Church holds special program for Katelynn Arnold

Katelynn Arnold will be laid to rest Monday. The nine-year-old was found hanging from a tree outside her home Thursday night.

On Sunday, Katelynn's church remembered her with a special program. The children's choir at Hardin Chapel Baptist Church sang "Jesus Loves Me" and "This Little Light of Mine" in honor of Katelynn.

Katelynn was part of the choir and was supposed to sing with the group Sunday. Instead, her pastor says she's in a better place.

"I'm convinced that's where Katelynn is today, with the Lord," said Pastor Doug Ford. "Absent from this place, the Bible says, but present with the Lord."

Katelynn attended church every Sunday with her uncle and sister. Two days after Katelynn's death, her uncle and sister were back at church. They asked not to be on TV.

Katelynn and her sister were in the same Sunday school class. On Sunday, the kids decorated door hangers and paper plates for Mother's Day.

Missing from the Sunday school class was Katelynn's sweet, smiling face.

"Sweetest little girl you'd ever see," Ford said. "Every Sunday morning, came by the office and gave me a big hug and a big smile."

Pastor Ford says Katelynn's 14-year-old half-brother who has been charged with her murder didn't attend church with his sisters, but he still wants the entire community to pray for him.

"Pray for him. The Lord is able to change any heart," Ford said. "This is a small but caring community and when we have a tragedy it affects us all."

Katelynn's funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Hardin Chapel Baptist Church in Ragland. That's where she will also be buried.

Pastor Ford says all of Katelynn's funeral expenses have been covered. He won't elaborate as to who is paying for them but he says it's just another sign this community is coming together during tragedy.

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