Bill Graham / The Meridian StarDoritha Bryant, right, speaks about the Durr and Pickett family at a prayer vigil Thursday night in Toomsuba. Friends and family gathered at the vigil to remember Edna Durr, her daughters Kiearra Durr and Tomecca L. Pickett, and Pickett's 5-year-old son, Owen. The family was found shot to death at their home in Toomsuba Tuesday morning. 

TOOMSUBA — As the small, rural community of Toomsuba comes to terms with Monday’s brutal murder of four family members, the victims are being remembered by friends and relatives for their kindness and compassion.   

On Monday, Karon Deshawn McVay,44, allegedly shot and killed the four family members in their Toomsuba home. Lauderdale County investigators arrested McVay Tuesday night and charged him in the family’s murders. 

Friends and extended family remember Edna Durr, her daughters Kiearra Durr and Tomecca L. Pickett, and Pickett’s son, 5-year-old Owen Pickett, as a loving and generous family.

Gale Barfield, a close relative, worked with Edna Durr at Anderson Regional Health System’s North Campus cafeteria and attended church with the family at Little Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Toomsuba. 

“She would do anything to help anybody – you just had to ask,” Barfield said. “She was always willing to participate (at church and elsewhere). It didn’t matter what it was.”

Edna Durr, 65, worked at Anderson for more than 20 years, retiring about five years ago. Barfield said she served as a sort of dessert cook for the church, making coconut cakes, sweet potato pies and her famous caramel icing.

“My mother tried but could never make the icing herself, so Edna would always make her some and leave it in the fridge for her,” Barfield said. 

Barfield remembered Edna Durr as someone who took everyone under her wing, including her son, Kevin. 

“She would say, ‘Don’t mess with him! He belongs to me,'” Barfield said.

Coworkers remembered Edna Durr as someone who never met a stranger and had a great sense of humor. They said she would be dearly missed.

Just last Sunday, Durr had asked the congregation to pray for the whole family, Barfield said. 

On Tuesday, Janice Walker, a cousin who lives next door, noticed the family hadn’t followed their usual routine. Another cousin knocked on the door but no one answered. Walker called 911 and asked a deputy to do a welfare check. Around 8 a.m., a deputy entered the home and discovered the family.

Walker remembered Edna Durr for her cooking skills and caring nature. Ms. Durr had helped her cope with the recent loss of her mother.

“She gave me advice for my personal problems,” Walker said. “She always said good things about my mom.”

Walker was close to Tomecca, 42, sharing make-up and clothes with her. 

“We’d go into town whenever she needed help picking out outfits – for work or whatever – because she loved fashion and so do I,” Walker said. 

Walker said Kiearra Durr, 27, graduated from Russell Christian Academy and attended Meridian Community College. After the birth of her daughter, now “3 years old going on 4,” she stayed home. 

The deputy who conducted the welfare check found the baby uninjured, and an ambulance transported her to a hospital for a wellness check Tuesday. Authorities said Wednesday she had been released to family.

Walker said the last time she’d seen Owen, he’d been preparing for a Valentine’s Day prom.

“Owen was smart. He was a sweet little boy and very high-spirited,” Walker said. “He was a momma’s baby.”

Lindsey Rippie, Owen’s teacher at Northeast Lauderdale, was one of many from the community who gathered for a prayer vigil near the family’s home in Toomsuba Thursday evening.

Rippie, who brought a large poster Owen and his mother had decorated to the vigil, remembered the little boy as mischievous, telling the crowd “He was one of a kind.” 

Walker described the family as one that loved everyone.

“I just hate that something like this can happen to people that show love to everyone,” Walker said. “I’m going to really miss them… That was a home away from home.”

City Editor Bill Graham contributed reporting.