Steven Curtis Chapman

This is such a tragic incident - my heart aches for this family. I can't even imagine. One of Maria's brothers accidentally hit her with his car and killed her. I am praying for that young boy.













(Left to right Will Franklin, Maria, Steven, Shaoey, Mary Beth, Stevey Joy, Caleb and Emily)


Chapman's five-year-old adopted daughter, Maria Sue Chapman, was killed in an accident on May 21, 2008. She was struck by an SUV driven by one of the Chapmans' teenage sons as he backed down the driveway of the family's Franklin home. The entire family was preparing to celebrate their eldest son Caleb's graduation of high school just hours before the accident. Maria Sue later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. A spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol termed it "a terrible accident" and said no charges are expected to be filed. Maria was the youngest in the family and one of three daughters adopted from China by Steven and his wife, Mary Beth. During the memorial service for Maria the family expressed their faith in God and their love for each other, specifically requesting prayer for their son.


NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife Mary Beth founded the Shaohannah’s Hope ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles.

Read more