It was described as a celebration of life for a young woman whose life ended far too soon for her family and friends.
Hundreds of mourners filled Alpharetta First Baptist Church Saturday afternoon to remember Catherine McKay Pittman, 21, one of five Georgia Southern University nursing students killed Wednesday in a multi-vehicle collision. The students were headed to a Savannah hospital to get real-life nursing experience.
McKay, as she was known best to loved ones, was remembered for rib-cracking hugs, a desire to help others, her open and honest Christian faith and her many close friendships.
“For McKay, every friend was a best friend,” said the Rev. John McKay, who considered her like a daughter, even as they shared a name but were not related.
Pittman was one of two students from metro Atlanta killed in the crash. The funeral for 20-year-old Emily Elizabeth Clark of Powder Springs will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church in Cobb County, with burial at Kennesaw Memorial Park.
The three other students who died were Caitlyn Baggett, 21, of Millen; Morgan Bass, 20, of Leesburg; and Abbie Deloach, 21, of Savannah.
Brittney McDaniel of Reidsville and Megan Richards of Loganville were injured in the crash.
Investigators have not filed criminal charges involving the truck driver, John Wayne Johnson, 55, of Shreveport, La., who initiated the early morning crash. Investigators said there was no indication alcohol was involved. Authorities say the accident investigation might take a half year.
The 75-minute service was quiet and somber. Sniffles were a constant sound. So, too, were songs that accompanied video montages put together by her family. A portrait of Pittman, with her much talked-about wide grin, was on an easel in front of the pulpit.
Many of her sorority sisters attended the service, some dressed in white nursing gowns. Some of them held hands throughout the service. A handful of young women wore red Milton High School jerseys to the service. Pittman, a 2012 Milton High graduate, played soccer there.
Despite many Scripture readings that declare McKay is now in a better place, many struggled with her sudden death.
“I know I can trust in the Lord, even though I do not understand,” said close friend Becca Reynolds, reciting part of Pittman’s favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6. “And I know He will make our paths straight, even though we do not understand.”
Before the service ended, her mother, Sherrin Collins Pittman, kissed the portrait of her daughter. As the family exited the church, the sounds of sniffles in the sanctuary were overtaken by applause.
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