'We will never forget her’: Birmingham mourns Kamille 'Cupcake’ McKinney

Nearly 24 hours after 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney was found dead in a dumpster, hundreds gathered in agony and sorrow outside Birmingham City Hall and at the public housing community where she was last seen to honor her life.

They stood in sadness, and solidarity, to mourn the girl whose disappearance gripped the Birmingham area for 10 days and whose death shook the city to its core.

"A little innocent 3-year-old girl was ripped from her family too soon and her absence, make no doubt about it, will leave a hole in our hearts,'' said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “Kamille McKinney, affectionately known as Cupcake, we will never forget her name.”

The City Hall vigil was one of several in the Birmingham area on Wednesday, with more planned for the coming days.

Earlier in the day, Saint James AME Church, which is less than a mile from where Kamille was abducted, opened its doors at noon for prayer and healing. Tears flowed from the eyes of about 30 mourners.

A few Birmingham police officers left notes of encouragement for Kamille’s family. A white cross with a purple bow was left at the altar along with flowers.

Betty Pritchett said she has felt weak since she heard the news, but attended because she believes Kamille’s family needs prayer. She said she hasn’t heard of a tragedy like this during her 54 years.

“I wouldn’t do a dog like that. They took the baby’s body and threw it into a garbage like she is nothing,” Prichett said. “This is a baby. I wish I could just look at (the suspects) right now and ask, ‘why?’”

“We do not know why," the Rev. Alvelyn Sanders-Swafford said.

"Right now, we know the ‘how’ of the healing process, which is for us to come together as a community to share with one another, on this day, as the family mourns and grieves as arrangements are being made, to come together on this day to be with one another and to reflect, remember and honor Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney.”

Around 8 p.m. Monday, community activists and city residents gathered at the spot in Tom Brown Village where Kamille was last seen 11 days ago to light candles inside cupcakes with purple frosting to pay tribute to her.

“Tonight is about us a community finding a way to healing," activist Carlos Chaverst, who organized the vigil, told the crowd.

Residents released balloons and held a three-minute moment of silence to mark each year of Kamille’s life.

“Throughout this whole ordeal you all, the city of Birmingham has proved once again that we are all a family,” said activist Le’Darius Hilliard. “When one person hurts, we all hurt.”

At the City Hall vigil, Woodfin was joined by Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith and the Birmingham City Council and more than 30 leaders from a diverse faith-based community.

The mayor said there are lessons Birmingham has taught the world in decades past. “Lessons about faith, lessons about courage, lessons about hope and lessons about rising up in the face of evil.”

Kamille’s death should be another lesson for the world, Woodfin said.

“Birmingham, we are one family and as a family we must move as one, teaching our children the importance of valuing life, speaking up when we have information that could help alleviate the pain our of neighbors, putting the needs of others before self and recognizing that every life is precious, every single life is precious, so that no other family will endure the pain that Kamille’s family is enduring.”

“She will not be forgotten,'' said the Rev. Julie Conrady, Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham. ”Her memory will live on as a testament that all children are worthy of community support and protection. "

Minister Ashfaqu Taufique of the Birmingham Islamic Society said he was saddened and angered at the kidnapping and killing of “Baby Kamille.”

"I pray that we harness that anger, we harness the sadness in resolution that we are going to stand for justice, stand to fight against evil,'' he said.

The police chief said he can’t imagine the family’s pain.

"The Birmingham Police Department wanted nothing more than to bring her home safely and without harm and we worked endlessly to do that,'' Smith said. “While I commend every officer involved, I really wish there something more we could have done to bring this young child home.”

Smith said it was unfortunate many didn’t have the chance to meet Kamille or see her smile, or see her run around the way a 3-year-old should – carefree and without harm.

"I believe Kamille changed this city,'' Smith said. “A 3-year-old little girl has changed the landscape of the city of Birmingham.”

"She made us stop and check ourselves. Check ourselves to see if we’re doing everything we can to keep our children safe from harm. Check ourselves to see if we’re truly the village that we promise to be. Check ourselves to see if we’re living up to the expectations of tomorrow and watching over our children today,'' he said.

“Ten days ago, I feel we were a very different city. Maybe we were a little bit too carefree, maybe there’s more that we could have done to watch over this little child. But today we’ve come face to face with the hurt, the pain and the loss of a beautiful little spirit. Let us not take the moment for granted,” Smith said.

Woodfin prayed for an end to the type of violence that would take away a family member and cause so much pain to the entire community.

"It is so important that we say her name and hold it close to our hearts,'' he said, “because we’re all Kamille’s family now. We are all one family.”

The investigation into Kamille’s death is ongoing.

Two people are being held in connection with her disappearance and could be charged as early as Thursday in her death. Patrick Devone Stallworth, 39, and his girlfriend, 29-year-old Derick Irisha Brown were initially arrested 24 hours after Kamille’s abduction.

AL.com reporters Jonece Starr Dunigan and Howard Koplowitz contributed to this report.

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