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Tori Stafford memorial to be held in Woodstock June 6

by Amy Judd | June 2, 2009 at 08:03 pm

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Tori Stafford, the 8-year-old who disappeared on April 8th, will be remembered in a memorial to take place at Calvary Church this saturday June 6 at 1pm.

This will give everyone the chance to remember the little girl, who will now never be forgotten due to the tragic circumstances surrounding her death.

Two weeks ago, Michael Rafferty, 28 and Terri-Lynne McClintic, 18, were charged with her abduction and murder, but Tori's body has never been found.

Tori's parents, Rodney Stafford and Tara McDonald, had initially refused to plan a memorial before investigators found her body. But last week, after police told Stafford there was a possibility it may never be found, the family decided to hold a memorial at Woodstock's largest church.

"People (in the community) have done so much," said Randi Millen, Stafford's sister. "This is to reflect (on Tori's) life and how she touched so many people."

About 800 people can fit in the church, with about 300 more able to watch from an overflow room. Keith Bishop, the pastor, says the memorial:

will help people to come to grips with the reality" that Tori isn't coming home.

While investigators still search for Tori's body and for clues, her family and friends will be saying their goodbyes to the little girl who left the earth far too soon.