AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – Balloons, candles and tears filled the night sky over Aiken Thursday as hundreds gathered to honor Javeayah Harris — hours after learning her remains had been found in a reservoir and her parents faced new charges.
The candlelight vigil was held at the Event Center on Shiloh Heights Road beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Mourners arrived packed shoulder to shoulder, arms overflowing with stuffed animals, balloons, and candles.
This was the impromptu memorial in front of Javeayah Harris’ home on July 10. It tripled or quyadrupled in size in 24 hours.(WRDW/WAGT)
Some drove hours to attend. Others live down the road — neighbors trying to process what happened in their own community.
Javeayah’s grandfather — the father of her mother, Michilae Herring — was among those in attendance. His remarks were brief. Of his daughter, he said: “She wasn’t raised that way.”
Vigil for Javeayah Harris(WRDW)
“I’m here in the community, devastated, heartbroken, all of us,” said Jacquelyn Brown, who lives nearby. “There’s so much love and so many hearts that’s just pouring out for this sweet baby.”
Thursday morning, the community learned the details of how Javeayah’s remains were found. Thursday night, family members, neighbors, and strangers leaned on each other.
Strangers held strangers. Children cried and held their parents.
Keondra Hollins, who attended the vigil, said she couldn’t understand how it happened.
“She didn’t even get a chance to grow up, play with other kids. How could you do that? Four years old,” Hollins said.