Complex sentence: James and Carrie had two children: a daughter Isabel, and son James, Jr. James Phillips, Jr. died while still a toddler, and it was at this time of grief that Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Harding grew close, despite their respective marriages and friendships.
Split into simpler sentences: James and Carrie had two children: a daughter Isabel, and son James. James died while still a toddler and it was at this time of grief that Mrs. Phillips and Mr. Harding grew close, despite their respective marriages and friendships.