Sunday family and friends gather to celebrate the life of Iyla Johnson. Just last Sunday, she was shot and killed by her father, Eric Johnson. Iyla was affectionately known as a social butterfly to her family and friends. Singing, dancing and karate were just a few of her favorite activities. Family honoring that bubbly, bright spirit who would have been going into the first grade this year. "I'm just lost for words. I wish she was still here," said Diamond Thurmond, Iyla's big sister. Everyone is still in shock that Iyla is gone. "Every time I came around, she just, she was so happy. She was one of the sweetest little girls ever," said Thurmond. Iyla was shot last Sunday in what police are calling a murder-suicide. Her cousin Jonathan Douthitt spoke on behalf of the family. "Iyla was beautiful. Her smile, her personality," Douthitt said.A sea of purple released in the sky, Iyla's favorite color. The Bikelyfe group, a part of Iyla's dads bike club, roared engines for Iyla. "At a young age, she understood what life was all about. When you're special like that, you just got to appreciate it and she taught us that," he said. Iyla taught the power of love to her family through her drawings. "Ever since she was like 2 she liked to draw and a lot of those drawings were around God. Right in the kitchen, she's got artwork from two all the way to recently just telling her story and how she was connected with the love of God," he explained.The family was able to smile through the pain, knowing that Iyla is in God's hands.
Sunday family and friends gather to celebrate the life of Iyla Johnson. Just last Sunday, she was shot and killed by her father, Eric Johnson. Iyla was affectionately known as a social butterfly to her family and friends. Singing, dancing and karate were just a few of her favorite activities. Family honoring that bubbly, bright spirit who would have been going into the first grade this year.
"I'm just lost for words. I wish she was still here," said Diamond Thurmond, Iyla's big sister.
Everyone is still in shock that Iyla is gone.
"Every time I came around, she just, she was so happy. She was one of the sweetest little girls ever," said Thurmond.
Iyla was shot last Sunday in what police are calling a murder-suicide. Her cousin Jonathan Douthitt spoke on behalf of the family.
"Iyla was beautiful. Her smile, her personality," Douthitt said.
A sea of purple released in the sky, Iyla's favorite color. The Bikelyfe group, a part of Iyla's dads bike club, roared engines for Iyla.
"At a young age, she understood what life was all about. When you're special like that, you just got to appreciate it and she taught us that," he said.
Iyla taught the power of love to her family through her drawings.
"Ever since she was like 2 she liked to draw and a lot of those drawings were around God. Right in the kitchen, she's got artwork from two all the way to recently just telling her story and how she was connected with the love of God," he explained.
The family was able to smile through the pain, knowing that Iyla is in God's hands.
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