The alleged beating death of an Alabama first grader, just several years after the similar slaying of his younger brother, has shaken his community and his school system.

Jessie Taylor McCormack, a 6-year-old first grader at Alexandria Elementary School in Calhoun County, died Friday at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham.

Court records allege his father, 29-year-old Josh Clark, fatally beat Jessie with a belt and hands. Clark is charged with capital murder.

Jessie’s younger brother, 18-month-old Enzo McCormack, died in 2019. The boys’ mother, Samantha McCormack, her boyfriend, Robert Elmore, are charged with capital murder in Enzo’s death.

Calhoun County Schools Superintendent Jose Reyes said Jessie’s death obviously upset his teacher and the school administrators.

“They were visibly shaken,’’ Reyes said. “Clearly they cared a lot about the young man.”

“This is a situation,’’ he said, “where the circumstances have shaken folks.”

Counselors were at the school Monday as well as two emotional support dogs. School system officials contacted parents of Jessie’s classmates over the weekend in case they wanted to break the news to their children before they returned to school Monday.

“Some handled it OK, and we had a couple that were pretty upset,’’ Reyes said.

Reyes is spearheading an effort to raise money for matching headstones or grave markers for the slain siblings.

“Anniston Memorial Funeral Home will be handling the services for this young man. I cannot express to you how helpful and caring the Box family has been during this process,’’ Reyes wrote on Facebook. “It has been my honor to work with them in attempting to provide our student with the dignity he deserves.”

Jessie will be buried next to Enzo.

Reyes said it will cost between $3,000 to $3,500 for the matching markers. He said if more is raised, they will use that toward buy something above what is considered standard for the grave markers.

Donations can be made in person to Anniston Memorial Funeral Home at 3865 U.S. 431 or by phone at 256-820-0024. Receipts will be provided.

Jessie’s funeral is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. at Anniston Memorial Funeral Home with burial following in Edgemont Cemetery.

Reyes said he hopes to have funeral arrangements complete by Wednesday.