ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The family of 1-year-old Aryah Lipford spent Friday remembering and celebrating her life.
Her memorial was held at Serenity Funeral Home in Roanoke a little more than one week after she was shot and killed along Oakland Boulevard in the northwest section of Roanoke.
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Aryah's mother, 26-year-old Rachael Quesenberry also suffered several gun shot wounds but survived. She's recovering in Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital but was unable to attend the service due to her injuries.
NEIGHBOR DESCRIBES FINDING MOTHER, TODDLER SHOT OUTSIDE ROANOKE HOME
"I can cry, but I can't because I have no sad memories with her," said Aryah's grandmother Mekeysha Lipford. "When I think of her, it's something funny that she did and I have to laugh. Aryah wouldn't want me to cry."
Family and friends described her as a happy little girl who always had a big smile on her face. She also had a personality no one could ignore.
It's what Lipford will remember about the little girl who called her "Ma."
"(Remember) her smile, her happiness, just her name, Aryah. Her name just rung a bell and I want to keep her name going," she said.
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Dozens of people came to remember Aryah and pay their respects, including those who didn't know her.
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers was asked by the family to speak at the memorial. He was nearly at a lost for words.
"We should all be saddened by this, it shouldn't happen in our society," Bowers said before the memorial. "We need to keep working to try and make our lives and society better and better."
It's improvement Lipford hopes to see from the Roanoke community. Her family is now working to link Aryah's name with peace and love. She said it started Friday, the day she would have turned two years old.
"I'm saddened that it had to be my grand baby to wake everybody up," Lipford said. "Right now we shouldn't even be here, we should be having her birthday party. That's why I want her name to speak out."
25-year-old Warner Hunter III is charged with second degree murder and malicious wounding in the case. He's currently being held in the Roanoke City Jail without bond.
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