HOUSTON — "We love you, Lauren."
Those four words could be heard for blocks as hundreds of family members and friends gathered at Hightower High School Saturday to remember Lauren Robinson-Holliday, the woman killed in a crash, along with five others, in downtown Houston last weekend.
"She was well known, well respected," said Robinson-Holliday's father. "She was my baby. She was sweet."
Orange and green balloons filled the sky in Missouri City to honor Robinson-Holliday. Orange was her favorite color, and green was for Hightower High School -- where Robinson-Holliday cheered and graduated from.
Robinson-Holliday was driving home after picking up her friends when, according to Houston police, a car sped through a red light and hit them. Robinson-Holliday and three of her friends, who were former University of Houston football players, were killed. An innocent bystander, who police said was homeless, was also killed as well as the driver of the other car who hit them.
Many people who knew Robinson-Holliday are struggling to accept she's gone.
"It's just a tragedy, but we just can't stay stuck in it. We gotta move on and she would want it the same way."
One of her brothers said she was a great example for many. He was overwhelmed by the support from the community where they grew up and thanked people for loving his sister.
"She was one of the most amazing and admirable human beings," he said. "Her eyes were loud. Her laugh was loud because she loved life. She loved to laugh and she loved to live it. She lived it."
He said everyone in her car that night was genuine, good-hearted people.
Robinson-Holliday leaves behind a spouse, parents, siblings and an entire community that wished she was still here.
Robinson-Holliday will be laid to rest Monday at The Fountain of Praise Church. There will be a public visitation at 1 p.m. and the funeral service will begin at 2 p.m.
Former NFL, UH football player D.J. Hayden laid to rest
Former NFL and University of Houston football player D.J. Hayden was among the victims in the crash.
He and Robinson-Holliday were great friends who grew up together.
Hayden was laid to rest Saturday in a funeral that was packed with his family members, friends and even some fans.
Hayden made national headlines in 2012 when he suffered a life-threatening injury in a practice at UH. After that injury, he had surgery to repair a tear in the main blood vessel that leads into the heart. The surgery was a succeed and Hayden ended up becoming a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2013 and played in eight seasons through 2020 for the Raiders, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Though many know him as a great football player, his two young daughters remember him as being one really cool dad.
"He always let us put makeup and nail polish on him," said his oldest daughter during his funeral service. "He always bought us the best shoes. He would watch little rascals with us. He surprised us with a trip to Puerto Rico, but when it was bedtime, he put himself to sleep first."
Hayden, along with the other UH football players who were killed -- Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu -- were honored Saturday by the current UH football team. Players wore ribbons on their helmets with the initials DH, ZM and RO.
Watch family members, friends and former teammates speak at Hayden's funeral in the video below: