Family holds vigil for Clayton woman allegedly killed by granddaughter

CLAYTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A prayer vigil is planned Monday night for a woman who was killed in Clayton, allegedly by her own granddaughter.

A toddler was caught in the middle of the family drama crossing state lines.

Clayton police say his mother, Camille Singleton, abducted the boy last week and fled to Georgia after shooting and killing his great-grandmother, Inita Gaither.

Two-year-old Dior Singleton is now with his father's parents in Virginia.

"It was just unexpected," said neighbor Pinkie Harris. "She was the very first neighbor I met."

They have been friends ever since.

Harris lived directly across the street from Gaither on Crawford Parkway in Clayton.

"I'm just going to miss her. I really, truly am," said Harris.

Harris described the 68-year-old as the neighborhood mom, who loved her family, even taking care of Singleton's children.

Gaither's daughters shared photos with ABC11 of Gaither smiling with her grandkids, and a picture of Gaither during a Charity walk for ALS in 2019 in Raleigh.

Her children say she was supporting her daughter Jacinta, Singleton's mother, who died in 2017 from the disease.

On Thursday, Clayton Police found Gaither dead with a gunshot wound to the head.

"I love Miss Inita but even through that-the midst of it all, I still have to forgive," said Harris.

It's not clear what the motive was behind the killing.

Tips led police to Georgia where officers found Singleton and her two-year-son in an Atlanta Walmart.

Singleton is in Georgia but she will be heading to Clayton with investigators.

The vigil for Gaither will start at 7:30 p.m. outside her home.