Dylan Bailey's favorite color filled South Charleston's Oakes Field and the sky above Tuesday night, as dozens of family and friends wore red shirts, let go of red balloons and reflected on his life with the red glow of candles filling their faces.
The candlelight vigil held for Bailey, the 20-year-old who was shot last Wednesday at Oakes Field and later died from his wounds, was to remember the happiness he brought to his community, said Amber Estep, Bailey's girlfriend.
"We wanted to remember everything good about him, and we're going to continue to live with him in our hearts forever," she said.
Estep and others close to Bailey set up a poster board with various pictures taken of him throughout his life, along with candles and balloons for people to use during the vigil. As the sun set, they let go of the balloons and blew out candles after many hugged and cried.
Estep said the vigil was held at Oakes Field because Bailey had many memories there.
"Everyone moves on in their own way, and it's okay to cry, it's okay to miss him, but he will always be here with you in your memories and in your heart," she said.
Early in the morning last Wednesday, police arrested De'Anthony Thornabar, 21, at Oakes Field after an altercation led to Bailey being shot. Bailey was taken by ambulance to the Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital.
Thornabar originally was charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment, but the charges were upgraded to murder after Bailey's death. Funeral services for Bailey were held Saturday at Keller Funeral Home in Dunbar.
"You are the future," one woman said during the vigil. "Love each other. Don't continue the violence, don't be the hate. Do it in honor of Dylan."
Bailey worked at the Speedway in South Charleston, where Estep said she worked with him for years. He was described as a big sports fan and cheered for the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the Chicago Bulls.
Patrick Spencer, a neighborhood friend of Bailey's, said they spent time together frequently, playing both video games and basketball. They would often meet up on 5th Avenue in South Charleston to hang out, he added.
"We were always together with this big group of people when we first met," Spencer said. "And he hung out with us all the time. He never started any problems and he always had a big smile on his face."
Both Estep and Spencer described Bailey as a happy person who made friends easily.
"He was always laughing, and he was a very spontaneous person," Estep said. "He loved everybody and everyone around him, and tried to be friends with absolutely everybody."
Reach Max Garland at max.garland@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4886 or follow @MaxGarlandTypes on Twitter.