SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — Briana Winston's family honored her with a balloon release over the Memorial Day weekend.
Winston is a Clayton County mother who was brutally killed by her boyfriend—her remains were found scattered in Tennessee, according to Clayton County Police detectives.
This is the first time the family has spoken publicly since police released this information about a week ago.
Winston's friend Grace Jamison said she hasn't been taking it well
"I've already been going through a couple of my problems with suicide and stuff," Jamison said. "I've been going through the passing with my grandma and stuff. And it's just been a lot with hearing what stuff he did to her."
Pushing through, dozens of Winston's loved ones mustered up the strength to come together at Trammell Crow Park in South Fulton for a vigil Sunday in hopes of keeping her name alive.
Jasmine Walker is Winston's cousin who has been leading search parties and advocating since Winston was reported missing.
"We're still trying to make sense of it. It's still devastating to us," Walker said.
E'Mani said she's been Winston's best friend for over a decade and misses her dearly. She fought back tears as she described what their relationship meant to her.
"Loyalty, honesty, the memories that we made, the time that we spent," E'Mani said.
The family lit candles and let pink balloons fly. The color added a bit of brightness to a dark time for these loved ones.
Winston was reported missing on April 1, but a few weeks before that, her job noticed she wasn't coming to work. After weeks of investigating, Clayton County Police detectives said, during a media briefing, that her boyfriend, Michale Edwards, had gotten into an argument with her and strangled her. He cleaned out Winston's apartment, stuffed her in a suitcase, and took his newly-wedded wife Breinna Phillips-Edwards' car to Tennessee. He scattered her remains and belongings with help from some accomplices. He's facing several charges, including murder.
Sunday, the family's emotions ranged from hurt to rage. Winston's uncle Kendrick Langford didn't hold back his opinions on Edwards.
"Going to jail is just not enough for me," Edwards said. "I think he needs to get the injection. That's how I feel if you want me to be honest with you."
The person on everyone's mind is Winston's four-year-old daughter.
Winston's godmother, Diana Moore, said she had spoken to Winston shortly before she was killed and told her to be safe.
"Right now, my prayers are for Nyairah," Moore said. "I pray that she gets the support that she needs and that she's taught how to communicate with her mom, knowing that her mom is still present and that it brings her happiness and peace."
The loved ones gathered wanted to remind Nyairah that she has a village. And her mother may be gone, but she'll never be forgotten. Moore also extended her prayers to other women who may be going through what the family says they didn't know Winston was going through. She hopes that stories like Winston's will be less common.
"She shared what she wanted to share," Moore said. "And we need to ask questions and be persistent and find out ways to help people that are in a difficult situation."
Moore added that she's grateful to Clayton County Police for the work they did to get them answers.
The family is planning a memorial soon.