WHITEVILLE, NC — A North Carolina church was packed on Wednesday night as friends and family came together to remember a teen girl who drowned on Tuesday.
Raven Alexandrea White, 16, of Whiteville drowned after she fell from a boat in Lake Waccamaw.
Raven had been wakeboarding with friends earlier in the day at the lake, The News Reporter of Whiteville reported.
Later that day, Raven was on a boat that was traveling about 10 mph when she fell — apparently not wearing a life jacket.
She was found in the lake around 9:30 p.m., the newspaper reported.
Her friends and family were devastated by the her death.
“Asking God to wrap his arms around the family and friends of Raven Alexandrea White,” wrote Santana Noble on Facebook.
“This news has broken my heart and has me at a loss for words. Raven was such a sweet girl who always wore a beautiful smile. Please pray for this family and continue to,” she added.
On Wednesday evening, the Western Prong Baptist Church in Whiteville was completely full as the community came together to remember Raven, according to Tyler Fred Hyatt.
“Sanctuary choir loft and balcony are full. All for you Raven Alexandrea White,” Hyatt wrote on Facebook along with a photo of the packed church service.
Many photos of Raven and comments filled social media.
“It’s crazy to think this was just yesterday around this time. Praying hard for the friends and family of Raven Alexandrea White,” wrote Charis Elizabeth Kasitati, who posted a video from Tuesday of Raven wakeboarding on the lake.
Final rites for Raven will be held 4 p.m. Sunday at Chadbourn Pentecostal Holiness Church. Interment will follow in Chadbourn Memorial Cemetery.
The family will receive friends 6-9 p.m. Saturday at Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn.
