ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Family, friends, and community members came together at First Baptist Church to pay their respects to Adam Ward.
Ward and reporter Alison Parker were shot and killed on live television at Smith Mountain Lake.
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During a celebration of his life, laughter prevailed as hundreds said goodbye. Ward's childhood friend said it best. He was not normal in fact he was unique. His family and friends shared stories about his infectious smile and wit.
"He had a sense of humor that would've run through just as stories you heard from his friends and family rang through here," says Jeff Marks, WDBJ7 general manager.
His family talked about how Ward was the baby brother and even though he was picked on a lot he was always a good sport about it.
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Mike Stevens remembers Ward back as an intern at WDBJ and says not only was he a hard worker but someone you should aim to be.
"No matter what you do in life, how you treat people, how you bring an attitude to work, you go about your family be Adam like," says Stevens. "That means have a smile on your face and treat people you want to be treated."
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Outside the church, the road was packed with people showing support for the family. Many of them didn't get a chance to meet Ward but through stories and pictures they feel like they now do.
"To lose something like that in a community for a family, a school somewhere they grew up, it's such a loss," says Tyler Brown, Salem resident.
After the celebration of life, with the community standing by them, family and friends went to Ward's final resting place at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.
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