Several hundred people gathered under a warm January sun to say farewell to a young girl killed in a drive-by shooting in Augusta.
Eight-year-old Arbrie Anthony was standing in her front yard on Third Avenue, petting a horse when she was gunned down on Jan. 8.
The small pink casket, covered with photos of Arbrie and things she loved, including LOL Surprise characters and the Tik Tok symbol, arrived for the graveside service in a horse-drawn carriage.
The Rev. Charles Goodman of Tabernacle Baptist Church led the mourners through memories of the young girl.
“Grief is a process. A long and difficult process,” Goodman said. “I hope we will appreciate life a little more. Life is precious. Live life to the fullest.”
Although it was a solemn gathering, balloons and bright colors surrounded the crowd with reminders of Arbrie’s joy and love of life.
Sprinkled throughout the crowd of mourners were dozens who wore a special T-shirt honoring the life and spirit of the Jenkins-White Middle School student.
A program was distributed through the crowd. It included a collection of candid photos of Arbrie with family, trick or treating, in a bouncy house with friends and flashing the peace symbol.
The program also included a letter, written by her uncle, Jordash Tanksley.
It read in part, “If we all were granted one last kiss from you, embraced with all your laughter, wrapped in a big hug and one last dance with us all on Tik Tok.”
As the service at Hillcrest Memorial Park drew to a close, Goodman gave guidance to those who attended on how to keep Arbrie’s memory alive.
“The best thing you can do is celebrate the life and legacy of Arbrie,” he urged.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
