short service he led in the 5-month-old’s honor, which was organized by the Horry County Coroner’s Office.

Williams also urged that “Baby Grace’s” tragic loss should serve as a reminder to not overlook those in need of help before he closed the service with a prayer at “Baby Grace’s” graveside at Hillcrest Cemetery in Conway off S.C. 544.

“Let us remember, too, that not only is it worthwhile for us to remember, but we also need to do something to help those who are here now,” Williams said.

Grace Carlson Santa Cruz, who came to be known by the community as “Baby Grace,” drowned Nov. 3 after being taken into a rushing Socastee creek by her mother Sarah Toney, 33, who is charged with homicide by child abuse in connection with the infant’s death.

A permanent memorial was placed Jan. 13 for Baby Grace after about 30 donors, including residents and local businesses, made the lasting marker possible by giving money to Hillcrest Cemetery officials, who began collecting in November and announced Dec. 9 they had the more than $2,000 needed to order the headstone, etched with a baby angel petting a sheep inside a border of hearts.

Horry County Coroner Robert Edge said he was very appreciative that the community gave for “Baby Grace’s” headstone and said he’ll pay his respects to her whenever he comes to the cemetery to visit loved ones.

“There’s some heartfelt warmness here. People gave from their hearts to purchase this marker,” Edge said. “We greatly appreciate all the folks who gave a donation for this, and with those donations we’re here remembering her today in our thoughts and prayers.”

About a dozen people attended the service. Among them was CUE Center for Missing Persons search volunteer Dale Andrews, who tearfully talked a little about the search for “Baby Grace” and what she’s meant to him.

He also stressed CUE founder Monica Caison’s motto that “every person is somebody’s child.”

“It breaks my heart” he said about the loss of Baby Grace. “She touched so many lives.”

He was also glad to see the community stepped in to get Baby Grace the permanent headstone she needed and for the support shown during the three-day search.

“Thank you for all the love, the support, and donations,” Andrews said. “I couldn’t do what I do without the community’s support. I really couldn’t.”

Jennifer Brunner, who was a roommate of Toney’s and cared for Baby Grace like a “second mom,” was also at the service.

She has since moved from the home in Socastee she shared with Toney and Baby Grace and said moving forward has been a struggle, but she does her best to find daily encouragement.

“Every day I try to find something positive – no matter how small,” she said of continuing on without the baby she helped take care of during the baby’s short life. Toney had been Brunner’s roommate since the spring prior to her having Baby Grace on June 11.

Following a nearly three-day search, Baby Grace was found submerged in the creek by rescue divers about 50 yards from where Toney entered the water on Simms Drive in Socastee.

Horry County police began searching for the missing baby at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 3 after officers were called by a resident of Shem Creek Circle in Socastee who said Toney showed up at the resident’s home drenched and saying she put her baby in the creek, authorities said.

If convicted, Toney, who was indicted on a homicide by child abuse charge Dec. 17, is facing a 20-year to life sentence, which she would have to serve 85 percent of before being eligible for parole, officials said.

She remains at J. Reuben Long Detention Center where she awaits trial.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 6:06 PM with the headline "‘Baby Grace’ remembered by officials, community after permanent headstone placed."