DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Mourners gathered across the country Saturday to remember the lives of a graduate student beloved by friends, a man who died in his son’s arms and a mother who shielded her infant from gunfire.
The funerals were among several being held for people who died in mass shootings last weekend in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas.
Every seat was filled and the hallways were lined with mourners in Washington, Penn., at the service for 25-year-old Nicholas Cumer. The graduate student in the master of cancer care program at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Penn., was killed in Dayton.
“He was just infectious. He had a heart bigger than his chest,” said Pastor Brian Greenleaf of Washington Alliance Church after officiating the service.
Hundreds of people, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, attended Derrick Fudge’s funeral at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Dayton, the Dayton Daily News reported. Fudge died in the arms of his son, Dion Green.
Green said his father spoke often of his willingness to die for him. Green previously told the Springfield News-Sun he believes his father protected him from being killed. Green said Saturday that his father, who was 57, was a great person who was always there to help when needed.
Burial services for Saeed Saleh, 38, were held Saturday morning in Dayton, according to the Daily News. Saleh, who was originally from Eritrea and recently immigrated to the U.S., was remembered as a “humble and quiet person” by a spokesman for the family.
Burial was also scheduled for Jordan Anchondo, who died shielding her infant son from gunfire. Her 2-month-old son was treated for broken bones, but was orphaned after Jordan and her husband, Andre, were killed.
