A nine-year-old girl who was shot dead by transgender killer Audrey Hale was commemorated as a “beacon” during her pink and green funeral on Friday.
The memorial service for Evelyn Dieckhaus was the first of the six victims of Hale’s fatal shooting at Nashville’s Covenant School.
It comes after it was revealed that Evelyn was shot while heroically attempting to set off the fire alarm to thwart Hale’s mission.
Mourners were pictured arriving at the little girl’s funeral dressed in pink and green to pay tribute to her “light and love of colour”, while children carried stuffed animals.
Senior Pastor Clay Stauffer told them, “Evelyn could have been anything. But she chose to be a beacon of light and hope, love and joy to those around her. She was an amazing girl.’
Evelyn Dieckhaus was remembered as a “beacon” during her pink and green funeral on Friday
Mourners wore pink and green to honor Evelyn’s “light and love of color.”
Others brought stuffed animals to the service, which was held at Woodmount Christian Church – less than three miles from the scene of the attack
A photo of Evelyn wearing a bright pink headband was used in the service programs, while an obituary described her as “strong but never pushy,” adding that she’s been “possessive through the years.”
“This girl could read a room,” the obituary read.
“Everyone who knew her knew that Evelyn Dieckhaus knew who she was.
“She understood where she would fit into a particular scene and always where she was needed.”
The statement also recognized her “contagious laugh” and her “angelic” voice, which she sang along with Taylor Swift.
The service was held at Woodmount Christian Church – less than three miles from the scene of the attack.
Evelyn was shot dead along with her nine schoolmates, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney.
Also murdered in the attack were principal Katherine Koonce, 60, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and school administrator Mike Hill, 61.
Services for Hallie and Peak are expected to take place on Saturday.
Evelyn was described as a “hero” after the attack, after it was revealed that she tried to ring the fire alarm to save her classmates from Hale’s attack as she was shot.
An obituary for Evelyn described her as “strong but never pushy,” adding that she “poses well beyond the years.” It added she has an “infectious laugh” and an “angelic” voice
A photo of Evelyn with her family was also included in the service booklet
Her aunt, Kelly Dorrance, said she believed Evelyn was leading a number of children in a fire drill.
“We are finding out that the shooter may have set off the fire alarm to get children out of their classroom,” Dorrance said in a private Instagram post.
“Evelyn, one of the class teachers, stood at the front of the line and did the fire drill.
“She was trying to get her classmates to safety and may not have heard the calls to get back into the room. Things kids shouldn’t worry about.”
Questions still swirl about what possessed Hale – who was born a woman but reportedly lived as a man – to open fire on her former school.
She came armed with two rifles and a pistol and appeared to have carefully planned the attack.
She was shot dead by police officers at the scene.
It is understood she was at odds with her devout Christian parents because they “couldn’t accept” that she was gay and transgender.
Church coordinator Norma, 61, and her husband Ronald, 64, refused to let Hale – who had recently taken the name Aiden and used he/him pronouns – dress as a man in their home.
The memorial to Evelyn Dieckhaus was the first of the six victims of Hale’s fatal shooting spree
Services for Hallie Scruggs and Cynthia Peak are expected to take place on Saturday
Evelyn was described as a “hero” after the attack, after it was revealed that she tried to ring the fire alarm to save her classmates from Hale’s attack as she was shot
Questions still swirl about what possessed Hale – who was born a woman but reportedly lived as a man – to open fire on her former school
The 28-year-old loner would instead wait until she left her $700,000 Nashville mansion to change outfits, a well-placed source told .
A chilling 911 call from Hale’s friend at the time of the shooting was released Thursday.
Averianna Patton received several disturbing messages from Audrey Hale, 28, on Instagram just before she started spray-spraying bullets at Covenant School.
Hale sent the messages at 9:57 a.m. and had killed her victims by 10:10 a.m.
After receiving a specific message from Hale that said, “I’m planning on dying today — you’ll probably hear about me on the news,” Patton called a suicide hotline, which then encouraged her to contact the Contact authorities to make them aware of the situation.
She shot and killed three students, 9, and three staff members at 10:10 am
When she called 911 around 10:12 a.m. – when armed officers had already arrived at the scene – she said: “I’m just trying to see if anyone can help. I just don’t want it on my conscience.
“If anyone can check on her – the only thing I have is her Instagram. Can I give you her Instagram so you can find her or follow her that way?
Single 911 calls from inside the school could hear a teacher in the classroom saying, “We think we’re hearing gunshots.”
Crying students can be heard over the blaring fire alarm and distant gunfire as one child added: “I want to go home.”