Continuing Coverage by:

Lauren McCain

Lauren McCainLauren McCain was a 20-year-old freshman from Hampton who was majoring in international studies.

She liked science-fiction movies and all kinds of music, except country, according to her MySpace page.

She listed her brother Joel as her hero and declared the "purpose and love of my life is Jesus Christ."

Ruth Blanchard, who knew McCain through a Christian ministry at Virginia Tech, recalled how her friend always greeted her with a hug and a smile.

She said McCain’s faith was a comfort in a time of such sorrow.

"She loved the Lord with all her heart, and that shined in her actions and in her person," Blanchard said in an e-mail. "I know she would not want us to be sad over her death since she is singing praises to her Savior face to face and is no longer in any pain.

"The time we will spend apart from her here is fleeting compared to the time we’ll be sharing with her in heaven for all eternity."

McCain’s family said she became a Christian some time ago.

"Her life since that time has been filled with His love that continued to overflow to touch everyone who knew her," the family said in a statement to The Associated Press.

McCain’s uncle, Jeff Elliott, told The Oklahoman newspaper that his niece was an avid reader, was learning German and had almost mastered Latin.

She was home-schooled, he said, and had worked at a department store for about a year to save money for college.

— Media General News Service

« Back to Main Victims Page