LIVINGSTON, Texas — Family members, friends and even teachers from the school district Audrii Cunningham attended showed up Friday to pay their respects and say goodbye to the little girl gone too soon.
Crosses adorned with Audrii's favorite color -- purple -- were placed outside of the church where the gathering was held.
The First Baptist Church said it wanted to be able to provide a safe space for Audrii's family and the community to come together. Lead pastor Brett Lester said Audrii was involved in some programs there. He said it's been a difficult time for everyone in the community.
"Our community rallies together. It always has. And in any kind of tragedy and even in triumph, this community rallies together. And so to have a time and a place where people can come and just grieve together and to know we are together, I think that's so important," Lester said.
He said they're holding onto hope during the difficult time and they're also in the process of grief counseling to make sure the community is OK.
A glow stick vigil was also held outside the church in honor of Audrii.
Who was Audrii Cunningham?
Audrii went missing on Thursday, Feb. 15. An AMBER Alert was issued after she didn't get off the school bus that day but investigators learned Audrii never made it on the bus that morning nor went to school. After a six-day extensive search for the missing girl, her body was found in the Trinity River under US 59.
Don Steven McDougal, a friend of Audrii's father who lived in a camper behind the family's home, has been charged with capital murder in Audrii's death.
Audrii was born on Feb. 5, 2013, in Livingston, Texas. She was a 5th-grader who attended Creekside Elementary in Livingston ISD before she was killed.
Audrii's mom, Casey Matthews, said Audrii was a great child who was smart, fun, caring and had so many opportunities ahead of her.
Matthews' best friend, Rebecca, said Audrii lit up any room she ever walked in, and didn't deserve what happened to her.
"Casey is inconsolable," Rebecca told KHOU 11 News. "She had this end goal. She was going to be reunited with her baby and now she's not."
Audrii is survived by her mom, father, brother, sister and grandparents.