Massacre at VT touches NE Georgia family

UNDATED - One of the victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre has ties to Northeast Georgia.

Austin Cloyd, 18, was the niece of Bryan and Brenda Kendrick of Cleveland. Her longtime minister from her native Champaign, Ill., is Terry Harter.

"She played basketball and volleyball, she had gorgeous red hair and a beautiful smile," he said. "Whenever she entered a room, you knew that she was there."

Harter added she was raised as a child of faith, "She was taught to know that 'Austin, you have been blessed to be a blessing to others."

Cloyd was active in aquatics and was majoring in international studies at VT.

Harter said Austin was active in the Applachian Service Project, which is an organization that works to restore tattered homes in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He said Cloyd and her mother started a similar organization in Champaign.

"She was oriented toward caring and kindness and service to other folks," said Harter.

He added there was a prayer service held at his First United Methodist Church of Champaign Tuesday night. Over 150 people showed up, many from the University of Illinois and who had attended high school with Cloyd.

Austin Cloyd would have turned 19 on April 24, according to the family.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete according to Harter who says he has counselled the family a number of times since the shooting.