Photos: Georgia Southern mourns nursing students

Metro Atlanta

Photos: Georgia Southern mourns nursing students

The Student Nurses Association and Department of Nursing hold a memorial service April 23, 2015, at Georgia Southern University for the nursing students who died in an I-16 pileup the day before.

Crystal Whitmire (right) comforts fellow student Layne Livingston as thousands gather for the Memorial Service on Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern University for the nursing students who died in a multi-vehicle accident on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

A student adds her flowers to the display as thousands gather for the Memorial Service at Georgia Southern University for five nursing students on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Students console each other during the Memorial Service held April 23, 2015, at Georgia Southern University for five nursing students whose lives were tragically lost in an accident on April 22, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

A note written by a student is posted on the "Memory Wall" for five nursing students who died April 22, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Nursing students are helped to their seats for the April 23, 2015, service at Georgia Southern University for five nursing students who died April 22, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

A student passes a sign at a rental management company near Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. Teresa Tucker, an employee at the company, was moved to send a message of support after 5 nursing students were killed in a pileup on April 22, 2015. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Brooks A. Keel, PhD, president Georgia Southern University, said it's hard enough to lose one student, but to lose five at one time is incomprehensible on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Nursing students arrive for the Memorial Service at Georgia Southern University on April 23, 2015. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Kappa Delta sorority members arrive arm-in-arm for the Memorial Service on Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern University. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Family members embrace arriving with thousands for a Memorial Service on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Five nursing students died the day before in a vehicle pileup. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Students hold candles during the Memorial Service on Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern University for the five nursing students who died in a vehicle pileup on April 22, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

A family member holds a candle during the Memorial Service on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Students bow their heads in prayer during the memorial for the five nursing students who died in a vehicle pileup on April 22, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

A "Memory Wall" serves as a place for students to post messages at the Memorial Service on Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern University. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Students hold roses while arriving for the Memorial Service on Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern University for the five nursing students who died in a vehicle pileup on April 22, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Nursing students in while lab coats listen to Georgia Southern University president Brooks A. Keel (top right) during the Memorial Service on Sweetheart Circle for five nursing students who died in a vehicle pileup on April 22, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Thousands bow their heads during an opening prayer during a memorial service at Sweetheart Circle on the Georgia Southern University. The gathering was to remember the nursing students whose lives were tragically loss in a multivehicle accident on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

The flags fly at half-staff at Georgia Southern University while senior Katie Pursley, 21, visits the Memorial Service site on Sweetheart Circle for those students whose lives were tragically lost on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Pursley, from Athens, keeps a daily journal in which she drew the school mascot, an eagle, with a tear to symbolize the grief of the university. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Georgia Southern University senior Katie Pursley, 21, visits the Memorial Service site on Sweetheart Circle for those students whose lives were tragically lost on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Pursley, from Athens, keeps a daily journal in which she drew the school mascot, an eagle, with a tear to symbolize the grief of the university. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

The flags fly at half-staff at Georgia Southern University where Kendra Ritter designates chairs for the Student Nurses Association and Department of Nursing at the Memorial Service site on Sweetheart Circle for those students whose lives were tragically lost on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

The flags fly at half-staff at Georgia Southern University where Kendra Ritter designates chairs for the Student Nurses Association and Department of Nursing at the Memorial Service site on Sweetheart Circle for those students whose lives were tragically lost on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

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Crystal Whitmire (right) comforts fellow student Layne Livingston as thousands gather for the Memorial Service on Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern University for the nursing students who died in a multi-vehicle accident on Thursday, April 23, 2015, in Statesboro. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

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