Funeral of teenager and math teacher killed in Georgia high school shooting

JEFFERSON, Ga. (AP) — Funeral services for a teenager remembered for her charming smile and a math teacher known for her dedication to her students were held Saturday, 10 days after both were killed by a gunman who opened fire at a Georgia high school.

Family, friends and supporters of 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn and 53-year-old teacher Cristina Irimie gathered to say goodbye at separate afternoon services.

They were among four people killed by a gunman armed with an assault rifle at Apalachee High School on September 4. Another teacher and eight other students were injured.

Irimie, who immigrated to the United States from her native Romania over 20 years ago, was honored with a Romanian Orthodox service filled with chants and hymns. The ceremony was conducted alternately in English and Romanian.

“We are gathered today to pray for a noble soul,” said one of the priests who led the service. “Family members, friends, colleagues and indeed many people in this country and beyond are mourning the loss of a beloved wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, parishioner, colleague, teacher and fellow citizen.”

Schermerhorn’s memorial service, held at a community center in Jefferson, also drew a strong community outreach. The teenager’s family asked everyone present to wear red, his favorite color.

Mason enjoyed playing video games and loved Disney and LEGOs, his obituary said. He also enjoyed spending time with his family.

A neighbor, Tommy Pickett, recalled watching him grow over the past decade from a curious boy to a teenager who was always smiling and laughing.

Irimie was known for teaching children to dance in addition to algebra and remained active in the Romanian expat community in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Her service was held at a funeral home in Buford, followed by a memorial dinner at the Romanian Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helena.

The funerals are another opportunity for students and faculty at the 1,900-student high school to express their grief. Other schools in Barrow County reopened last week, but there is no date yet for students to return to Apalachee High School.

A private funeral was held last weekend for Richard Aspinwall, a 39-year-old math teacher and defensive coordinator for the school’s football team. Aspinwall was killed in the attack along with Schermerhorn, Irimie and 14-year-old student Christian Angulo.

Angulo’s family has scheduled his funeral service at a church for Friday.

Authorities have charged 14-year-old Colt Gray with murder in the high school shooting. His father has also been charged with first-degree murder for providing his son with a weapon to kill children.

Authorities said the teen turned himself in to school security officers, who confronted him about three minutes after the first shots were fired. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says the teen rode the bus to school and hid the semi-automatic rifle in his backpack.