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Clark County has been the subject of national news since 15-year-old George Rogers Clark High School freshman McKenna Letcher was tragically killed in a traffic accident on the morning of Tuesday, September 3. 

As the week concluded, services for Letcher occurred. 

A visitation for the student who touched many lives took place on the evening of Thursday, September 6, with a funeral service taking place 24 hours later on Friday, September 7. 

“There was nothing else like her. She was a beautiful girl,” said cousin Caleb Reynolds. “She brought smiles to the family no matter who was around [and] no matter the situation.” 

During Thursday’s visitation at the Leon Pace Memorial Chapel on the site of Scobee Funeral Home, long lines were already forming to pay their respects to Letcher by 5:00 p.m. 

A number of teenagers – many of whom were friends to the Bath County native – were included among them. 

As others gathered – many offering comfort to Letcher’s family – a slideshow of photos of Letcher were shown in the background. 

Music selections included “Save a Place for Me” by Matthew West and “Never Be Forgotten” by Jessica Andrews.

The next day, in front of a standing-room only crowd that included Clark County Public Schools Superintendent Dustin Howard and other staff, Rob Boyd – former Associate Pastor at Catalyst Church – spoke first. 

“McKenna’s light touched the lives of [many] here today. It’s never an easy task to see someone leave this Earth,” he said. “[Yet] I do know this; we are promised to see her again.” 

Shortly after he spoke, Krista Knox – Youth Pastor at Catalyst Church – also spoke following a reading of a Bible passage. 

Letcher had been an active member of the church’s youth group, attending church camp and more. 

“She was a blessing to teach and a blessing to learn from,” Knox said. “My favorite attribute about McKenna is that she loved with her entire heart.” 

Steve Caudill – lead pastor at Catalyst Church – then spoke as well. 

Referencing the story of Jesus’ disciples struggling against the storms in the Sea of Galilee, as told of in the New Testament, Caudill offered insight. 

“McKenna was absolutely a person that needed to be around people. We loved McKenna, her family loved McKenna, and the loss of McKenna has caused a big storm,” he said, encouraging others to look toward God in such times. “The storms…don’t last forever. It passes. The pain will linger, but its power will be soft and God will assist…you.” 

Following the service, Letcher was laid to rest at Winchester Cemetery. 

In closing, Caudill encouraged others to come up and lay a finger at the top of Letcher’s casket, signifying that she had not only left an impact on their lives but that they would always be connected to her. 

“A fingerprint is something that lasts forever,” he said. 

Thus concluded the services for Letcher, whose family was asked earlier in the day what they would like her to know. 

“Just how much she was loved and how much joy she brought to this Earth,” Reynolds said.