DAYTON -- The family and friends of Briona Rodgers honored her memory and celebrated her life Monday.
It was a packed house inside the Victory Church on North Main Street in Dayton.
Dozens came to mourn the loss of Briona, but more importantly they wanted to celebrate her life.
Briona's family spoke briefly about the 13-year-old girl they knew.
"Briona was sincere, she loved God, she loved her family," said Briona's aunt.
"Briona was such a blessing to me and I'm so honored that God gave her to me to be her mother," said Dawan Culpepper, Briona's mother.
Briona died to save her mother's life. She stepped in front of her mother when police say Dameon Wesley fired several shots.
Those bullets hit Briona and her cousin Alonta Culpepper.
Alonta remains in the hospital.
Wesley was arrested days after the murder, and is now behind bars.
"He left us with nothing but hurt and pain. My heart will never be the same," said Kellie Sanders, Briona's cousin.
Many hearts inside the sanctuary were broken, including Briona's mother's, but hers isn't filled with hate, only peace.
"Every piece of my body wants to hate the man who took my baby from me, but my heart just won't let me," said Culpepper. "I couldn't find that peace of mind in a bottle, I couldn't find that peace of mind in my friends, I couldn't find it in my loved ones, but I got in God."
A peace of mind knowing her Briona is always watching over her.
According to friends and family, Briona's cousin, Alonta, is getting better everyday.
It was a packed house inside the Victory Church on North Main Street in Dayton.
Dozens came to mourn the loss of Briona, but more importantly they wanted to celebrate her life.
Briona's family spoke briefly about the 13-year-old girl they knew.
"Briona was sincere, she loved God, she loved her family," said Briona's aunt.
"Briona was such a blessing to me and I'm so honored that God gave her to me to be her mother," said Dawan Culpepper, Briona's mother.
Briona died to save her mother's life. She stepped in front of her mother when police say Dameon Wesley fired several shots.
Those bullets hit Briona and her cousin Alonta Culpepper.
Alonta remains in the hospital.
Wesley was arrested days after the murder, and is now behind bars.
"He left us with nothing but hurt and pain. My heart will never be the same," said Kellie Sanders, Briona's cousin.
Many hearts inside the sanctuary were broken, including Briona's mother's, but hers isn't filled with hate, only peace.
"Every piece of my body wants to hate the man who took my baby from me, but my heart just won't let me," said Culpepper. "I couldn't find that peace of mind in a bottle, I couldn't find that peace of mind in my friends, I couldn't find it in my loved ones, but I got in God."
A peace of mind knowing her Briona is always watching over her.
According to friends and family, Briona's cousin, Alonta, is getting better everyday.