Motorists waited patiently at the intersection of Balfour Road and Griffith Lane as a solemn procession of more than 100 mourners filed slowly across the street in front of them Thursday evening, carrying candles and clinging to each other. As they walked, some sobbed loudly, others wept quietly, and all wiped tears from their eyes.

The procession was in memory of Kayla Shepard, the 19-year-old graduate of Liberty High School killed in an automobile accident in Southern California Wednesday. The route wound its way from Veterans Park to Shepard’s home. Many in the group were current or past members of Liberty’s choral groups; Shepard had been a member of Liberty’s Pink Ladies and DIVA groups, and co-winner of the school’s Jenny Lind Award in her senior year. They assembled in a court before the Shepard house and, led by choral Director Sue Stuart, delivered a heart-wrenching rendition of “What Would I Do Without My Music” for Kayla’s mother, Maureen, father, Bob and sister, Alyssa, who sat wracked with emotion before them.

“Kayla was a sweet, shining light who illuminated a room,” Stuart said before the procession stepped off. “She was one of those people you wanted to be around.”

Said another mourner, to the nods of agreement from his tear-choked companions, “This isn’t right. It just isn’t right.”

Funeral arrangements were still pending as of Friday afternoon. Check back for more information as it becomes available.

For Thursday's story on the accident, click here.