A tragic event unfolded in Alabama when a 16-year-old girl suddenly passed away on Christmas Day shortly after unwrapping gifts with her family.

Scarlett Durden was at her home in Piedmont, engaged in a Facetime call with her father, Marvy, when she unexpectedly collapsed.

During the call, Scarlett was catching up with her dad, who was in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, her heart stopped mid-conversation, leading to her untimely death.

Her mother, Janice ‘Renee’ Durden, shared with WBRC, a local Gray News affiliate, that she was first alerted to the situation when her youngest daughter ran to her, saying, “Scarlett’s acting strange.”

Upon arriving, she found Scarlett unconscious on the floor.

According to the family’s GoFundMe, the family said there is a history of heart problems.

The family’s agony comes just months after Durden’s mom was involved in a car accident in which she injured her beck and back.

Scarlett Durden had just finished opening her presents with her family when her heart stopped beating on Christmas Day

Scarlett was a sophomore at Piedmont High School, and was enrolled in the JROTC program at her previous school

Between the mounting medical bills and sudden funeral expenses, the family said they are in desperate need of financial aid.

The teen, described by her mother as ‘goofy and loving,’ was a sophomore at Piedmont High School.

She previously attended Central High School in Carrollton, Georgia, where she was enrolled in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC).

The federally funded program offers leadership training and classes taught by retired military officers and non-commissioned officers, who are certified by their respective branches but employed by the school. 

Although participation does not require students to enlist after graduation, Scarlett intended to serve, according to her obituary.

‘[She] was just beginning to build a bright future for herself,’ the GoFundMe description read.

Her family disclosed that her heart is being examined and studied post mortem to determine her cause of death.

Janice said she is distraught by the sudden tragedy and that burying her child goes against the natural order of life.

She was facetiming her father, who was in the hospital waiting to receive a heart transplant

‘We’re not supposed to bury our babies, we’re not. It’s backwards. I just have to make sure my daughters never forget their sister,’ Durden said.

The obituary revealed that Scarlett was named Scarlett Skye by her father, ‘because a scarlet sky is one of the most beautiful sights you could ever see’, name her family said she lived up to. 

‘Known for her incredible kindness, Scarlett had a way of making people feel seen, valued, and loved,’ the obituary read. 

‘Her gentle heart and compassion left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

‘Her presence was radiant, her spirit unforgettable, and her love enduring. Though her time on this Earth was far too short, Scarlett Skye Durden’s light will continue to shine in the hearts of those who loved her. She will be missed beyond words and remembered always.’

She is survived by her parents, two sisters, her grandparents on both sides, and her aunts and uncles.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 2pm in the Miller Funeral Home Dogwood Chapel. The service will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend.