Layla Jeffery had ordered two identical pairs of pants before she d!:ed… but it was the unopened package that left everyone at her funeral in tears
Sweet and shy teenager Layla Jeffery would often buy two of the same clothing items so she could match with her friends, or her adoring mother.
Weeks ago, the 13-year-old Donald girl was particularly taken by a pair of pants and decided to buy two pairs from an online shop.
Layla would wear one pair, while her mother, Taliah, would wear the other.
That was the plan.
“Taliah now has a pair of fleece-lined tartan pants. They came in a package for Layla that she sadly never got the chance to open,” Kaitlyn Cheyne, Layla’s aunt said.
Layla Jeffery was farewelled at Donald on Friday. Picture: Supplied
Known affectionately as “LaLa” or “Layla bug”, the innocent girl from Donald was farewelled at a moving funeral service on Friday afternoon.
Layla’s shattered family and hundreds of Donald locals may never fully understand why their girl was allegedly murdered by a 16-year-old boy in early July.
Those heartbroken loved ones crammed into the local hall at Donald, in northwest Victoria, where pink and red roses sat atop her casket.
Layla’s funeral service at Donald on Friday. Picture: Supplied
Layla’s friends drew hearts and messages on her casket. Picture: Supplied
Ms Cheyne delivered the tear-jerking eulogy, in which she recalled her niece’s passion for clothing, music and decorating.
She remembered hearing “hysterical laughter” when Layla hosted sleepovers but said the shy girl would never seek attention.
“Layla was a truly spectacular person who would have conquered the world if she hadn’t been taken from us,” Ms Cheyne said.
“Accessorising was important, with no outfit complete without a touch of silver jewellery.
“Her long, beautiful hair was another much-loved accessory she enjoyed personalising, dyeing it many different colours in the past six months.”
Layla was allegedly murdered by a 16-year-old boy. Picture: Supplied
Her death triggered a major homicide probe. Picture: Supplied
Layla was an extremely creative girl, who would paint and decorate any item she could – even the lamp shade in her home.
Layla’s aunt described that decorative touch as adding a “pop of colour” to everyone’s lives.
“There was a creative streak in her that blew us all away. She had personalised many of the things in her house,” her aunt said.
Layla’s young friends wore dashes of pink and Hello Kitty clothes as they scribbled pink hearts and messages of love on her casket.
Layla’s family is shattered. Picture: Supplied
Pink, red and white roses atop of Layla’s casket. Picture: Supplied
Those friends were always included in whatever Layla was up to, Ms Cheyne said.
Layla would FaceTime friends to virtually take them on her adventures across Donald or her old home towns at Benalla and Shepparton.
“No one was ever left out or feeling forgotten,” Ms Cheyne added.
Her broken father, Aaron, shuffled to the lectern to read a poem labelled “She Is Gone”.
“You can shed tears that she’s gone, or you can smile that she’s lived. You can close your eyes and pray she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see that she has left,” he read.
Loved ones hold pink balloons in Layla’s honour. Picture: Supplied
Layla’s loved ones and Donald locals form a guard of honour. Picture: Supplied
Layla’s alleged murder has shocked the town of Donald.
Behind him sat a wall of trinkets and decorations — memories of Layla’s short life.
Photographs, teddy bears, roses and her favourite old clothes were draped over trestle tables, observed by the dozens of loved ones who attended Friday’s funeral.
Layla’s family and locals blew bubbles as they formed a guard of honour in the streets of Donald, farewelling the teenager who was taken in the most horrific alleged murder.
The 16-year-old boy accused of murdering Layla remains in custody.
SOURCE: HERALDSUN
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/truly-spectacular-person-layla-jeffery-farewelled-at-heartbreaking-donald-funeral/news-story/10b62d71cfae0ad5dbeac6dd44a2551d
