‘It’s not a joke:’ Clay County bus driver’s family speak about the death of their mother due to COVID-19

Cynthia Brown and Gregory Brusseau, the son and daughter of a dearly loved bus driver who died from COVID-19 in Clay County, spoke to Action News Jax.

Gail Brusseau lost her battle with COVID-19 last week, but her legacy of kindness lives on.

Brown and Gregory Brusseau told Action News Jax Courtney Cole their mother was a dedicated worker.

When they learned she wanted to retire sooner than planned—which was also right before she got sick—they told Cole they knew it meant there was something she did not want to jeopardize.

“She has eight grandchildren, nine—one on the way—that she’ll never get to hold,” Brown told Action News Jax.

You could see the pain and the love in their eyes as they described their mother. They told Cole she was also a great grandmother and loving wife to their father for 41 years.

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Community remembers beloved Clay County school bus driver who died

“She loved helping out, but especially the needy kids. It touched your heart,” Gregory Brusseau told Action News Jax.

Gail Brusseau had a big heart that left an even bigger mark in the community.

“She’s always been there for everybody,” said Brown.

Gail Brusseau was a school bus driver for 26 years for Clay County.

“She went out of her way to make sure they got a ride to-and-from [school], if they were late, she would call their parents and text him and ask if everything was OK,” said Gregory Brusseau.

It’s unclear if Gail Brusseau contracted COVID-19 on the job, but her daughter told us she was very careful.

“My mom wore a mask all the time, sanitized constantly, washed her hands throughout the day, and when it came to her bus, she sanitized constantly,” said Brown.

Gregory Brusseau and Brown are taking the healing process day-by-day, but her son asked that Cole share one message.

“We just want everybody to know that COVID virus is serious. It’s not a joke. I lost my mom to it. And it could’ve been avoided,” said Gregory Brusseau.

Gail Brusseau’s children told Cole nobody else in the family tested positive for COVID-19.

Cole reached out to the Clay County School District to learn how many bus drivers have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been under quarantine, but she’s still waiting to hear back.

Cox Media Group