'Welcome to Plathville': Times when tragic deaths shook up TLC's Plath family
CAIRO, GEORGIA: 'Welcome to Plathville' stars Barry and Kim have been married for almost 20 years, and their marriage is based on a rock-solid foundation of steadfast faith in God above all else. The Plaths rely on their faith in the Lord to lead them in all aspects of their everyday lives, whether it's parenting their nine children, confronting the labor on their rural Georgia farm, home-schooling, or even managing the family band. Even dedication to a higher force, though, cannot prepare you for everything.
It's difficult to say goodbye. Reality stars are a unique type of celebrity. Fans get to know and love them as real individuals, not as characters, which makes their death all the more painful. Several TLC program stars have died abruptly and tragically in recent years. With the Plath family losing one of its youngest members, let's look back at all the times they had to say goodbye to one of their own.
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Micah Meggs, Olivia Plath's younger brother and 'Welcome To Plathville' actor died tragically when he was just 15 years old. Ethan, the family's oldest member, married Olivia Meggs in 2018. Olivia's younger brother's name is Micah, not Micah Plath, one of Barry and Kim's boys.
Olivia Plath shared on Instagram that her 15-year-old brother Micah died. "I lost a younger brother last night to an unexpected accident and I need some clarity and space for grieving," Olivia said. As a result, she stated that she will be "jumping off social media for a bit" in order to take "some space now." According to ABC13 News, this tragedy occurred when a car struck Micah while he was riding his bike in Franklin County, Virginia. The driver did not sustain any injuries. An investigation is now being conducted.
Olivia's brother suffered from Cerebral Palsy as a result of a Brachial Plexus injury, which "made it difficult for him to do the things he enjoyed so much." He, on the other hand, was not one to grumble about his difficulties and refused to "let himself be limited by his disability and continually found ways to pursue his outdoor activities." Micah's family will host a memorial service on May 11.
17-month-old Joshua died in a car accident
When Joshua Plath died in a terrible accident in September 2008, the Plaths were devastated. Joshua Plath was Barry and Kim Plath's 17-month-old son. He died unexpectedly on the family's property when Kim was performing garden work outside the house in their family's SUV. "I looked for our 17-month-old Joshua, saw that he was away from the vehicle, then pulled forward to get the next tree," she said on their family website. "In a panic, I realized what had happened. I ran over our Joshua."
Kim went on to say that she "lived the next hour nonstop in my brain for the next 8 months." She claimed that her faith and Barry helped her cope with Joshua's death. "God has been so faithful to our family for getting us through such a horrific event. He has indeed fully restored our joy. And we are forever grateful!" She continued. According to the Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Joshua's death was considered an accident by the local sheriff's office.