Local business, state pay tribute to victims of Apalachee mass shooting

Illuminations at North Chapel of Whitfield Funeral Home for victims of Apalachee Shooting. (Whitfield Funeral Home)

Whitfield Funeral Homes and Crematory is showing its unity with mourning members of the North Georgia community. The Habersham-based funeral home bathed its North Chapel in blue and gold light in tribute to Apalachee High School and the victims who died there.

“In wake of the tragedy in Winder, Georgia, our North Chapel is illuminated in Apalachee High School’s colors of blue and gold as a symbol of support and condolence to those affected by the shooting,” Everett J. Huffman, General Manager of Whitfield Funeral Home explained.

Register books are available to sign for the victims in the Apalachee High School mass shooting. (Whitfield Funeral Home)

On September 4, two students and two teachers were killed, and nine others were hospitalized after police say a student, Colt Gray, opened fire inside the school during morning classes.

Whitfield is paying tribute to the four who died, offering registry books for people in the local community to stop by and sign. The books will be shared with the victims’ families.

“Let us remember the families of Christian Angulo, Mason Schermerhorn, Richard Aspinwall, and Christina Irimie, as well as the survivors and their families,” Huffman said.

The funeral home is located at 245 Central Avenue.

Flags at half-staff

State offices and schools are paying tribute to the victims as well. Governor Brian Kemp ordered flags in Georgia to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims.

“As all Georgians continue to grieve with their families and community, I have ordered flags on all state buildings to be lowered in honor of Richard Aspinwall, Christina Irimie, Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn. May we remember and commemorate their lives in all the days to come,” Kemp wrote on X.

The governor said flags would remain at half-staff at all state buildings and grounds until the end of the last victim’s burial.