A funeral service for Alexandria Imogene Giles was held Thursday (July 11) at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Springdale.
While the young girl was not deaf, her parents are. They are members of the deaf community and Giles was well-known in their church.
“My mom is an interpreter for the deaf and so that’s how we got to know them,” said Heidi Nerenberg, a family friend.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks donations be made to the Bethel Deaf Fellowship account at Arvest to help with the child’s funeral expenses.
Giles attended Bethel Deaf Fellowship in Fayetteville where she enjoyed signing with her family, according to an obituary.
“This is the ‘I love you’ in sign language and it’s probably the best known sign there is,” said Clayton Carmichael. “Alex was well known for ‘I love you,’ very well known.”
The memorial service included singing, praying, and sharing stories about the little girl.
“I also have a child that is in Heaven, so I would like to think they are playing together,” said Nerenberg.
Giles drowned July 3 while swimming at a friend’s home in Crawford County.
A Facebook page has also been set up to remember the little girl. No charges were filed in the accidental drowning.
