Family, friends gather at funeral of 1-year-old girl
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The first Saturday of 2016 brought dozens of mourners to the Chapel Hill Bible Church for the funeral of little Maleah Williams, the 1-year-old child fatally shot on Christmas Day. Many of the people who filed inside had small children of their own.
Destini Purifoy knows the child's mother, and told ABC11 she came "because I have a little niece, and I can only imagine what she's going through. So I know it's very difficult for both the father and the mother."
It happened as three men, Shaquille Oneill Davis, 22, Ramone Jamarr Alston, 22, and Pierre Je Bron Moore, 23, are still being held in the Orange County jail, charged in connection with the child's death.
"Thank God," said mourner Ali Perrone, a high school classmate of the mother, "and hopefully they'll get what they deserve."
"I hope justice is served for Maleah, Tylena, and the father," said Purifoy.
Asked about the charges filed against the three suspects, she told ABC11, "I am happy, and I hope everything gets handled in the proper way."
A vendor from a company called Jay Michael set up in a corner of the church parking lot, selling t-shirts with Maleah's image on the front along with other items commemorating the sad day.
He said when the family approached him about making those shirts, he told them he would only do it if he could donate the proceeds to the family.
Ali Perrone bought one, she said, "to donate, and help them out with the funeral costs."
The family also set up a GoFundMe page to help with the expenses.
