Loved ones gather to remember mother, son killed in standoff

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Tears and laughter mixed in with candles and balloons Friday night at the parking lot of Carver High School in Atlanta at a prayer vigil for Sandra White. She’s the 39-year-old pregnant woman murdered in the hours-long SWAT standoff in Henry County.

With the sun setting dozens of Carver High School alum gathered to pray for and celebrate the life of one of their former classmates. They said White was a spirited loving woman who shone brightly in life.

“She was would have loved this. I see the sun is shining – that’s her looking down smiling on us,” said Kathie White, her mother.

Family and friends said they now realize there was a dark side Sandra White wasn’t sharing.

“My daughter never gave us any clue that she was in any danger, no sir, she did not,” said Kathie White.

Henry County Police said White and her 16-year-old son, Arkeyvion, were shot to death by White’s boyfriend Anthony Bailey who then turned the gun on himself.

RELATED: Neighbors left reeling after Henry County standoff

Sandra White’s family and friends said Bailey and she were expected and she was eight months pregnant with their already named son, Antonio. The unborn baby also perished.

“Actually she was going to have her baby shower tomorrow and I was planning on attending,” said David Paige-Bey, a friend of the victim.

Sandra White’s Carver High School Class of 1997 and many others are planning on attending her funeral.

Many told FOX 5 News she was a nurse who a few years back was working at Grady Memorial Hospital, more recently at Wellstar Atlanta Medical South.

Balloons were released including blue ones for little Antonio.

Friends and family of Sandra White said they hope her death helps others in life.

“I speak to you women please get out of any kind of domestic violence, it’s not good, your life can be taken like my daughters was taken,” said Kathie White.

Funeral plans for Sandra White, her teen son, and Antonio have not been released.

A GoFundMe for the family's memorial service has been set up here. 

Kathie White wanted to convey publicly that her family is praying for the speedy recovery of the two officers who were injured in the tragic SWAT standoff which left her family members dead.

SEE ALSO: Police identify victims, suspected shooter in Henry County standoff leaving 3 dead