Days after the death of the 18-year-old Alexis Hunter, her family is preparing to lay their loved one to rest Saturday.

Funeral services for Alexis, who was murdered last weekend, will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Billy Marshall officiating. The service will be followed by a burial at Fairlawn Memory Gardens directed by J.H. Williams and Sons Funeral Home.

“It’s got to stop. It really does,” Alexis’ father Howard Walker said in reference to the act of violence against his daughter. “A girl got killed for her cell phone. They value somebody’s life no more than a cell phone?”

As difficult as it is for the family to make funeral arrangements for their daughter, the couple relies on the power of prayer to help them endure the pain of losing their daughter at such a young age.

“It’s really hard,” Howard said. “It takes a lot of prayer everyday to help us make it through.”

Howard said he was surprised to see more than 100 people attend Tuesday’s candlelight vigil for Hunter at Selma High School. He said it was Alexis’ bright smiles and sweet personality she displayed throughout her lifetime that attracted so many people to the candlelight vigil in her honor.

Howard said it pleasant to see so much support from the community.

“It was nice,” he said. “There was so much love showed toward my daughter.”

Joann Hunter, Alexis’ mother, said the many calls from various people in the community giving their condolences to the family and friends of Alexis have also been appreciated.

“I think have had as many call as it was at the vigil,” Joann said.

Howard said if those who did not get the privilege of meeting his daughter would have had the chance to meet her, there is no doubt they would have enjoyed the meeting.

“If you ever knew her, you would love her, too,” Howard said.

Visitation services will be held Friday from 6-7 p.m. at J.H. Williams and Sons Friday from 6-7 p.m.