Family remembers the good times at funeral for Kathy Taft

A week full of emotion and pain for the people closest to Kathy Taft came to a head today.

Hundreds of people came to Greenville for the chance to say goodbye to the woman who spent decades serving as a champion for education, both at the state and local level. So many, in fact, that there wasn't enough room for everyone in the funeral. Her life touched a lot of people.

People connected to all levels of education and the community at large came out for her today, but it's her family that will miss her most. Today, we got the chance to hear from them. They talked about the good times with the woman they knew better than anyone else.

"We both voiced our frustrations several times in the past about the lack of decent places to stop and eat on the way back from Raleigh. She was so pleased that she had somehow happened upon the cutest little deli, where she had gotten the best sandwich. I asked her where the deli was and she indicated an area beside a grocery store. I looked at the place with a surprised laugh and proceeded to burst her bubble by saying, "Oh, mom, that's a Subway," Paige Fuqua, daughter of Kathy Taft, remarked during Taft’s funeral.

It's those moments in their lives they'll never forget. Taft's daughter shared other laughable moments with her mother over the years. Her sons took a more serious note.

"One thing I found myself repeatedly thinking is how easy it is to say everything is part of God's plan for us, but it has become exponentially more difficult to find solace in those words, when his plan included welcoming my mother to heaven in such a manner," said Thomas Taft, a son of Kathy Taft.

"I've lost my biggest fan, she was my invincible advocate, personification of undying love and everlasting support, even when I knew I least deserved it, she was always there," said Jonathan Taft, a son of Kathy Taft.

This was their time to be there for her one last time. Hand in hand outside the sanctuary, they laid her to rest.

She will be remembered as someone who never rested when it came to education. The schools across the state were her extended family.

"I think some day when historians sit down to write about these times, there's no question that her name will be very prominent in the pages of history," said Howard Lee, Executive Director of the North Carolina Education Cabinet.

More than 700 people came out for today's service. The church had to provide a video feed for those who couldn't get a seat in the sanctuary to watch.

That's just one more sign of what she meant to the community. As for the search for her killer, there doesn't seem to be much progress. Police haven't made any arrests.