The Nelons family is grieving after a tragic plane crash killed three members of the Grammy-nominated gospel group last week.
On Friday, July 26, singers Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler, died in a private plane accident in Wyoming, according to the group’s management company, Gaither Music.
“One of the best loved Gospel music families in America, The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska,” the company announced in a Facebook statement.
Others who perished in the crash include the Nelons’ assistant and family friend, Melodi Hodges, Amber’s husband, Nathan Kistler, the plane’s pilot, Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa Haynie. There were no survivors.
Gaither Music confirmed that the Nelons’ fourth member, Autumn Nelon Streetman — the younger daughter of Kelly and Jason — and her husband, Jamie Streetman, were not on the plane but notified of the tragic accident upon their arrival in Seattle, where the group’s cruise was scheduled to depart.
“They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing and embrace them in their grief, pledging to support them in whatever needs arise,” Gaither Music’s statement continued.
In her own statement, Autumn reacted to the family tragedy, writing, “As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber and brother-in-law, Nathan, as well as our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry and Melissa Haynie were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday.”
The singer, who’s also pregnant, added, “Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark. We appreciate your continued prayers, love and support as we navigate the coming days.”
On Sunday, July 28, Kelly’s brother, Todd Nelon, shared a fundraising link on Facebook to aid Autumn in covering funeral costs for the late members of the Nelon family. “Dear friends, as you know on Friday, July 26, the Nelon family was hit with an unimaginable tragedy,” he wrote in a post. “Our heart wrenching grief is overwhelming, and we are just struggling to take our next breath.
We appreciate all the calls, texts, food, and mostly the prayers. We humbly come to you now to ask for help for our precious Autumn.”
“We are surrounding her with love, but she’s going to need financial assistance for the many mountainous tasks ahead,” Todd continued. “She has not only lost her family, but also her livelihood. In addition to the funeral costs, she also will be responsible for running the wedding venue, farm, and two homes. Please prayerfully consider helping. We appreciate and love you all.
Please keep praying as we walk in this valley. We know we will be on the mountain top again one day.”
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According to a Facebook post shared by Autumn, a celebration of life service will be held for Kelly, Jason, Amber and Nathan on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. at Roopville Road Baptist Church in Georgia. The funeral will also be livestreamed.
The National Transportation Safety Board previously told PEOPLE that the private plane the Nelons were traveling on on Friday was a Pilatus PC-12/47E aircraft.
Per ABC News, Campbell County Fire Chief Jeff Bender confirmed that the Nelons’ plane crash caused a fire that had to be “contained” on Friday. The NTSB is currently investigating the accident.