FORT SMITH (KFSM) --University of Arkansas at Fort Smith nursing graduate, Autumn Melvin, passed away earlier this month after a motorcycle accident in California.
It was an emotional day for friends and classmates who gathered at the UAFS Bell Tower for a candlelight vigil in honor of Autumn Sunday (July 17).
"She loved nursing school, she loved people," Nursing Class President Levi Biggerstaff said. "The residents and patients would always make her crafts for our two day stays there. When somebody else would take over, they would mention Autumn and ask how Autumn is doing."
Autumn's friends joined hands to pray together and shared memories of their friend.
"She was just such a loving and beautiful person inside and out," Suzanne Seward, Autumn's friend, said. "She was always positive. I never heard her complain or say a bad word about anybody."
During the vigil, "Donate Life" bracelets were give out because Autumn was an organ donor.
"She would love it," Seward said. "She loved attention, she loved people, so she'd be very happy right now."
A memorial scholarship has also been set up in her honor.
"We're just trying to carry on her name, continue the act of giving, because that's what she did, she gave," Biggerstaff said. "She persevered through a lot of troubles, and you know, she inspired a lot of people to continue to keep on."
A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Autumn's family with medical and funeral expenses.